Hayden's expression darkened as he pursed his lips. 'It's been ten minutes. Why hasn't she come back? The walk from Simeon's office isn't that long. She might've gotten held up. Maybe she went to the restroom or stepped out for coffee after her meal.' With these thoughts, his anxiety eased slightly, and he continued to wait.Ten more minutes went by without any sign of Wyneth. Feeling uneasy, Hayden texted Simeon: [Didn't you say she was back? Where is she?]Simeon took a minute before responding: [Hasn't she been with you this whole time???]The exaggerated question marks only deepened Hayden's concern.Hayden: [No, she hasn't been with me. Can you check if something's happened?]Simeon: [Okay. I'll go right now.]Hayden then texted Wyneth: [Where are you?]He got no reply. Wanting to call her but worried she would find him annoying, he hesitated. "Just twenty minutes without seeing me and you're already chasing me down?" he imagined her saying. Yet, his concern for her safety
Simeon blinked, confused. "Didn't you get that?" Hayden asked. Simeon nodded. "Alright, I'll ask right away."While Simeon went to inquire, Hayden started to shuffle toward the exit. A nurse from the next room rushed over—it was the same one who had treated him earlier. Her eyes widened at the sight of the IV needle hanging from Hayden's hand, blood dripping. She went pale."Why are you out of bed, Mr. Hamilton?" the nurse exclaimed. "You shouldn't be walking around, especially with that bleeding hand."Hayden replied sternly, "I have urgent business.""No business is worth worsening your condition. Please, get back to bed. I'll help with your wound."Hayden simply continued moving forward, ignoring her plea.The nurse sighed in frustration. 'Do all patients ignore advice these days?' Despite her annoyance, her concern for Hayden was evident. Grabbing medical supplies, she hurried after him. "Mr. Hamilton," she called out, "if you want to keep walking, fine. But let me treat that
Upon hearing the nurse say "Finn Spencer", Hayden's uncertainty vanished.The nurse looked taken aback. "He's in the ER.""Can you show me the way? Thanks.""Uh, sure."Hayden followed the nurse to the ER. She recognized Finn, a renowned singer. The entire hospital buzzed when he was admitted with severe injuries. Given his fame, the news quickly grabbed major headlines, and everyone was discussing it.Hayden's phone rang after only a few steps. Picking up, he was met with Simeon's urgent voice."Hayden, I found out something. A patient named Spencer was admitted to the hospital today. Word is, he's a big celebrity and got seriously hurt when a lighting rig fell on him at an event."Hayden's eyebrows drew together. "I know. I'm heading there now."Simeon blurted, "You're going there? Does he work with your company? And, aren't you supposed to be looking for Wyn?" He could not understand why Hayden was suddenly concerned about someone else, especially with Wyneth still missing.
After sharing a smile with Anna, Finn's manager, Wyneth headed outside to call her brothers. Unaware of Hayden and Simeon nearby, she spoke in a steady voice, occasionally wiping away a tear from the corner of her eye.Hayden watched Wyneth, feeling a deep ache in his heart, sharper than any stomachache. He could see her struggle to stay calm on the phone, wiping away tears like it was no big deal. 'Did she often feel this way when I wasn't there?' He clenched his fists, trying to hide his concern. Waiting for her to end the call, he stepped closer. When Wyneth turned, she nearly walked into him, but Hayden was quick to catch her.Wyneth started, "I'm sorry... Oh, it's you?" She had been sure she had bumped into a stranger, but lifting her gaze, she found Hayden."Yeah, just checking in," Hayden replied, his voice steady, offering a stabilizing hand. "Need help with anything?"Hearing his steady voice, Wyneth's eyes began to glisten. She pursed her lips and then replied, "No, I'm g
Before Wyneth could react, Hayden already had her pulled into his embrace, cradling the back of her head. He let out a sigh. "Go on. Cry if you need to." Given that her brother was in trouble, her tears made sense. Wyneth pressed her forehead against his chest, letting her tears flow as she sobbed softly.Anna observed the situation. She bit her lip, then told Finn's crew nearby, "What happened today—no one talk about it."Everyone in the entertainment business knew Hayden. However, seeing him here, especially close to Finn's sister, was a surprise. After Anna's warning, everyone nodded. These folks had always been tight-lipped during their years with Finn. That was why they remained by his side. Anna had no patience for gossipers; she had fired them. Only the trustworthy ones stayed.Anna stole a glance at Hayden. 'Even in hospital clothes, he carries an aura of authority. Despite looking worn-out and sickly, his charm is undeniable. It's no surprise he has so many female fans, eve
"Tell me what happened," Dean said. "The others are on their way. I'll let them know what's up once you tell me."As Wyneth prepared to respond, a woman approached."Hi, Mr. Spencer. You're Finn's older brother, aren't you? I'm Anna Garcia, Finn's manager."Dean raised an eyebrow. "So you're the manager?""I was there, so I know what happened. I'll fill you in."Dean saw the redness in his sister's eyes and nodded to Anna. "Alright, go on.""Can we talk over here?"Dean instructed Wyneth, "Find a spot to sit and wait for me. Don't chat with other guys, okay?"Wyneth gave him a skeptical look.He shot a warning glance at Hayden as he walked away. Hayden chuckled, feeling a bit helpless. Anyone else treating Hayden that way would have faced consequences, but Dean had the advantage of being Wyneth's brother.After Dean left, Wyneth approached Hayden. "Are you okay? Maybe you should—""I'm staying," Hayden interrupted. "I want to be here for you."Despite her brothers being aro
Bruce thought, 'You don't know what you've got until it's gone.'Hayden answered for Wyneth, "He's inside, but we don't know much more."Bruce nodded in response. Noticing Dean in a discussion with Anna nearby, he realized no one was being allowed in and everyone was waiting outside. He said to Wyneth, "I tried to get in touch with Caleb and Elon, but no luck. They're probably tied up. My assistant is on it, though. They'll be here as soon as we reach them. As for Andrew..." He hesitated. "He's overseas. It'll be a while before he's back.""Okay, thanks for the heads-up," Wyneth said.Bruce noticed her downcast look. Gently patting her head, he reassured, "Everyone's here. Don't worry." After a moment, he continued, "We might need to fill Mom and Dad in on this." Wyneth went silent, clearly avoiding the subject. Understanding her hesitation, Bruce softly added, "There are things we can't run from."Wyneth gently shrugged off his hand, steering the conversation elsewhere. "Did you
Wyneth faced a dilemma. Saying "yes" would embarrass Dean. Saying "no" would mean Hayden getting an earful from Dean. Evaluating the situation, she realized Dean was more important right now. Usually, she would have just said no, making things tough for Hayden, who liked her. But since he was sick, she did not want to make things worse by causing any upset later on.While Wyneth grappled with her dilemma, Bruce picked up on it and stepped in, "Is this the time for this? Aren't you worried about Finn?"Dean was jolted. "Bruce, I...""You're here to sort things out, not to grill everyone with questions," Bruce said.Dean went silent. Bruce was second in command, only behind Andrew in leadership. However, with Andrew often away on trips, Bruce naturally took the lead in their group. He was the eldest and most mature in their group, so when he spoke, everyone listened. And he had a point: while Finn was injured inside, Dean was distracted by other things. Dean felt a pang of guilt, but