The change in her tone was so obvious that Charlotte noticed it at once. She glanced at her daughter before turning to look at Xavier.
Like her, Xavier had noticed the shift in the way Clara addressed him.
However, he didn’t comnt on it.
His brows only furrowed for a different reason as he walked in, heading straight to Clara’s side.
His gaze dropped to her hand —where the IV needle had almost been pulled out, blood slowly seeping from the wound.
"You need to be careful when moving with the needle attached," he said gently, concern evident in his tone. "You made yourself bleed."
Clara glanced at her hand before looking up at him with a faint smile —one that no longer carried the sa ease as before.
"It’s fine," she said softly. "It doesn’t hurt that much."
Xavier frowned, his expression darkening slightly at her words. He looked at her as though trying to see through everything she wasn’t saying.
"You love to act spoiled," he said, already uncuffing his sleeves and rolling them up. "Stay that way. You don’t need to change."
Then he reached for the tray of cotton and antiseptic from the side.
His movents remained as gentle as ever —but his words had already drawn a line.
Charlotte didn’t notice it.
But Clara did.
Perfectly.
So clearly that her fingers nearly curled into a fist —despite the wound.
She had drawn the line deliberately first ... just to see if he would notice.
He did.
But instead of erasing it, Xavier added another stroke to it, deepening it.
Instead of reassuring her that nothing had changed between them, he chose a different path —one that suggested that even if things had changed, he would still take care of her.
Care.
Not love.
Was he really drawing a boundary between them —for Adelyn?
The thought alone made sothing tighten inside her chest.
But she kept her composure.
The fragile smile stayed on her lips as she lay on the bed, looking weak and vulnerable.
Xavier sat beside her and carefully tended to her wound, his touch still carrying the sa quiet tenderness as before.
"Xavier ca earlier as well," Charlotte spoke from the side when she noticed Clara watching him as if searching for answers.
Clara turned to her.
Charlotte smiled and nodded reassuringly. "You were asleep, so he stepped out so he wouldn’t disturb you."
She glanced briefly at Xavier before adding, "He really cares about you. He even took leave from work today and stayed here since morning."
Her words were ant to comfort Clara —to remind her that nothing had changed.
That Xavier was still the sa.
And perhaps ... he always would be.
After all, seven years of affection couldn’t simply be false.
But Clara couldn’t believe it.
Because she knew better.
Xavier cared for her —yes.
But that care was not the sa as what he felt for Adelyn.
If it were, she wouldn’t be trying so hard to make him give up on Adelyn and choose her instead.
She was trying because she knew—
If she didn’t, she would lose him.
And he was never supposed to belong to anyone else.
Keeping her smile intact, Clara turned to Xavier and said softly,
"You didn’t have to spend your whole day here at the hospital. You rarely take ti off ... you should have gone ho and rested."
Xavier’s hands paused.
His gaze deepened as it lingered on her hand.
He doesn’t take leave easily.
He had taken it today ... just to et Adelyn.
And yet—
She didn’t even bother to et him.
She left him waiting ... letting him know how unimportant he had beco to her.
His fingers unconsciously tightened around Clara’s hand.
Clara winced.
The pain snapped Xavier out of his thoughts.
He looked up imdiately, his expression shifting. "I’m sorry. I didn’t an to. Did I—"
Clara shook her head quickly. "No," she said. "It doesn’t hurt anymore."
Charlotte was about to step forward to check on her—
But at that mont, she noticed Maria standing by the door.
Maria gave her a subtle nod.
Charlotte understood at once.
Turning to Xavier, she said, "Stay with Clara for a while. I need to step out for sothing."
Xavier nodded.
Charlotte left without delay.
Matilda remained in the room, standing quietly to the side, keeping watch.
Xavier lowered his gaze back to Clara’s hand.
He had just cleaned the blood —but now, because of his own carelessness, fresh droplets had ford again.
"You’re the one who fears pain the most," he said with a slight frown. "And yet I—"
"Being afraid doesn’t make pain disappear, Xavier," Clara interrupted, her tone carrying a quiet, self-mocking edge. "The things I have to suffer ... I can’t escape them. No matter how hard I try."
Xavier understood what she ant.
But he chose not to respond.
Instead, he focused on her hand.
Taking a fresh cotton swab, he carefully wiped away the blood.
"I’ll be more careful," he said softly.
This ti, his touch was gentler —almost cautious —as he cleaned the wound and placed a small bandage over it.
Once he was done, he stood up and moved to place the tray back on the table.
Behind him, Clara’s voice ca again—
"You took leave for Adelyn, didn’t you?"
Xavier stilled.
He didn’t turn.
He didn’t answer.
What was he supposed to say?
That he had taken leave for Adelyn ...
Only for her to not care about it at all?
Only for her to ignore him completely—
And he still was willing to run after her. Just so that she would look at him once again ... the sa way as before?
It was humiliating, yet he was all up for it.
————————
anwhile—
Outside the ward—
Charlotte walked a short distance away with Maria, stopping at a quiet corner.
She had sent Maria earlier to find out about the actress who had taken the role ant for Clara.
"Did you find her?" Charlotte asked.
Maria stopped a few steps behind her.
She waited until Charlotte turned to face her, then nodded.
"Yes, Madam Scott. I did find her information. But—"
"But what?" Charlotte’s voice sharpened.
"I couldn’t find a way to contact her," Maria admitted. "Neither the crew nor ZX dia has much information. They only know her na ... and the manager she’s working with."
Charlotte frowned.
She had intended to et the girl personally —to see for herself what kind of person she was.
But now—
"What’s her na?" she asked.
Maria took a small breath before answering.
"It’s ... Adelyn Grace."
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