He still couldn’t speak, but he understood. He was just thankful he survived—he knew how deeply it would have broken her if he hadn’t.

She would have blamed herself forever.

“Let’s go back to your room.” Elissa blinked fast, holding back tears. “I brought kiwi—your favorite. I’ll mash it for you. Sound good?”

Addy let out a low rasp and nodded eagerly.

The wheelchair began to roll over the tiles.

The hallway near the exam rooms was crowded—outpatients, inpatients, caregivers, families. The place was crammed.

Elissa carefully steered him through the throng, pausing now and then to avoid bumping into anyone.

Just ahead, a wheelchair blocked their path in front of an exam room.

“Sorry, may we pass?” Elissa said softly.

The caregiver by the wheelchair turned at the sound of her voice.

Elissa froze.

She looked familiar—one of Linda’s people.

“You’re…” The caregiver recognized her too.

“What’s going on?” Linda asked from the wheelchair, raising her head. She glanced at the caregiver, then locked eyes with Elissa.

A cold smirk tugged at her lips. “Well. Look who it is.”

Elissa froze. Linda looked pale—sickly, even—with a gray cast to her skin.

So Ernest hadn’t been lying. She really was unwell.

This floor was reserved for diagnostic tests, so Linda was likely here for a check-up too.

What were the odds of running into her?

Elissa had no interest in getting dragged into anything. She adjusted the wheelchair, preparing to leave.

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“Elissa?” Linda’s voice rang out behind her. “I’m talking to you. Didn’t you see me?”

What was there to say?

And the look in Linda’s eyes held even more bitterness than before.

With Addy right there, Elissa didn’t want to start anything. “I need to take my grandfather back to his room. If you have something to say, we can talk later.”

“Don’t move!” Linda’s voice dropped to a sharp command as she signaled her nurse with a glance. “Stop her!”

“Yes, Miss Harris.” The nurse stepped forward, blocking the wheelchair. “You’re not going anywhere.”

Elissa’s chest tightened, frustration burning beneath her ribs.

She turned to Linda, trying to stay calm. “You’re here for a check-up, aren’t you? You should go in. We’ll talk afterward.”

“Afterward?” Linda scoffed, lowering her gaze. “Come on. If you walk away now, when will I ever see you again? No—I want to talk. Right now.”

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