Chapter 61

CASSANDRA'S POV~

We were mid-conversation, walking down the corridor, when Dario’s phone buzzed. He glanced down, and the easy rhythm of his steps faltered. For a second, his brows pinched together before he looked at me with a tight, regretful smile.

“I’m sorry, Cassandra,” he said, pulling the phone out. “I need to take this. It’s urgent.”

He hesitated for a beat, like he didn’t want to leave, then added, “My assistant Matthias will meet you here and take you to the department. Would you mind waiting just a moment?”

I waved it off with a soft smile. “It’s really fine. Go ahead. I understand. Handle what’s more important.”

“Thanks,” he said with a quick nod, already lifting the phone to his ear. “I’ll check in with you later.”

And just like that, he disappeared down the hall, his voice fading into a string of low words as he walked away.

I was left standing there in the quiet stretch of hallway, trying not to feel awkward as footsteps and murmurs passed around me. The hospital smelle