?Chapter 62:


    Through the haze, a vague shape began to emerge in her blurred vision. A sense of being rescued flickered through her mind, anchoring her fading awareness. She silently vowed to forever be grateful to this savior.


    As Sadie regained consciousness, the pungent scent of disinfectant filled her nostrils. She opened her eyes to find herself in a hospital room, the walls adorned with green and white stripes.


    Noah was seated beside the bed, his forehead creased with weariness.


    Was it him?


    Her heart raced, hope flickering in her eyes.


    Feeling her stare, Noah looked her way and gently said, “You’re awake.”


    Oddly, his words enveloped Sadie with aforting warmth. She gave a small nod, hesitating to voice her questions.


    At that moment, K entered, bearing a container of food, her expression warm. “Here’s some soup for you, Noah. You must be starving,” she said, passing the container to Noah with a familiarity that spoke of closeness.


    As K turned to Sadie, her voice held aforting tone. “Don’t worry, Sadie. The police caught that man yesterday. What would you like to eat? I can bring it for you.”


    Her words were soft, soothing like a gentle breeze, yet they caused Sadie’s spirits to plummet.


    It was the police who had rescued her, not Noah.


    The spark in her eyes dimmed, reced by a growing bitterness.


    How could Noah have been her rescuer?


    While she had endured her ordeal, he was likely with K.


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    “Thanks, but I don’t feel like eating,” Sadie murmured.


    At her words, K’s eyes filled with tears, her expression teetering on the edge of breaking down.


    “I’m sorry for intruding and causing you distress. This is all my fault,” she murmured, her lip quivering and her shoulders shaking, as though she had been deeply wronged.


    Sadie watched her, the feigned vulnerability from K unsettling the peace in her heart.


    She found herself at a loss for words, sensing that whatever she might say would be inconsequential.


    Suddenly, the silence of the room was broken by the health monitor beside the bed, which started beeping sharply.


    Jim entered swiftly, a look of concern etched on his face.


    “The patient needs to be undisturbed for her rest,” he said firmly.


    A flicker of irritation crossed Jim’s face as he nced pointedly at K.


    Caught in her act of exaggerated frailty, K seemed ufortable. She hadn’t anticipated her actions would lead to usations of disturbing Sadie.


    Her eyes welled up again as she looked to Noah for support, biting her lip in apparent distress.


    Noah remained focused on Sadie, ignoring K’s emotional disy, as he asked Jim, “Have the test resultse in yet? What’s the status of Sadie’s health?”


    Sadie felt a pang of despair at his words.


    Tightly gripping the quilt, she attempted to sit up, her movementsced with anxiety. “Dr. Archer…”


    She harbored a secret she didn’t want Noah to discover—her pregnancy. Jim nced at Noah and then at K, allowing a heavy silence to settle before he said, “Her life isn’t in danger. She needs to focus on resting.”


    Noah’s expression darkened with concern, his voice tinged with skepticism. “She’s been experiencing nausea and fainting. Are you sure she’s fine?”


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