Adam quickly dressed after hanging up the phone. Celine sat on the bed, cradling an emerald necklace. Noticing his anxiety to get to the hospital, she quietly set it aside. Despite a brief moment of joy the previous night, unresolved issues lingered between them. Carly had consistently been the formidable obstacle in their relationship.

Celine got out of bed. “Mr. Alvarez, I’ll go to the hospital with you.”

Adam glanced at her and nodded. “Okay.”

They arrived at the hospital and went to the VIP ward, where they found Carly lying in bed, connected to a ventilator. Thick gauze wrapped around her right wrist was bloodstained. Her face was pale and lifeless.

Upon spotting Adam, Lucy eagerly stepped forward. “Mr. Alvarez, you’re finally here!” She froze as she saw Celine behind him. Her expression changed dramatically. “Mr. Alvarez, why did you bring her here?” Celine stared coldly at Lucy, her biological mother.

Lucy reprimanded Celine. “How dare you come here? Carly was battling a severe heart condition last night and desperately needed Mr. Alvarez’s support. You knew this, yet you continued to antagonize him. Carly has now committed suicide by cutting her wrists. Are you happy now? You drove her to this. Leave now!”

She grabbed a water glass and threw it at Celine. The glass shattered against Adam's head. Celine felt no pain as darkness enveloped her. A tall figure shielded her.

Looking up, she saw Adam standing protectively in front of her, blood trickling from a head wound. She was stunned by his protectiveness.

Lucy gasped in disbelief. “Mr. Alvarez, you…”

Adam’s expression remained impassive as he shielded Celine. His gaze met Lucy’s. “I was with her last night. You can blame me. Leave her out of this.”

Lucy’s face drained of color.

Celine hurried to him, pressing a tissue to his forehead. “Does it hurt?”

Gazing into Celine’s anxious eyes, Adam shook his head. “I’m alright.”

Celine was touched. She was used to Lucy’s cruelty and didn't understand his actions.

Just then, Carly woke up. Lucy exclaimed joyfully, “Mr. Alvarez, Carly is awake!”

Adam withdrew Celine’s hand and approached the bedside. Carly, looking frail, reached out her left hand. “Adam.” He took her hand.

Lucy asked, “Mr. Alvarez, why didn’t you come last night? Do you know how long Carly waited? She couldn’t sleep all night.”

“I was worried about Carly’s heart condition. This morning, I brought her soup and found her in a pool of blood. She’d attempted suicide. The blood stained the carpet. She was rushed to the emergency room for stitches.”

Carly’s eyes were swollen and tear-stained. She asked weakly, “Adam, why didn’t you come last night?”

Adam gazed at Carly, overwhelmed with guilt. The night before, he had been with Celine, leaving Carly alone. In her despair, she had attempted suicide.

Carly glanced at Celine. “What is she doing here? Tell her to leave! Adam, I don’t want to see her. Please ask her to leave.”