“If I do that, I might never make it back,” Ellie joked, aware of his intentions.

Disappointed yet playful, Kaiden tousled her hair.

“Then go back. I’ll watch until you’re safely inside.” He was even more concerned for her safety, especially in light of Baylee’s recent scare.

“Alright, see you tomorrow!”

Ellie turned towards the hospital, Kaiden’s image etched in her mind.

Recalling the reluctance to part that she’d observed in couples during her college days, Ellie rushed back to him.

Without hesitation, Kaiden opened his arms to welcome her with a hug.

Ellie embraced Kaiden tightly, resting her ear against his chest, where she could hear his strong heartbeat. In his arms, she felt safe and enveloped in warmth.

“What’s this about?” Kaiden teased, a playful note in his voice, “Have you changed your mind and wanted to sleep with me?”

“In your dreams!” Ellie retorted, standing on her tiptoes to plant a quick kiss on his lips before pushing him away with a laugh and stepping back.

The early summer breeze danced through her hair, casting her smiling face in a radiant glow under the streetlights. “Goodnight, Mr. Thorpe!”

Her words barely faded before she turned and sprinted back into the hospital, disappearing from his view.

Kaiden stood still, his initial irritation giving way to amusement at her playful departure.

Despite feeling utterly disarmed by her actions, he knew he would always stand ready, arms wide open, for her to return to him.

After Ellie’s bold move earlier, Kaiden hurried back to his room and took a quick cold shower. Then, he called Bruce for some important work. While he was going over papers, his phone rang.

He thought it might be Ellie. But it was Carole calling instead.

Kaiden’s smile faded as he remembered what Ellie had said. Ellie wasn’t one to jump to conclusions without reason.

Deciding to ignore the call, Kaiden put his phone on silent and let it go to voicemail.

Not long after, the doorbell chimed. Kaiden went to answer it, and his expression tightened when he saw who was there.

“Are you busy, Kaiden? I tried calling, but you didn’t pick up,” Carole said, looking pretty in her dress and makeup, clearly prepared for the occasion.

“How did you know I was staying here?” Kaiden asked blankly.

“Our family has a stake in this hotel,” Carole explained.

A spark of memory ignited in Kaiden’s mind: Glostin was the cornerstone of the Lambert family’s legacy. Even though they had scattered across the globe, Glostin remained their stronghold, with Katharine’s maritime investments and their eldest son’s stake in lavish hotels keeping their ties strong.

Since Carole was part of the Lambert family, it made sense for the hotel manager to disclose Kaiden’s room number to her.

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