Chapter 57: The Drive HomeThe mall lights faded in the rearview mirror as Carlos steered them onto the main road, the car humming gently beneath them. The city was quieter now, painted in shades of amber and navy. Evelyn leaned back into her seat, her body relaxed but her mind unusually quiet.Carlos broke the silence with a low chuckle.âNow that⊠that was a scene to behold.âEvelyn turned to him with a teasing brow. âWhat do you mean?âCarlos smirked. âOh, donât play dumb with me.ââIâm not playing dumb.â She folded her arms. âWhat are you even talking about?âCarlos scoffed, shifting gears as they took a curve. âGirl. Come on. The way Zenda was looking at you all evening? That man is head over heels.âEvelyn let out a laugh, tinged with disbelief. âCarlos, stop it. Donât start assuming things.ââIâm not assuming anything. Iâm stating facts.â He glanced at her. âHe wasnât just being nice, Evie. That man was practically breathing in sync with you. Watching your every move. If youâre
Chapter 56: Games and Glancesthird person povThe mall glowed with early evening light, its ceiling lit with warm yellow bulbs and glass panels that reflected the bustle below. After browsing through rows of shoes, handbags, and a few chic dresses that Evelyn didnât need but enjoyed admiring, Carlos suggested they check out the gaming area.âCome on, Doc. Youâve had a long week. Time to unwind a little,â he grinned, nudging her toward the escalator.Evelyn chuckled. âYouâre just trying to make me lose at arcade racing so you can brag all the way home.ââMe?â Carlos raised his eyebrows. âIâm offended you think Iâm that competitive.ââCarlos. Last week, you argued with Dad over chess for three days.ââOkay, mildly competitive,â he said, leading her to the glowing neon lights of the mallâs gaming floor.The area was bursting with sound bumping music, kids laughing, machines flashing. The scents of popcorn and cotton candy clung to the air. Evelynâs eyes widened in amusement.âOh wow. Th
Chapter 55:Sunshine in Small Momentsthird person povCecily was already awake before anyone else in the house. With her curly brown hair bouncing wildly behind her, she dashed into the hallway like a spark of joy, calling for everyone to get ready.âToday is park day!â she sang, jumping onto Mr. Harringtonâs bed with a toothy grin. âUp, Grandpa! Up!âMr. Harrington chuckled from beneath the covers, pulling the child into a warm embrace. âYouâve been up since sunrise, havenât you?âCecily nodded proudly. âMommy promised. Today is our big day.âAnd she made sure no one forgot. She dragged Bennett out of bed, tugged on Claireâs robe, and even knocked on Carlosâ door with a wide grin. By the time Evelyn was out of the shower, the house was already alive with laughter and the faint smell of cinnamon pancakes wafting from the kitchen.By midmorning, everyone was dressed and packed snacks, drinks, Cecilyâs tiny soccer ball, a picnic blanket, and her favorite bubble wand.They arrived at the
Chapter 54: The Cracking Empirethird person povThe sleek Manhattan penthouse, perched above the chaos of the city, looked exactly like Jade Hollandâs life used to be flawless, polished, and expensive. But just like the woman pacing barefoot across its marble floor, that perfection was crumbling fast.Jade stood near the floor-to-ceiling window, her silk robe loose around her frame, a glass of untouched wine in hand. Her eyes werenât on the skyline. They were on her reflection.âYouâre quiet,â Charlie muttered, voice gruff as he walked in from the guest bedroom, pulling a shirt over his head. He tossed his phone on the couch with a grunt. âWhatâs that supposed to mean? You havenât said a word since I walked in.âJade exhaled. âBecause Iâm tired, Charlie.âHe laughed dryly. âTired? Or broke?âShe turned sharply. âExcuse me?ââYou heard me. Landonâs not sending money like he used to, is he? Guess the cash cow finally stopped mooing.ââDonât be ridiculous,â Jade snapped, setting the win
Chapter 53 â third person pov The days following her unexpected encounter with Landon passed with quiet intensity. Evelyn buried herself in work, redirecting her focus to Luminaâs broader operations where she belonged. Sheâd handed Landonâs case to another senior physician without further explanation and hadnât returned to that wing of the hospital since. Her silence, as always, was armor.Then came the email.A personal invitation from Dr. Zenda, Minister of Health, inviting her to speak at the Annual Medical Leadership Symposium in New York City a high-level conference attended by innovators, hospital executives, and top policymakers across the country.At first, she stared at the screen in disbelief. Her name. Her credentials. Her story all acknowledged on a global stage.She replied with composed enthusiasm:âIt would be an honor to attend. Thank you for the opportunity.âThe moment she hit send, she exhaled slowly. It wasnât validation she needed, but it felt⊠good. It felt rig
Chapter 52 â Obsession in the ShadowsThird person povOne month later.Landon stood in front of the wide, tinted windows of his corner office, his hands buried in the pockets of his tailored slacks. The skyline of stretched out before him, sleek and indifferent a perfect mirror of how he used to be.But he wasnât the same man anymore.Not after the accident.And certainly not after her.Behind him, the low hum of productivity buzzed through the executive floor. Phones rang, heels clicked, assistants whispered updates and schedules. But Landon barely heard any of it.All he saw was the image of Dr. Evelyn Harrington standing over him in that hospital room professional, poised, untouchable.He hadnât spoken a word about it since. Not to Jade, not to his therapist, not even to his own mother. But the memory gripped him tighter every day.She was alive. She was thriving. She was close.And sheâd walked out of that hospital room like he didnât exist.A sharp knock pulled him out of his th