The hospital room had been heavy with gloom, but suddenly, Osborn sprang up from his sickbed, his eyes shining.


    "Really?"


    Victoria had actually knitted him a scarf with her own hands. Was this his lucky day atst?


    All his earlierints vanished in a sh. After Victoria spent a few minutes humoring him, she handed the scarf over to Yasmine, giving her clear instructions: make sure to tell Osborn the scarf was handmade by Victoria, and, if possible, try to bring back a photo of him wearing it.


    Yasmine shot Victoria a long, meaningful look-her boss was finally starting to open her heart and let someone else in.


    Carrying out her mission, Yasmine delivered the scarf to Osborn. Watching this tall, handsome man grinning like a fool as he cradled the scarf, Yasmine couldn''t help but feel a pang of envy.


    Especially when she added, "Mr. rk, Ms. Turner insisted I get a picture of you wearing it. Would you mind striking a pose for her?"


    Osborn''s smile nearly split his face. "Why just try it on? I''m wearing it, and I''m not taking it off. You don''t have to take the picture-I''ll do it myself. Just help me decide which pose looks best."


    Despite insisting he didn''t need her help, he handed Yasmine his phone and proceeded to try every mboyant pose he could think of. Yasmine figured she must have taken at least a hundred shots before her arms gave out.


    "All right, Mr. rk, I need to get back to Ms. Turner and let her know I delivered it. If you want more photos, you''re on your own."


    She''d had enough-half an hour of this was more than enough.


    Osborn asked Yasmine what Victoria was up to, but Yasmine just made up an excuse and left.


    By lunchtime, when Lyndon and the others came to check on him, Osborn was already moring to be discharged early. Lyndon gave him a once-over and immediately noticed the bright blue scarf standing out against Osborn''s otherwise sharp, grey tailored suit. The color shed terribly, but Osborn was beaming like an idiot. Lyndon started to wonder if the myocarditis had affected his brain.


    "Nice scarf, huh?" Osborn asked, showing it off to anyone who''d look.


    ter and York exchanged baffled nces. "It''s... fine, I guess."


    "What do you mean, ''fine''? It looks great-matches me perfectly," Osborn insisted, all puffed up.


    Lyndon, meanwhile, was busy handling the discharge paperwork and barely spared him a nce.


    "Lyndon, any idea who gave it to me?" Osborn teased, milking the moment for all it was worth.


    Lyndon''s face remained impassive; he had no interest in ying along.


    Once the paperwork was done, he returned to help Osborn pack up his things. Osborn was still showing off his scarf like it was a trophy.


    Lyndon muttered a single, cold word. "Tacky."


    Osborn wasn''t bothered in the least. In fact, he looked even prouder. "Your boss made this for me herself. I think she''s finally starting to take me seriously."


    Lyndon froze mid-step, his eyes suddenly sharp as knives, ring at Osborn. "You''re telling me Victoria made you that scarf?"


    Victoria received a flurry of photos from both Yasmine and Osborn. She picked out the two best ones and forwarded them to Kimberly.


    After leaving Victoria''s house, Kimberly took her private jet straight back to Evermore City.


    "Aunt Kim, Osborn was thrilled to get your scarf. Take a look at these," Victoria messaged, attaching the photos.


    She''d deliberately chosen close-ups that didn''t reveal the hospital background— no need to worry Kimberly unnecessarily.


    Seeing her son looking healthy-maybe even a bit heavier than he had in Echo City-Kimberly finally let out a breath she''d been holding.


    "Thank you, Victoria, for looking after him. I hope you''ll visit Evermore City sometime, so I can properly thank you."


    Victoria replied, "You''re too kind."


    She nced again at the photos, at Osborn''s bright, unguarded smile, and felt a twinge of envy.


    Having a mother who cares must be wonderful. Too bad, she''d lost Edith forever. Lost in her thoughts, her phone buzzed with a new WhatsApp message.


    It was from Lyndon. She knew he and the others had been looking after Osborn. Expecting something urgent, she opened their chat right away.


    "You there?"


    A simple greeting. She replied instantly.


    "Yes, what''s up?"


    There was a pause. Victoria figured something must be wrong with Osborn and quickly typed, "Is Osborn okay?"


    He seemed fine during the photo session-was he throwing another tantrum now?


    "You knitted Osborn a scarf. So you''re in love with him now? What was all these years of my loyalty worth, then?"