After a few hours, The woman’s breathing steadied. Soon, the nurse returned. Damon sat quietly in the chair beside her bed, his body still aching but his mind remained calm. He had not expected to spend his afternoon here, holding the hand of a colleague he had barely met, yet something about the way she had looked at him when she was struggling for breath made him stay. Soon, a nurse came in and check the machines before nodding and said, “She’s stable now. Thank you for your help" She said as she turned to Damon. Damon only gave a short smile. He did not feel like he had done anything at all. He had only been there, and sometimes being there was not enough. The woman moved a little, like she was waking up from a long nap. Her eyelashes shook, and then her eyes opened slow. She looked at the white ceiling first, then turned her head. For a moment she looked lost, like she didn’t know where she was. “Mom,” Catherine said quickly, leaning closer to her "You’re awake.” The woman bl

The night air hit Damon the moment he stepped outside the hospital doors. Cool and crisp, it carried that faint smell of damp earth that came after a long day of heat. The world outside felt too quiet compared to the muffled voices and steady beeping machines he had just left behind. It was late… later than he wanted… and his body begged for rest. All he wanted was the comfort of his bed, maybe a quick shower to wash the hospital smell off his skin, and silence. His car was parked a short walk away, at the edge of the hospital lot. He shoved his hands into his pockets, his head bent slightly, his thoughts drifted back to Catherine and the way her family had looked at him with a mix of gratitude and suspicion. He couldn’t blame them. He was still a stranger in their eyes. The silence soothed him as he slid into his car, started the engine, and pulled out of the lot. The streets were empty, the kind of quiet roads that made the city feel like it belonged to him alone. He let his thou

The next morning, Damon woke up early. His apartment was a cosy mess, there were books scattered on the floor, and a coffee maker was still sputtering from the morning brew. The sunlight churned from the curtains, making everything look warm and inviting. He stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his tie, feeling a little rushed. He had needed to complete a few more tasks because he feels like he is lacking behind in few office schedules and the last thjng he wants was to disappoint Vivan and Klaus.. He remembered the messy version of Viavan he had seen yesterday and could help but feel a little concerned. He slowly opened a drawer and brought out a tonic for hangover, ready to hand it over to Vivan to help her with her hangover. Soon, he grabbed his laptop, tucked it under his arm, his car keys and a few files. He gave himself one more look in the mirror and it was so obvious to him that he was so good looking, he didn't give himself much attention before heading out of

Soon, Damon got to the hospital and rushed through the hospital doors, the sterile smell and hum of machines overshadowed him. He approached the reception desk with, his heart pounding in his chest. "I'm here for...a patient," Damon said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Can you tell me where she has been transferred to?" The receptionist looked up with her expression neutral. "I'm sorry, sir. Can I get your name and the patient's name?" Damon hesitated, unsure how much information to share, the last time he came, he had walked in with Clara, "Damon Bennett. I'm...a family…." The receptionist's eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm sorry, Mr. Bennett, but you're not listed as a family member or next of kin. Can you provide some identification?" The receptionist interrupted without letting Damon finish. Damon took a breath, he looked straight into the receptionist’s eyes. “I was about to say family friend,” he said, trying not to sound frustrated. The receptionist gave a polite but firm

The morning sunlight spilled through the wide office windows, casting pale lines across Vivian’s desk. A steaming cup of untouched coffee sat beside her laptop. She’d been staring at the blank email for fifteen minutes, the cursor blinking like it was mocking her. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. Then she typed. > To: Clara.@whitmorecorp.com Subject: My Apologies Clara, I want to sincerely apologize for how I spoke to you yesterday. I let my frustration cloud my judgment, and it was unprofessional and unfair. I was wrong. Please extend my regards to your mother — I heard she’s recovering, and I truly hope she continues to get better. — Vivian Whitmore Vivian stared at the words, then deleted the line about being wrong… then retyped it again. She exhaled sharply and hit Send before she could change her mind. “Wow,” a voice said behind her, making her jump slightly. “The Ice Queen of Whitmore Corp sending apology emails? Should I alert the media?” Vivian turned to see Cel