Ferdinand tightened his hold around her, his arms drawing Briony closer.


    "Gifford, get us to the hospital."


    "Yes, sir!" Gifford answered crisply.


    With Briony in his arms, Ferdinand climbed into the SUV. The ck Hummer sped off into the distance.


    Just then, a shout echoed from the deck-"Hurry! Mr. Wentworth''s in shock!"


    Cedric rke''s eyes widened in rm. He bolted back toward the yacht.


    At the hospital, after Briony was rushed into the emergency room, Ferdinand immediately called James.


    It wasn''t long before James arrived, bringing Little Nina and Crystal Marlene with him.


    Last night, news hade from Mr. Seven-he''d finally tracked down the location of Stewart''s private yacht.


    Mr. Seven had sent out his own vessel and arranged for his men to apany Ferdinand and James on the search for Briony.


    Originally, James was meant to join Ferdinand out at sea that day. But Little Nina hadn''t spoken to her mother in days and had spent the previous nights tossing and turning, gued by nightmares of her mom crying.


    By the next day, Little Nina had developed a low fever.


    James was her godfather, and besides Briony, no one knew how to care for Little Nina better than he did.


    So, after some discussion, they decided Ferdinand and Cedric rke would go with Mr. Seven''s men, while James stayed behind to look after Nina.


    But before the search could even begin, Stewart''s yacht unexpectedly returned.


    By the time James and the others arrived at the hospital, Briony had already been moved out of the emergency room.


    The doctor exined she had a mild lung infection and a sprained ankle, but nothing too serious. She''d need a few days of observation and IV antibiotics, but if nothing else came up, she''d be discharged soon.


    Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.


    James sent Crystal to handle the paperwork for Briony''s admission.


    Soon after, Briony was transferred to a private VIP suite.


    When Little Nina saw her mother lying in the hospital bed, eyes closed, an IV in


    her hand, she couldn''t hold back her tears any longer.


    James knelt beside her, gently


    soothing her. "Your mom just caught a bad cold on her trip, sweetheart. The doctor said she''ll be fine after a few days of medicine and rest. There''s nothing to be afraid of, okay?"


    Little Nina''s lips trembled. "But... when Mom gets sick, she never sleeps this long. Godfather, are you lying to me? I overheard you and Crystal talking-you said Mom was taken by bad people..."


    James froze, caught off guard that she''d overheard their conversation. Guilt washed over him.


    Ferdinand walked over and crouched beside Little Nina, softly ruffling her hair. His warm gaze met her tearful eyes.


    "You misunderstood, Little Nina," he


    said gently. Your mom was just


    away on a work trip this time. It was a tough assignment, and the ship


    she was on went too fast in bad weather, and she ended up getting sick."


    "Really?" Little Nina looked up at Ferdinand with huge, searching eyes. "So she wasn''t taken by bad people?"


    "Of course not," Ferdinand assured her. "And even if there were bad guys, your godfather and I would have chased them off long ago. So there''s nothing to be afraid of."


    Little Nina finally let out a shaky breath and rxed, her fears easing.


    "When will Mommy wake up?" she whispered.


    Ferdinand smoothed her hair again, his voice gentle and reassuring. "Mr. Ellsworth promises you-she''ll wake up this afternoon."


    "Really?" Little Nina sniffled, peering up at him. "You''re so handsome, Mr. Ellsworth, but you can''t lie to me. They say handsome men who tell lies are all heartbreakers-"


    Ferdinand blinked in surprise, then gave a helpless chuckle. "Don''t worry, I''m not a heartbreaker."


    Satisfied, Little Nina finally rxed, curling quietly in James''s arms.


    She''d been running a low fever herself thesest couple of days, but with some herbal remedies and gentle massages Ferdinand had arranged, she was much better now.


    Still, the nightmares had left her exhausted. Now, nestled against James, her eyelids drooped as she watched her mom.


    Before long, she drifted off to sleep.


    James brushed a hand over her hair, his heart aching for her. "You''ve had a rough time, sweetheart."


    "Let her sleep next to Briony," Ferdinand suggested.


    James nodded and carefullyid Little Nina beside her mother. The two curled up together, mother and daughter, and James tucked the nket around them both.


    After making sure they werefortable, he and Ferdinand quietly left the room. They headed up to the rooftop terrace.