A tall and imposing man strode out of the elevator, his face showing signs of urgency. Behind him, a man who appeared to be his assistant struggled to keep up, carrying a briefcase.
“Bryce!” Dexter called out as soon as he saw the man, “You’re back?”
Bryce glanced at Dexter and then slapped him hard across the face. Dexter’s handsome face turned to the side, and his left cheek swelled up instantly.
Dexter lowered his head in silence, not moving an inch.
“I was only away for a few days, and Olivia ends up in such a situation. How were you taking care of her?” Bryce glared at Dexter coldly. “Is this how you take care of her? Sending her to the hospital? Dexter, you’ve really outdone yourself!”
Dexter kept his head down, his voice low and tinged with guilt. “I’m sorry, Bryce.”
“You should be apologizing to Olivia, not me!” Bryce turned towards the shocked Hogan family members.
Mrs. Hogan was startled. “Olivia already has depression and suicidal tendencies. Why are you hitting your brother?”
Old Mrs. Hogan hurried to Dexter’s side, pulling his hand gently. “Let Grandma see. Oh dear, look at that swelling. Quickly, get some ice from the nurse.”
“Grandma, I’m fine,” Dexter shook his head, trying to reassure her.
“We know you both care deeply for Olivia, but Bryce, you’re the older brother. You shouldn’t hit your younger brother,” Luca said, feeling sorry for his younger son. “Now that you’re back, Olivia is still unconscious. You should go home and rest; come back tomorrow.”
“No need,” Bryce said as he walked to Olivia’s bedside. He sat down and held her small hand in his large one, his dark eyes fixed on her pale face.
In just a few days, she had lost so much weight. Her already small face looked even smaller now. His eyes showed a mix of pain and an indescribable emotion.
He sighed and stood up again. “All of you go home. Dexter and I will stay here.”
The Hogan family was in chaos because of Olivia’s suicide attempt. Luca decided to take Mrs. Hogan and Old Mrs. Hogan home.
“We’re young; we can handle the night shift. You all should go home and rest,” Dexter said softly.
Sylvia and Carley exchanged glances and then left with the Hogan family.
Sylvia noticed that the Hogan family seemed oblivious to the unusual affection Bryce and Dexter had for Olivia. They merely saw it as brotherly love.
She couldn’t believe it!
Especially since Bryce and Dexter looked so similar-both tall with striking features. Any socialite would be eager to catch their attention.
But these brothers showed no interest in other women.
Sylvia and Carley took one elevator while the Hogan family took another.
Sylvia turned to Carley and asked, “Don’t you think Olivia’s brothers are unusually fond of her?”
“Of course, they only have one sister, so naturally they dote on her. Everyone knows they’re crazy about their sister. They treat her like a treasure,” Carley replied without finding it odd. “My brother loves me too, but not as much as the Hogan brothers love Olivia.”
“Right… It seems more than just sibling affection,” Sylvia said quietly.
Carley was taken aback, recalling Bryce’s gaze towards Olivia-it seemed almost like he was looking at a lover…
She shivered involuntarily, thinking she might be overthinking it.
Sylvia didn’t say anything more and bid farewell to Carley once they exited the elevator.
“Drive safely; it’s late. Do you want us to drop you off first? You can have your driver pick up your car tomorrow,” Sylvia offered with concern.
Carley shook her head. “It’s okay; the Hogan family lives close to me. I can follow their car.”
“Alright then, stay safe and call if you need anything,” Sylvia said before getting into Franklin’s car.
“Why are you so concerned about Olivia?” Franklin asked, not starting the car yet. His deep eyes locked onto Sylvia’s face as he leaned closer, his warm breath tickling her ear.
“I just feel sorry for her,” Sylvia turned her face away, avoiding his intense gaze.
In the quiet of the night, in the silent underground parking lot of the hospital, it felt like they were the only two people there.
The atmosphere inside the car grew increasingly intimate.
The dim lighting made Sylvia feel hot and uneasy in the confined space.
She wanted to escape, but Franklin had no intention of letting her go.
When his lips met hers, she closed her eyes slowly.
Sylvia returned to the Hipps Family around noon the next day and had lunch with Queena. “I’ll be busy for the next few days, so I won’t be coming home.”
“Oh dear, what are you busy with? Sylvia, do you want Grandma to pull some strings at the general hospital for you? You’re always busy, and I don’t even know what you’re up to,” Queena said worriedly. She felt uneasy not seeing her granddaughter for several days.
“No need. I can’t work a regular job every day,” Sylvia smiled and explained Jenna’s illness and Mrs. Wright’s visit. “I have to pick them up from the airport after lunch. Grandma, Mrs. Wright was my mother’s best friend. Do you want to meet her?”
Queena paused with her chopsticks mid-air, a hint of longing in her eyes. “Yes, of course! Grandma will go with you.”
“You’re getting older; it’s better if I arrange everything first. We can invite them over later or go out for a meal together,” Sylvia reassured her with a smile. The priority now was Jenna’s illness.
“Sylvia, if you need money or help from the family, don’t hesitate to ask. I know some people at the general hospital who can help,” Queena offered. “Are they staying at the general hospital?”
“Yes, my teacher is also there. I’ve already spoken to him,” Sylvia said as she placed some food on Queena’s plate. “Don’t worry.”
After lunch, Sylvia didn’t drive but went straight to the gate where Franklin’s car was waiting.
Once she got in, the car sped towards the airport like an arrow.
At thirty thousand feet in the air, in the business class cabin.
A girl dozed off in a man’s arms. The man looked at her with loving eyes and tightened his embrace as he noticed her growing thinner.
Suddenly, the plane jolted slightly, waking the girl from her sleep. “What’s wrong?” she asked weakly.
“Nothing, did it wake you?” Brayden touched Jenna’s forehead, relieved she wasn’t running a fever. “Do you want to sleep a bit more?”
“No need; we’re almost there,” Jenna said as she looked at the clouds outside the window. She never imagined she would be diagnosed with acute leukemia.
She had already started chemotherapy at H Rovirsa Hospital several times, losing a lot of hair due to the treatment.
Now she wore a hat to cover her baldness.
Thinking about her current state made her heart ache. “If… if my illness can’t be cured in Aettosa either, Brayden, you should give up on me.”
“Don’t say such foolish things,” Brayden said with a choked voice as he looked at her pale face and bloodless lips. “No matter what happens, I won’t give up on you. I’ll stay by your side till death.”
Jenna lowered her head as tears streamed down her cheeks. She had cried countless times, cursing fate’s unfairness.
But what good did it do?
Mrs. Wright, sitting behind them, couldn’t help but tear up as well.
She had always treated Jenna like her own daughter and seeing her deteriorate like this was heart-wrenching.
As a mother, there was no greater pain than being unable to suffer in place of your child.
She wiped away her tears and tried to comfort them with a hoarse voice. “Since Sylvia asked us to come here, we should hold onto hope. What if she gets better? So don’t give up on treatment or hope.”
Just then, a sweet voice from the flight attendant announced that they were about to land and reminded passengers to gather their belongings.
No one spoke further; they quietly awaited landing.
A few minutes later, the plane circled once before safely touching down at the airport.
After taxiing for a while on the runway, it finally came to a stop.
Brayden carried Jenna off the plane while Mrs. Wright went to retrieve their luggage.
As they stepped out of the airport into the bright sunlight, Jenna squinted slightly and nestled closer into Brayden’s arms.