While Johnny was resting at home, he couldn''t shake off the worries about work. The project he''d been nurturing for two years was about to kick off, and he was itching to double-check every single contract.


    From his bed, he coughed a bit and asked Naomi, "Can you bring me myptop?"


    Naomi let out a sigh. "You''re not in the best shape. Stop pushing it. Quinn''s got things under control at the office. Remember how good she is? She''s been hustling all week, and just watching her is exhausting."


    Johnny''s face softened with a hint of pride as he rubbed his forehead. "Quinn''s amazing, but this project is crucial. It''s about whether we can take our business overseas. I''ve poured my heart into this for two years. We can''t drop the ball now, especially with all those bigwigs watching."


    Naomi sat beside him, grabbing his hand. "Quinn took your desktop because she knew you''d sneak a peek at work stuff. She even turned off your phone. Just chill at home for a week. Let your mind rest. Quinn''s even handling ra''s funeral."


    Johnny went quiet immediately. ra''s name sent a dull ache through his chest, and the strength he''d been clinging to just crumbled.


    Naomi finally noticed he was crying. Johnny, the rock of the household, hadn''t shed a tear since the old man passed.


    Her felt awful too, and she couldn''t help but feel some resentment toward ra. If ra had passed sooner, maybe the family wouldn''t be in such a mess.


    *


    When ra reached the hospital, she saw Calix and June tidying up together. The hospital was dotted with flowers, not many, but just enough to brighten every


    corner.


    Calix spotted her right away and grinned. "ra, you''re here!"


    June was sweeping with her back turned. When she heard him, she quickly dropped the broom and tried to make a break for it.


    But ra''s words stopped her in her tracks. "June, you sniffed out this hospital in just a day, proving you''re not as lost as you pretend. You''re faking it, aren''t you? I told


    I you, things can turn around, but only if you cooperate."


    June paused, then slowly turned to face ra.


    ra noticed she looked two decades older than she was, with eyes full of weariness and despair.


    Before she could say anything, June suddenly dropped to her knees. "Miss ra, thank you for arranging care for Hugh. I have no idea how to repay you."


    When ra helped her up, she saw the tears streaming down her face, a twist of emotions swirling in her heart. Only someone who''s been through hell would cry like that.


    "June, just spill what''s on your mind."


    Then she turned to Calix, "I''m here toe clean about something."


    The three of them sat on a stone bench in the courtyard. June was shaking all over, like she''d been hit with a huge shock.


    ra waited patiently for her to settle down.


    She looked at Calix, her face earnest, and said, "Last time I was here, I didn''t tell you about something. I had a car ident and lost all my past memories. I don''t even remember who Hugh is. I came here on a mission from the Ferguson Corporation, but after what you said, I couldn''t bring myself to speak. I recently got into another ident and realized how stuck I am, so I''mying it all out now, hoping you''ll fill me in on everything."


    Calix was speechless for a few moments, then let out a big sigh.


    "That exins it. I knew something was off that day but didn''t ask. Honestly, I don''t know much. You''ve always been decisive, with your own ideas. One day, you just showed up with Hugh and donated a bunch of expensive gear. That''s how we managed to keep Hugh going. Hugh and I are from the same town. I watched him grow up, couldn''t just stand by."


    ra stayed silent. So Calix took Hugh in out of the goodness of his heart?


    She turned her attention back to June.


    June was gripping her teacup so tightly it looked like she might shatter it.


    ra reached out and held her calloused hands, "June, when I was with the Bradford family, people said you mistreated Quinn. But you don''t strike me as that kind of person."


    Shock flickered across June''s eyes, staring in disbelief as if those words were impossible. It took her a few seconds to respond, "What did you say?"


    ra took a sip of tea. "Quinn''s been seeing a therapist for years. She said she was abused by you and has always struggled mentally. Recently, someone iming to be your rtive went to the Bradford family and threatened to die unless they got thirty million."


    June shot up. "No way!"


    Her whole body was trembling, hands gripping the table. "No way, Quinn wouldn''t say that. We never hurt her, never..."