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Even though the condition wasn't the worst case of heart disease their department had seen, it was still serious, Charles thought. Honestly, this young lady really doesn't seem to care about her health.

Luna glared at Charles. This guy! He's practically begging for a punch.

Charles, worried she might get too worked up, sighed softly. "If you leave the hospital and something happens again, won't you just end up back here anyway?" he said.

Luna stared blankly, speechless. She couldn't argue; it made sense. But his tone rubbed her the wrong way.

She pointed to the bag on the bedside table. "Your phone's in my bag. Get it yourself," she snapped.

She had stayed primarily to return his phone, though she hadn't expected to end up in the hospital.

Charles's gaze fell on her. "Wait… so she was sitting outside the operating room not to tattle on me, but to return my phone?" he thought, feeling guilty.

He'd been in such a rush that his phone hadn't crossed his mind. Later, after Luna's resuscitation, he'd sent someone to look for it, but it had vanished. He'd assumed someone had picked it up. "But it was her all along? She kept it safe for me?"

This realization left Charles awkward. He'd totally misjudged her.

Luna glared again. "What's wrong?" she snapped. "Do I have to get up and hand it to you?" She thought nervously, What's with that look on his face?

Regaining his composure, Charles gave her a brief, nonchalant glance. "No need," he replied faintly.

He picked up the bag and handed it to her, much to Luna's surprise. She thought, I expected him to just grab it himself. It turns out he's got some decency after all.

Luna retrieved the phone and handed it to him. Charles accepted it, revealing countless missed calls. A sigh of relief escaped him.

He looked up. "Thanks," he said casually.

But Luna wasn't having it. She glared and snorted coldly. "I went through hell because of your stupid phone, and all I get is a 'thanks'?" She thought, Yeah, right, as if it's that easy.

Charles's mouth twitched. "I knew this wasn't going to be simple," he muttered. He thought, With her attitude, it'd be a miracle if she ever spoke nicely.

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Luna wasn't angry; she smiled smugly. "Good that you know," she said. When it came to Charles, she never felt the need to hold back. She waved dismissively. "Just arrange for my discharge now. It's really simple," she said, as if it were obvious.

She felt no discomfort and the hospital was making her restless.

Charles's face darkened. "Forget it," he said firmly. "You're staying here and getting the rest you need." This was a matter of life and death. If he let her go, he might as well stop being a doctor; it would be negligence.

Seeing her sour expression, Charles didn't give her a chance to argue. "If you need anything, just call me. I'm off to do my rounds," he said, leaving without waiting for her response.

Luna's brow furrowed. She thought, Ugh, how annoying! I can't even get discharged on my own terms. But she knew better than to risk her health. She sighed, settled back onto the bed, and flipped through her script. She thought, If I can't leave, fine. I can still work from here.

Riverside Villa. It was late; the villa was cloaked in silence. Only a few dim nightlights broke the darkness. Samuel had just returned from work. Changing into his slippers, he slowly ascended the stairs, his footsteps barely audible. He glanced at his watch: 1 A.M.

Reaching the bedroom door, Samuel paused, frowning. Bella must be asleep by now, he thought. He headed toward the study.

The sound of running water filled the air. After freshening up, Samuel quietly entered the bedroom.

In the soft glow of the bedside lamp, Isabella lay peacefully asleep. Samuel slipped into bed carefully. But he had barely settled when Isabella, still asleep, turned and draped her arm around his waist.

Samuel froze, glancing down. Her breathing was slow and steady. She's so beautiful, he thought, observing her lashes, the delicate shadows under the warm light, her soft pink lips.

He thought back to her lively energy at the office and smiled. Gently, he pulled the covers over her, wrapping his arms around her as he drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Isabella was jolted awake by her phone alarm. She stretched, then pushed herself up, blinking at the empty space beside her. Did he not come back last night? He's always so busy! she wondered, feeling disappointed.

Then, with a small smile, she thought, He seems to enjoy the dishes I cook. Maybe I’ll find time to bring him lunch again sometime. But not today. Today, she had a variety show to attend.

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Just as she finished washing up and eating breakfast, her phone rang. She knew who it was.

"Hey, lady! Are you heading out yet?" George's worried voice came through. Even though he knew Isabella was reliable, it had been a while since they'd worked together, and he couldn't help but check in.

Isabella smiled, holding back a laugh. "Yeah, I'm leaving now. I'll be there in about an hour," she replied.

"Okay, great! See you then!" George sounded relieved.

"See you soon," Isabella said, hanging up and heading out.

George had offered to pick her up, but she declined. She didn't want to reveal her location.

Backstage at the Variety Show. The backstage area was a whirlwind of activity. Alex and Stella sat side by side, makeup artists working on their looks.

Stella, a top-tier actress, was particular about her makeup. She pointed at a spot on her cheek. "It's caking a bit here," she said. "I should've used a face mask earlier. I mean, we're recording with Jayden today, after all." Her eyes sparkled.

She was dressed brightly—a fitted cream top and red pencil skirt, paired with a lace necklace. Her high twin ponytails added a youthful touch.

Alex, in a casual white outfit with a blue diamond stud, had a sunny smile. He teased her. "You really think Jayden's going to notice you?" he said with a grin.

Stella glared, though she knew he was right.

Alex checked his reflection. Satisfied, he turned to see Jayden approaching. He nudged Stella excitedly.

Stella turned, her heart racing. "Hey, Jayden," she greeted him with a polite smile.

"Hey, Jayden," Alex gave a casual nod. Jayden nodded back; his assistant found him a seat.

Dressed in a tailored gray suit, Jayden exuded effortless elegance. His hair was styled with extra care, making him look even more refined. He really is in a league of his own, Stella thought, casting him a furtive glance. No wonder he's a movie star.

Alex's attention drifted toward the door. "Where's Queenie?" he murmured, checking his watch.

Stella shook her head and looked outside. "Seems not yet. I wonder what this big shot Queenie looks like."

Chapter 69

It is said that she's a famous doctor, both domestically and internationally, even though she's so young. People would go to great lengths just to have her see them. A person of such standing truly deserves great respect.

The mention of Queenie's name made Jayden, sitting to the side, furrow his brow slightly as Isabella came to mind. Last time, Isabella pretended to be Queenie, but now he'll finally meet the real one.