Evelyn and Adam nked Josephine, supporting her as they walked out.


    At that moment, Charles appeared in the doorway of the hospital room.


    "Jo-"


    The word "Mom" caught in his throat, and he swallowed it back. "Aunt Josephine, I''m here to take you home."


    "No need to trouble yourself, Mr. Jenkins. I really can''t ept that," Josephine replied icily, her expression cold and distant.


    Her indifferent words cut sharper than any knife, plunging straight into Charles''s heart without hesitation.


    "Get out of the way, mutt!"


    Adam, never fond of Charles, stepped forward and physically blocked him.


    Charles took the insult in silence, not stooping to argue with Adam.


    "Mom, let''s go home," Evelyn said, not sparing Charles a nce as she gently helped Josephine forward.


    Josephine squeezed Evelyn''s hand, and together they made their way out.


    Charles trailed after them, keeping a respectful two or three steps behind. He had known he''d be unwee here, but escorting Ms. Josephine home after her discharge was something he had to do.


    They stepped into the elevator.


    Charles instinctively took a ce in the farthest corner.


    Through the elevator''s mirrored doors, Josephine nced at the tall, stoic figure behind her, sighing inwardly.


    Some mistakes could never be forgiven, not in this lifetime.


    Charlie''s death—an unbridgeable chasm between him and Eve.


    When they reached the parking garage, Evelyn walked to her car and opened the door, about to help Josephine in—only to find the tire t.


    It had been fine when they arrived.


    How had it suddenly gone t?


    Charles saw it too and stepped forward. "Eve, let me drive you home."


    "Charles, are you out of your mind?" Evelyn snapped, her temper ring as she kicked Charles on the shin.


    She immediately suspected Charles of sabotaging her car.


    Charles understood the suspicion—he was, after all, the prime suspect.


    But if enduring a kick meant he could drive Ms. Josephine home, it was worth it.


    "Ms. Evelyn, Ms. Josephine may be discharged, but she still needs plenty of rest. She shouldn''t be walking around too much," Charles said.


    Just then, Andrew popped up out of nowhere.


    "Charles has a nice car. Just treat him like your private chauffeur for today. If you''re really that upset, tip him twenty bucks when you get out," Andrew joked, opening the


    ve


    passenger door of Charles''scar and gently ushering Josephine inside.


    Evelyn eyed Andrew, realizing how her tire had likely gotten punctured. But even now, she wouldn''t apologize for suspecting Charles. He''d jumped to conclusions about her often enough over the years.


    If it were just her, Evelyn would never have gotten into Charles''s car. But Andrew''s words made sense. She was acutely aware of her mother''s condition-though the operation was a sess, Josephine was older and had been in aa for a long time. She needed careful recovery.


    With the winter wind biting outside, Evelyn couldn''t risk her mother catching a cold while waiting for a cab.


    So she kept silent, walked over, and stopped Josephine from getting out of the


    car.


    "Godmother, someone''s volunteering to drive. Let''s just treat it like a ride service," Adam said, echoing Evelyn''s thoughts. No matter how much they disliked thepany, Josephine''s health came first.


    Josephine settled back into the seat. Evelyn and Adam climbed in as well.


    Andrew gave Charles a look. "Call Aiden yourself."


    "Thanks, Charles!" Andrew grinned.


    Charles thought it was worth it.


    Spending a small fortune for a chance to share a car ride with them-he''d pay it dly.


    "Eve, didn''t you call Brooks?" Josephine asked, treating Charles like a hired driver, ignoring him along with Adam and Evelyn.


    "I figured he''d be busy," Evelyn replied.


    "Eve, Brooks is your boyfriend. You should get used to depending on him. With friends, yes, it''s best not to trouble them. But in a rtionship, if you never let Brooks help you, he''ll think you don''t care or need him," Josephine said.


    At the wheel, Charles''s hands tightened on the steering wheel as Josephine openly acknowledged Brooks as Evelyn''s boyfriend. He looked in the rearview mirror, his gaze lingering on Evelyn-she didn''t spare him a single nce. Bitterness welled up inside him.


    ...


    The car glided smoothly into Maple Garden.


    As soon as they pulled up to Evelyn''s apartment building, they saw a tall figure leaning against a car outside. The moment he spotted Charles''s car, he straightened and walked over.


    Josephine''s eyes lit up when she saw Brooks. On the way, Evelyn had messaged him just as Josephine suggested, and Brooks had


    immediately driven over. Work


    could


    wait, he needed to be here for Josephine''s discharge. That was the kind of man he was for Eve.


    "Thank you for driving Evelyn and Aunt Josephine home, Mr. Jenkins," Brooks


    said, pulling open the back door to help Josephine out, his polite words to Charles unmistakably staking his im.