Chapter 63

I didn't expect that the person I casually rescued would be Anthony. He had inadvertently confirmed that Bella's suicide attempt had been a ruse.

With a genuine smile, I extended my hand. "Hello, I'm Sophia. The statement you issued about the fake suicide involved my half-sister. I've always had a positive opinion of you, but I never imagined you were so young."

Recalling the heated words exchanged during Anthony's earlier assault, I felt a twinge of guilt. It seemed the attackers had been motivated by his association with the statement.

Our hands parted, and Anthony's eyes widened in astonishment. "So, it's you!"

My smile held gratitude. "Indeed, it's me. I haven't had a chance to properly thank you for your online support. You shielded me from the vicious criticism of netizens."

Anthony's response was warm. "It was the least a doctor should do, guided by conscience."

The revelation of our identities engendered a sense of camaraderie.

Peering at Anthony, I inquired, "By the way, who were those individuals? How did they manage to corner you in the alley?"

Anthony cast a rueful glance my way, sighing softly. "In my line of work, it's not uncommon to incur the resentment of certain patients' families. I was on my way to this supermarket when, quite unexpectedly, I was ambushed in that alley."

A hint of amusement danced in his eyes. "Thanks to your timely intervention, I escaped quite a predicament."

I felt a blush of embarrassment rise. "You're too kind, Director Rivers. You were the one who defended me online initially. If anything, I should be thanking you."

"Let's consider it a mutual exchange of assistance. By the way, what brings you here?" Anthony's demeanor lightened.

I gazed at the nearby supermarket, a smile tugging at my lips. "A friend of mine is hospitalized here, and I came to gather some daily necessities for her."

Anthony appeared mildly surprised. "What a coincidence. How about we go together?"

Unspoken Farewell at 30,000 Feet

Chapter 43.46

Third-person POV

Riverside Health Medical Center.

Lukas exchanged a few parting words as he prepared to leave. Elias swiftly caught his arm with his uninjured hand, his voice cajoling. "Hey, you better bring me some edible food during mealtime. The hospital's culinary offerings are dreadfully lacking."

Despite his arm injury, Elias's air of arrogance seemed undiminished. In fact, he didn't shy away from playfully flirting with the hospital's nurses, casting suggestive glances at those he knew.

Observing this scene, Lukas met Elias's antics with a look that suggested he hardly recognized him. "You can have someone else fetch your food. I'm rather occupied."

Elias clung to Lukas. "Come on. It's a rare event for me to be hospitalized!"

Lukas rolled his eyes in mild exasperation. "It's just a fractured bone. You don't require a hospital stay."

"You don't get it. The hospital is swarming with delightful nurses. Given my infrequent visits, I can't pass up such an opportunity." Elias feigned a pout.

Bordering on aggravation, Lukas responded, "Perhaps you should consider visiting a psychiatrist."

At that moment, Lukas's phone rang.

As Elias let go, he noticed a familiar figure nearby.

He immediately thought of what Lukas had said last night about him and Sophia getting married.

He playfully tugged on his friend's sleeve, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Lukas, isn't that your petite designer over there?"

Lukas was on the call, but Elias interrupted him, making him frown and look over.

And there she was. Sophia, walking down the hospital corridor with another young man, immersed in conversation and carrying things.

They even greeted the doctors and nurses they passed.

Lukas's countenance darkened imperceptibly. The sight of Sophia being so intimate with another man, mere days after their own interactions, stirred an unfamiliar sense of vexation.

Despite having cautioned Sophia against harboring romantic notions about him, Lukas was unexpectedly disconcerted by her swift rapport with someone else.

A twinge of annoyance rippled through him. How had he failed to perceive her apparent skill at maneuvering relationships, akin to Elias's prowess?

Sophia POV

Amidst my conversation with Anthony, I sensed a pair of eyes on me.

Glancing up, I encountered Elias's playful grin and Lukas's inscrutable gaze.

My surprise reverberated as I mused, "Why are they here?"

My realization of Elias's injury, signaled by the cast on his arm, clarified the situation. Oh, so Elias had fractured his bone.

Anthony, noticing my momentary distraction, inquired with genuine concern. "What's wrong, Sophia?"

I refocused, shaking my head with a smile. "It's nothing."

As Anthony tracked my gaze to Lukas and Elias, a flicker of recognition illuminated his expression. "Are those acquaintances of yours?"

I hesitated, grappling for a fitting description. Could I truly label them as friends? Not yet.

However, they were standing right in front of Ava's room, and I couldn't ignore them.

As Anthony and I approached them, Elias playfully interjected, "Designer Lopez, what are you doing here? Could it be you heard of my misfortune and felt compelled to pay me a special visit?"

A mischievous glint danced in Elias's eyes, his gaze slyly drifting toward Lukas.

I offered a faint, amused smile and responded candidly. "Actually, I'm here to visit a friend."

Lukas's emotions danced on a precarious precipice between delight and frustration. Disconnecting his call, he pocketed his phone.

He turned to me assertively. "Which friend?"

Unspoken Farewell at 30,000 Feet