Chapter 342

I found myself before Matthew's hospital room. Two men in black suits stood guard; one looked familiar—a bodyguard of Thorsten's. Thorsten clearly wasn't trying to be inconspicuous; he seemed unconcerned about projecting a mafioso image. Since he was already present, I hesitated to enter. Returning to Yuna's room was equally undesirable, so I wandered to the hospital's small garden.

I barely settled onto a bench when a tiny voice chirped, "Miss, will you play ball with me?" A little girl, perhaps three or four, gazed at me with large, pleading eyes. I wasn't in the mood, but couldn't refuse.

"Sure," I replied, anticipating a brief five-minute diversion. However, the game triggered flashbacks of playing ball with my parents as a child. The little girl's commentary, though, quickly shifted from cute to cutting:

"Miss, you're kinda clumsy." "Oops, you missed again." "Miss…"

Not only was I stuck playing, but I was being playfully teased by a toddler. Honestly, though, I was enjoying myself.

"Milly!" a voice called, interrupting our game.

A strikingly beautiful woman, in a strapless top and high-waisted pants, strode towards us.

"Mommy, I'm playing with this lady!" Milly announced, brushing her hair from her face.

"Milly, your dad's finished visiting. We must go," her mother stated.

Milly pouted. "But I want to play longer!"

"No, we'll be late, and your dad won't wait," her mother replied, navigating the soft grass in seven-inch stilettos with practiced ease. Watching her walk on the grass in those heels made me apprehensive, but she maintained her balance effortlessly.

Without looking at me, she reached for Milly. "Come on, let's go. You're getting harder to handle every day."

"No! I just want to play a little longer, just a bit!" Milly whined, holding up a finger.

"Fine, stay and play, I'm leaving," her mother said, clearly hoping to intimidate Milly into obedience.

The situation felt awkward, so I interjected, "Milly, how about you go home now? Next time you're here, I'll play with you again, okay?"

Milly crossed her arms, her voice sharper than expected from a four-year-old. "Next time I won't see you. You're a stranger."

I gently patted her head. "Maybe, but who knows? Fate might bring us together again."

"Come on, come on," the woman muttered, tugging at Milly's arm. Then, under her breath, she added, "Didn't I tell you not to talk to strangers? What if she kidnaps you?"

I was speechless.

"She's not a kidnapper! She's my friend. At least she plays with me. You and Dad never do," Milly retorted, standing her ground.

The woman's eyes flared. "You're really pushing it—"

She raised her hand. Instinctively, I stepped forward, shielding Milly. Then, a deep voice cut through the air:

"Sasha Grey, life must be too easy if you think you can lay a hand on my daughter."

Thorsten stood before us. I blinked, taking in the scene: Milly in my arms, Thorsten's intense gaze, and Sasha Grey, who appeared to be my age.

"Daddy!" Milly wriggled free and ran to him.

Thorsten scooped her up, kissing her cheek. "Don't worry, I've got you now."

Sasha's tension was evident, even through her makeup. She approached Thorsten, attempting to justify her actions. "Thorsten, I was just teaching her not to talk to strangers. Kidnappers are everywhere. What if something happened to her?"

She glared at me, clearly identifying me as the "stranger." I offered a hesitant smile and turned to leave.

But Thorsten, with his usual composure, said, "She's not a kidnapper." He looked at me and, with a slight smirk, added, "Right?"

Chapter 343