Hadley couldn’t move much with the makeup brush dancing over her skin, but she offered a warm smile. “Nice. Thank you.”

“It’s no trouble at all.” Chelsey smiled back. With that, she got to work unpacking the beans.

To make sure Hadley could always have coffee just the way she liked it, Chelsey had even gone so far as to buy a small coffee machine and put it in Hadley’s dressing room.

She did everything by hand, from grinding the beans to brewing the perfect cup. These days, Hadley could barely get through a day without Chelsey’s handcrafted coffee.

“You’re really diligent, Chelsey,” the makeup artist said with a smile.

“It’s my duty. I’m an assistant. Taking care of Hadley is my job. Just like how you make sure she looks flawless every day.”

“Exactly. When Hadley’s doing well, we’re all doing well.”

The two women exchanged knowing smiles. They were all part of Hadley’s team now, working toward the same goal.

Once the coffee was ready, Chelsey brought the cup over with care. She slipped a straw into it, making sure not to smudge Hadley’s freshly done lips. “Here you go, Hadley.”

“Thank you.” Hadley took a sip, and her eyes lit up in delight. “Mmm!” She enthusiastically gave Chelsey a thumbs-up. “These beans taste truly amazing. And Chelsey’s brewing skills are also top-notch.”

Chelsey giggled. “As long as you like it, Hadley.”

The hospital’s halls grew quiet as night settled in.

After wrapping up his phone call, Ernest slipped back into the room. He paused behind Elissa and spoke in a gentle tone. “It’s already late. Visiting hours in the ICU have ended. You can’t stay here any longer, and being here could interrupt the nurses and affect your grandfather’s care.”

A few slow blinks later, Elissa let go of Addy’s hand. “Get some rest, Grandpa. I’ll visit again soon.”

C t glov?ls.○

She rose from her chair and walked out, not sparing Ernest a single glance.

Moving quickly, Ernest caught up and reached the doorway ahead of her, holding the door open. “Are you alright? Before you leave for Lion Bay, do you want to breathe in a little more oxygen?”

A flicker of defiance passed over Elissa’s face. She gave a small shake of her head. “I’m not heading to Lion Bay tonight. Locke’s still on the island.”

Ernest’s response came without hesitation. “Yes, I know. I’ll ask Quentin to bring Locke back. It’s late, though. We’ll handle it first thing in the morning…”

“Why are you not listening to me?” Elissa cut him off, her tone sharp and impatient. At this point, she had run out of patience for him. “I need to see Locke right now, not tomorrow.”

For a moment, Ernest could only stare, words failing him. He eventually gave in with a sigh. “Fine, we’ll go now.”

Her safe return was all that mattered to him, so he was willing to give in to whatever she asked.

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