By the time M arrived at the hospital, the afternoon was already slipping away.


    Stepping onto the inpatient floor, she spotted a man lingering outside a room, clutching a briefcase and some documents. He wore a well-tailored suit-the sort of crisp, professional attire that marked him as young but already a little world- weary. As M drew closer, she noticed sweat beading on his brow as he dabbed at his forehead, and she couldn''t help but wonder at the sight.


    "Why aren''t you going in?"


    It suddenly struck her-Sophia had only been out of prison for a year, and her mental state was far from stable. She hadn''t resumed any real control over the Pembroke Family business, but she was still technically the president. This must be one of thepany''s employees.


    So why was he blocking the doorway instead of going in?


    "Ah, Chairwoman Suthend, good afternoon... If you have business inside, please go ahead. I''m in no rush," the man said politely, stepping aside as she approached.


    M didn''t dwell on it. She reached for the doorknob and pushed the door open. The moment she set foot inside, someone seized her wrist. Before she could react, she was yanked off bnce and dragged into the room.


    The man who''d been about to follow her in paused, his grip on the documents trembling slightly. He hesitated, then quietly shut the door and abandoned any thought of entering. Instead, he made his way to a bench against the wall and sat down, suddenly feeling that maybe-whatever he''de for wasn''t so urgent after all.


    He could wait.


    ***


    Inside the room, M''s arm was twisted behind her back, her face pressed to the wall. Disoriented, it took her a beat to realize what was happening.


    She kicked backward on instinct.


    A muffled grunt sounded behind her, and the grip on her arm tightened painfully. Sophia''s voice, sharp and furious, hissed from behind, "Who gave you permission to hang up on me?" Not a single one of her calls had gotten through since that day. When had she ever been treated like this?


    Getting blocked before-fine, she''d swallowed that.


    But now, when she was clearly in the right, why should she have to put up with this?


    M blinked. "...All this because of a phone call?"


    What kind of lunatic is this?


    Anger red in her chest. Gritting her teeth against the pain radiating from her shoulder, M quickly weighed her options, then stomped down hard on the other woman''s foot. The hold on her loosened just enough for her to wrench free and put some distance between them.


    Her gaze flicked to theatose child on the bed-thankfully, he seemed undisturbed by themotion. M swung her purse between them like a shield, voice low and warning, "Stop! Don''te any closer!"


    Seriously, what is wrong with you? Do you even realize where you are?


    Her heart pounded with anger.


    She really needed a full physical after this-being hounded by unstable people like this was going to wear down even the most patient saint. As if dealing with a missing Lysander Montgomery wasn''t enough, now she had to handle someone even more unhinged-and apparently not shy about using force.


    What was wrong with these people? Was basic conversation not an option? Did


    no one around here know how to use their words?


    After a few moments, M nced at Sophia, who stood a few feet away, bracing


    herself against the wall in silence. M exhaled,posing herself. "Have you calmed down? Can we talk like civilized adults now?"


    Sophia''s icy stare answered her.


    M met her gaze, refusing to back down. Afterst night''s


    near-disastrous argument with Sophia an argument that had almost ended in tragedy-she found she wasn''t afraid anymore. Maybe she was just resigned; her life honestly couldn''t get much worse at this point.


    If she couldn''t hide, she''d have to face things head-on.


    And when dealing with someone erratic and violent, she knew from experience- show any weakness, and you''d be bullied mercilessly. Stand your ground, or you''d be eaten alive.


    She was done being pushed around.


    Sophia still leaned against the wall, not moving, but after a long, tense silence,


    she finally averted her gaze. Her voice was cold andmanding. "My foot hurts. Come help me to a chair."


    M nced down.


    That was her doing-Sophia''s foot was already swelling in her low-heeled sandals. Serves her right. Even so, the arrogance was


    infuriating. M ignored her, mel. ne


    instead to sit by Julian''s bedside. The boyy unconscious, oblivious to the chaos, which was a small mercy.


    "M!" Sophia''s voice was sharp and edged with pain.


    M red back. "Can''t you see there''s a child here? Keep your voice down. And


    is it so hard to say ''please'' when you need help?”


    What was wrong with these people? She''d been raised in high society-where was the basic courtesy?


    Sophia sneered. "You? What are you, that I should say please to you?" She hobbled to the door, using the wall for support, and raised her fist to bang for help.


    She didn''t get the chance. M''s hand shot out, grabbing her wrist in a steely grip. Sophia shot her a cold look, a mocking smile flickering on her lips.


    Of course. As long as Julian was in this room, M would never let her cause a


    scene.


    Her son was the only thing keeping her in check.


    "Help me―" Sophia started to order, but M tightened her grip and, ignoring any protests, half-dragged her out into the corridor. Sophia, foot throbbing with pain, broke out in a cold sweat and for the moment, at least-couldn''t muster another word.