ANMELDENOctavia walked into the hospital that morning. She had barely taken a few steps toward her station when she saw Elizabeth standing at the nurses’ station. Elizabeth was laughing with two residents. The moment she noticed Octavia, her smile widened.“Dr. Lancaster,” she called out sweetly but loud enough for several people nearby to hear. “You're back so soon? I thought you’d take more time off after everything. The police made a terrible mistake arresting me. They thought I was involved, but of course I wasn’t. They realized it was all a misunderstanding and I was released. I knew you'll be surprised to see me..”Octavia stopped walking. The nurses around Elizabeth went quiet. A few residents paused in the hallway, everyone eager to see Octavia's reaction.Elizabeth continued “I mean, it’s funny how some people can hate someone so much that they try to get the police involved. But evil can’t triumph over good, right? The truth always comes out. I’m innocent, and now everyone knows it.
Declan arrived at his company headquarters earlier than usual. As he stepped out of his black SUV, the valet nodded respectfully, and a few early-arriving employees paused in the grand marble lobby to offer quiet greetings. “Morning, Mr. Rothschild,” one young analyst said, clutching a tablet. Declan returned the nod with a faint smile, but his mind was already elsewhere.He took the private elevator straight to the executive floor. For years, this had been his domain, the place where deals were struck, where his empires expanded, and where his fortunes multiplied. But after the recent incident, he knew priorities had to shift. No more late nights over spreadsheets while Octavia and Seraphina navigated life without him. Today, he will make it official.The large boardroom was already filled when he entered. Ten board members were present. “Good morning, everyone,” Declan said, his voice authoritative as he took his seat at the head of the table. “Thank you for coming on such short n
The interrogation room at the police station was quiet. Elizabeth sat at the metal table, her hands cuffed in front of her. Her lawyer, a woman in a black suit named Mrs. Bennett, sat beside her.Chief Benson and two detectives sat across from them.Chief Benson leaned forward. “Dr. Voss, let’s start from the beginning. You were arrested for conspiracy to commit kidnapping and attempted murder of Dr. Octavia Lancaster. We have bank records showing large transfers to the suspect’s account. We have messages on the suspect’s phone mentioning your name. Care to explain?”Elizabeth sat up “I have nothing to explain. I had nothing to do with any kidnapping or any attempt on Dr. Lancaster’s life. Those transfers were for medical supplies I ordered for the hospital. The messages are completely out of context.”Mrs. Bennett raised her hand. “My client has already stated she had no involvement. Unless you have concrete evidence linking her directly to the crime, this interview is over.”Detecti
Rowan closed the laptop and stood up with new determination. “I’m not giving up on Octavia. Not now. Not ever.”He drove to the hospital, his mind still spinning with the plan. When he walked into the department, he stopped at the nurses’ station.“Morning, ladies,” he said with his usual charming smile. “Have you seen Dr. Lancaster? I need to talk to her.”One of the nurses looked up. “She’s in the Chief’s office right now. They’ve been in there for a while. Something about the Elizabeth situation, I think.”Rowan nodded. “Thanks. I’ll wait for her.”He leaned against the wall near the Chief’s office. A few minutes later, the door opened and Octavia stepped out. She looked composed, but there was a small smile on her face when she saw him.“Rowan,” she said, walking toward him. “What are you doing here so early?”Rowan smiled back, trying to read her expression. “Just starting my shift. What happened in there? You okay?”Octavia waved her hand. “Nothing important. Just some paperwork
A week later, Declan was finally discharged from the hospital. Octavia drove him home in silence. The mansion felt different now, but Seraphina’s laughter echoed from the living room the moment they walked in.“Daddy! Mommy!” Seraphina ran to them and hugged Declan’s good side carefully. “The doctor said you’re okay now, right?”Declan smiled and ruffled her hair with his uninjured arm. “I’m okay, princess. Thanks to your mommy taking care of me.”Seraphina looked up at Octavia. “Mommy, are you still mad at Daddy?”Octavia forced a small smile. “We’re fine, baby. Let’s get Daddy settled so he can rest.”They helped Declan to the couch. Octavia made sure he was comfortable with pillows behind his back.“Do you need anything?” she asked, her voice neutral. “Water? Painkillers?”Declan shook his head. “I’m good for now. Thank you, Octavia.”Seraphina climbed onto the couch beside him. “Daddy, can we watch cartoons? You promised when you came home.”Declan chuckled. “Of course. Put on wha
Declan’s eyes fluttered open slowly. The hospital room was quiet, the only sound the steady beep of the heart monitor. His shoulder throbbed with pain, but the first thing he saw was Octavia sitting beside his bed. She looked exhausted, but she was there.“Octavia…” he whispered.She leaned forward immediately. “Hey. You’re awake. How are you feeling?”Declan tried to sit up, but winced. “Like I got shot. But I’m okay. You’re safe. That’s all that matters.”Octavia helped him adjust the pillow behind his head. “Don’t move too much. The doctor said the bullet missed anything major, but you lost a lot of blood. You need to rest.”She poured him a glass of water and held it to his lips so he could drink.“Thank you,” Declan said after a sip. “You didn’t have to stay.”Octavia set the glass down. “I went home for a few hours to see Seraphina. She was asking about you. I told her you were working on something important. Sophia drove me back here. My whole family is in the waiting room. The
SEVEN YEARS LATERThe ICU Was In Chaos.The monitor beeped loudly and the nurses scurried between the beds as the doctor yelled orders. The atmosphere was tensed as the team struggled to stabilize a patient having a cardiac arrest. Suddenly, the door swung open and a female doctor stepped in. The
The sound of machines beeping lured Declan back into a world he never believed he would return to. His eyelids were too heavy, his brain fogged. But the smell of bleach and disinfectant was so strong it made him grimace. A groan passed his lips when he finally forced his eyes open and the blinding
AT THE LANCASTER MANSON “Seraphina!”A small gasp followed then footsteps. “No, Kai, give it back!”Kai giggled as he ran down the stairway with ease, holding something in his hand. Seraphina chased after him."Give it back!" she snapped, chasing him round the grand living room..“I found it first!
Octavia finally reached home from work at around 8:30 p.m., exhausted.The hospital had been relentless. Emergency cases, endless rounds, strained relatives, crying children... it had all blurred together into one long, suffocating stretch of responsibility. Normally, she could handle it. She always







