Chapter 629

Rose managed a strained smile as she helped Angela settle onto the bed. “It’s nothing serious. The shop just called—there’s something I need to deal with, so I’ll have to head out soon.”
Angela squeezed her hand reassuringly and patted it. “Alright, you go take care of things. Don’t overwork yourself, and remember to get some rest.”
Rose gave a small nod. “I will.”
She hesitated, then added quietly, “Grandma, if Scott Clark comes around again, try to keep your distance from her.”
Angela’s brow furrowed. “Why? Is there something wrong with Scott Clark?”
Rose faltered for a moment before lowering her voice. “It’s nothing you need to worry about. Just trust me on this-don’t talk to her too much, and try to avoid her if you can.”
Angela agreed at once, nodding earnestly. “Alright, I’ll do as you say. If she comes by again, I won’t even speak to her.”
Rose had just missed running into Emily Blair at the hospital. As Rose was leaving, Emily arrived, so the two didn’t cross paths.
Emily walked straight to Angela’s room as usual, but the moment she got there, she sensed something was off.
She knocked a few times. No answer.
Emily arched an eyebrow. Normally, Angela would have welcomed her in by now-it wasn’t even her nap time.
She waited for a moment, listening for any sign of movement, and eventually turned to leave.
Just as she was turning, the door suddenly opened.
It was Shirley, Angela’s caregiver.
Shirley stepped out, shutting the door behind her with a neutral expression. “She’s already asleep.”
But when Shirley had opened the door, Emily had already caught a glimpse through the crack—Angela was sitting up in bed, wide awake, facing the door.
Emily raised an eyebrow but didn’t call her out on the lie. She just thanked Shirley and turned to go.
In the hallway, she paused at the corner, standing quietly and thinking things over before decisively heading to the front desk.
The nurse greeted her warmly. Emily asked, “My friend was admitted with a fracture. Could you tell me which room he’s in?”
The nurse chuckled. “You’re the second one today.”
“Sorry?” Emily asked.
The nurse explained, “Someone else came by earlier asking about their friend with a broken bone, but we haven’t had any patients with fractures admitted lately. I think you might be at the wrong hospital. Maybe check with your friend?”
Emily kept her tone light. “Oh really? Maybe I know her was she about my age?”
The nurse nodded without thinking much of it. “Yeah, about your age.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it,” Emily said with a smile.
That must have been Rose.
So, she’s been found out.
No big deal.
Emily strode out of the hospital and drove straight to Rose’s coffee shop.
The moment she walked in, she made her way to the counter.
The barista, busy with the register, looked up briefly. “Welcome! What can I get for you?”
“Is your manager in? If so, could you let her know I’d like a word?”
The barista paused, then slowly looked up, recognizing Emily as a regular customer these days.
“Of course. One moment, please.”
Emily nodded, watching the barista disappear into the back. She leaned against the counter, letting her mind wander.
“Excuse me, but have we met before?”
A tentative voice sounded by her ear. Emily glanced over to see another barista from the café.
She raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think so.”
The barista frowned, studying her for a moment. “No, I’m sure I’ve seen you somewhere.”
Emily’s lips curved into a subtle smile. “Lots of people have seen me before.”
After all, she’d been featured on financial news outlets more times than she could count.
The barista’s eyes widened. “You-”
How is she so cocky?
Emily just said, “What?”
Suddenly, the barista’s memory clicked, as if someone had smacked him on the head. He quickly pulled out his phone, fingers flying across the screen.
The next moment, news headlines popped up, and he stared at the phone in disbelief before holding it up for her to see.