Chapter 5

Late that night, Rosalie was jolted out of her sleep by the sound of someone crying right in her ear. She opened her eyes and instinctively turned her head to look at Logan.

He was curled up quietly beside her, fast asleep. He wasn't crying.

After she pulled the covers over Logan, an inexplicable surge of panic washed over her, keeping her wide awake. She picked up her phone and checked her notifications, but there wasn't a single text.

As she thought back to the phone calls from an unfamiliar number she had rejected hours before, the panic inside her blazed like a raging fire. My face flashed through her mind, and so she called the family doctor, Kyle Moyer.

"Dr. Moyer, how is Xander's condition?" Rosalie asked.

"Mr. Kastel? Wasn't he taken to the hospital by ambulance? The ambulance was pulling away right when I arrived at the villa. I assumed I was too late and that you'd already called 911!" Kyle replied.

Rosalie stiffened for a moment, then immediately stood up from her chair, her voice filled with pleasant surprise. "You mean he's already had his surgery and has recovered now?"

When Kyle heard the delight in Rosalie's tone, he hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself. From what he had heard back at the scene, that wasn't how things had transpired at all.

After carefully weighing his words, he finally spoke up.

"Ms. Smith, I strongly suggest you go to the hospital to visit Mr. Kastel as soon as possible."

Rosalie nodded excitedly. Just as she picked up her car keys and was about to leave, Caleb appeared at the doorway with Logan.

Logan blearily rubbed his eyes and stretched his arms out toward Rosalie, saying, "Mommy, I want a hug. Without you beside me, I can't fall asleep."

Caleb stepped forward, his bare, muscular chest on display as he wrapped his arm around Rosalie's shoulder.

"Rosie, I heard what happened. Did Xander undergo surgery? I remember he already scheduled an appointment with the doctor some time ago. Why was it moved to tonight?

"It's already so late, and it isn't safe for you to drive all the way there now. Besides, he's probably still unconscious from the anesthesia. Let him rest. There's no need to rush over this very moment," he urged.

Rosalie lowered her head, pondering. In the end, she picked Logan up and turned to Caleb.

"You're right. A few hours won't make a difference. It's all the same if I go in the morning. It's not like he'll disappear.

"Clarence is near the hospital. I'll have him buy some things first and go check on Xander."

…

The next day, Rosalie bought a bouquet of tulips and called her secretary, Clarence Mills, to ask which hospital room I was in.

Clarence was so anxious that sweat poured down his forehead. He had already circled the hospital several times but hadn't been able to find my room.

As for me, I had been discharged. I walked to the entrance of the building and had just gotten in the car when a loud shout rang out behind me.

"Mr. Kastel!"

I turned back to see Clarence running over, looking disheveled and out of breath. He pointed at his phone as he said to Jessica, "Ms. Kastel, Ms. Smith will be at the hospital any moment! Where are you going? Where's Mr. Kastel?"

Jessica only glanced at his phone and shot him a glare. Then, without saying a single word, she turned and got into the car.

Clarence stood frozen in shock. As he watched the black sedan drive into the distance, he said to Rosalie, "Ms. Smith, Mr. Kastel has… has left with Ms. Kastel."