Winning Her Heart Back

 She Will Feel Guilty Forever

When William left, he coincidentally bumped into Jodie, who was delivering lunch to Emelic.

Jodie's eyes widened in shock as she saw William coming out of Emelie's room. She rushed inside in fear that Emelie might have been harmed.

"Ma'am!" she shouted.

However, Emelie merely stood expressionless in front of her dressing table. She took out some cotton pads from her makeup kit and wiped her lips with a makeup remover. Her eyes were as cold as ice.

Jodie instinctively looked at the bed. It showed only the usual signs of having been slept in. Emelie's hair and clothes were also not disheveled, indicating that nothing particularly alarming had happened.

Jodie breathed a sigh of relief. "Ma'am, what did William come for?"

Emelie tossed the used wipes into the trash bin. She suppressed her emotions and glanced at the breakfast Jodie was holding.

"Just put it down. I'll eat a little. I need to go see Mr. Swanson soon," she said.

Jodie noticed that Emelie didn't want to further the topic, Jodie simply replied, "Understood."

When Emelie arrived at the hospital, only Samuel and two nurses were in the ward.

Samuel had likely just had lunch. He was propped up at the head of the bed and looking a bit better than the previous day. Still, his lips were pale from the blood loss.

When he saw Emelie, Samuel managed a slight smile.

Emelie returned it with a polite smile. "Do you still feel pain today?"

The room was warm, and Emelie removed her bothersome scarf before tossing it onto a chair.

Samuel shook his head and asked, "Did the police come looking for you last night? What for?"

"I suppose bad news travels fast," Emelie replied calmly. "It's nothing. They just need my cooperation for an investigation. Don't worry."

Samuel was skeptical of what she said. The fact that the police had come in person in the middle of the night to take her away couldn't be a trivial matter.

Before he could press the matter further, Emelie asked, "Did Nehemiah say anything about your leg?"

Samuel paused for a moment, then touched his leg beneath the covers. "He said he'd have me fully recovered within three months, so don't worry,"

Emelie smiled. "That's great. The doctor I hired will be here tomorrow, and we'll have him take a look, too. The more doctors, the better."

Samuel accepted her offer. "Alright."

Just as their conversation was ending, Bryan walked in. "Sam, have you taken your medicine?"

Samuel told Bryan he hadn't and was about to.

As a nurse was preparing to help Samuel with water, Bryan personally took a cup and poured the water for him.

He didn't glance at Emelie or acknowledge her presence at all. It was only when he handed the cup to Samuel that he said to Emelie, "Ms. Pierce, if you have nothing else, please don't disturb Sam's recovery. He needs plenty of rest now."

Samuel frowned. "Bryan."

Emelie clearly heard the impolite nature of his words but chose not to bring it up. She only said, "Mr. Swanson, I'll visit you again tomorrow."

Samuel shot Bryan a look before smiling at Emelie. "Okay."

Once Emelie left, Samuel held the cup and said, "Bryan, don't speak to Emelie like that."

The Swanson family had always been protective, and Bryan, being the eldest, had taken care of his siblings since childhood.

"Nehemiah says it's unlikely your leg will ever fully recover, and you'll probably have a permanent limp. She's the reason you're in this condition. Do you really expect me to be polite to her?" Bryan replied.

Samuel lowered his head. He looked at his heavily bandaged leg and forced a faint smile. "It's just a slight limp. If I walk slowly, no one will notice."

Bryan said, "But you used to be a healthy person. You haven't even married yet."

Samuel chuckled. "You speak as if you're already married."

Then, Samuel deliberately shifted the topic. "The men in our family tend to marry late. Only Priscilla, Elizabeth, and Violet have settled down. I'm swamped with Melanie's wedding plans, so there's no need for you to keep coming to the hospital. The nurses are taking good care of me. It's no big deal."

Emelie had overheard their conversation from just outside the room and finally decided to leave. Her scarf was left behind, and she initially intended to retrieve it. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop.

She walked silently down the stairs.

It appeared that not even Nehemiah could guarantee Samuel's full recovery. If Bryan ended up with a permanent limp, Emelie knew that she would carry that guilt forever.

She asked Jodie, "Where is Beathan now?"

Jodie replied, "He's in Calmcrest."

"Isn't he in Capebatt City?" Emelie turned to Jodie.

Jodie responded, "He was here, but he suddenly returned yesterday. I'm not sure when he'll be back."

Emelie smirked. "If I'm not mistaken, he won't be coming back to Capebatt City anytime soon unless necessary."

Jodie looked puzzled. "Why?"

"Of course, to avoid running into me and being outwitted by me," Emelie replied.

Beathan was known for his suspicious and cautious nature.

Emelie zipped her down coat all the way to the top.

As she walked out of the hospital, the biting winter wind hit her. Her lower face was hidden in the fur collar, leaving only her eyes visible with a hint of mockery.

She said, "But does he really think that, just because he avoids coming here, I can't make him return?"

She couldn't leave Capebatt City for now, but she intended to settle both old and new scores with Beathan.

She needed to force Beathan to come back.

Emelie's voice was crisp. "Spread the word that Elias has found Shane and that treatment for Ashley has already shown some results."Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.