?Chapter 2971:


    Then Louise drew a slow breath, pressing her fingers to her temple as guilt crept into her expression. She hadn’t meant to let her emotions slip out that way.


    Louise couldn’t stop herself from feeling the weight of it all. She had seen how tirelessly her daughter had been throwing herself into her duties at the hospital. Time and again, she had tried to talk some sense into her. But Colleen never budged.


    Once before, Louise had been too harsh about her daughter’s love life, and she’d promised not to repeat that mistake. So she chose silence this time, hoping that space would do more good than pressure.


    Even so, it broke her heart to watch Colleen wither day by day, her spirit dimming along with her strength.


    Deep down, Louise understood—her daughter still resented her for breaking up her and Brady.


    Determined that she had done the right thing, she pretended not to notice Colleen’s sadness.


    Maybe, she thought, this storm would pass on its own. Time had a way of softening pain. People learned to live without what they once thought they couldn’t.


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    Neither of them spoke after that. The air between mother and daughter hung heavy, filled with unspoken words.


    Then, suddenly, a sharp rap sounded against the door.


    Someone hade to see them.


    Hadley looked toward the door and said, “That must be the nurse with the results.”


    Raising her voice, she called, “Come in!”


    The door creaked open—but it wasn’t the nurse who appeared. Standing there was Jorge Foster, Colleen’s boyfriend.


    The moment she saw him, Colleen felt a new kind of headache forming. The pain in her stomach was gone, but now frustration took its ce.


    Her eyes flicked toward Hadley, silently asking for an exnation.


    Hadley lifted her shoulders in confusion and whispered, “It wasn’t me. I have no idea.”


    Of course, she didn’t even have Jorge’s number.


    “It was me!” Louise interjected sharply, her tone edged with annoyance. “He’s your boyfriend, isn’t he? He has every right to know.”


    Jorge stepped inside and gave a polite nod. “Mrs. Hayes. Colleen.”


    His gaze shifted toward Hadley briefly. “Hey.”


    “Hi,” she replied evenly.


    Turning his attention back to Colleen, he spoke with concern. “Colleen, are you feeling alright? What did the tests show? I’m sorry it took me a while to get here.”


    Turning toward Louise, Jorge said, “Mrs. Hayes, I should’ve been more careful. This is on me.”


    “No, Jorge. Don’t take the me.” Louise lifted a hand as if to wave away the guilt hanging in the air. “You couldn’t have known. I’m just d you came.”


    “Alright,” Jorge replied, pushing his sses up the bridge of his nose. His eyes settled on Colleen’s wan face. “You don’t look too good. Have the test resultse out yet?”


    Before anyone could answer, a gentle knock echoed through the room.


    This time, the nurse entered.


    “Dr. Hayes, the test results are ready…” The nurse hesitated, as though uncertain whether to hand them over. “Here’s the report.”


    “Thanks,” Colleen muttered, though her pulse quickened.


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