Marco slid into the driver's seat of his sleek sedan, his fingers drumming against the steering wheel as uncertainty clouded his features. After a long moment, he pulled out his phone and dialed.
"Nate, I just landed. Got another flight out tonight, but I need to swing by the hospital first to see Niall. Can you check if Cullen's around? If not, meet me there yourself."
Nate couldn't hide his surprise. "Wait, you're already back in town? Since when?"
Marco brushed off the question with practiced indifference. "Just call Niall and see if she's up for visitors."
Nate almost pressed about why Marco wasn't reaching out to Cullen or Niall directly, but something in his friend's clipped tone made him reconsider. Marco was probably swamped with work and cutting corners where he could.
Besides, Nate had been meaning to visit Niall himself, so he didn't push the issue and agreed to help. Unfortunately, Cullen was tied up elsewhere.
After ending the call, Marco made stops at a florist and fruit market before driving to the hospital where Nate was waiting.
In the sterile hospital room, Niall's face brightened when she spotted Marco walking through the door. "This is unexpected. What brought you back so soon?"
Marco's response came out flat and businesslike. "Had some matters to handle."
Niall's gaze dropped to the beautiful arrangement he'd just placed on her bedside table, her fingers trailing over the delicate petals. "I understand."
The question burned in her mind though. Had he really flown back for work obligations, or had he carved out time specifically for her? Sure, he hadn't rushed to her bedside the moment she'd gotten hurt, but showing up now when his schedule allowed still carried weight.
Meanwhile, Veronica had spent the night at the Murray family home.
Dawn broke gently, and she found herself awake early. The thriving succulent garden on the windowsill caught her eye as she stretched luxuriously, a sense of contentment washing over her.
Downstairs, Poppy was already bustling around the kitchen, preparing a hearty breakfast spread for Veronica, Adrian, and Thomas.
Poppy looked up with a warm smile when she appeared. "Morning, sweetheart. You seem particularly bright today."
Veronica moved to help with the bread dough, her own smile genuine. "I'm feeling pretty good, actually."
They worked together to produce a batch of perfectly steamed buns. Just as Veronica settled into her chair to enjoy the meal, her phone started buzzing.
Sabrina's name flashed on the screen. Veronica let it go to voicemail. When it immediately rang again, she made a decisive choice.
She powered down the device completely and returned her attention to breakfast.
When Sabrina's subsequent calls went straight to an automated message, frustration bubbled up inside her. She stomped toward the master suite to find Cullen.
Cullen had just returned from his morning jog, still catching his breath and heading for the shower when he noticed her stormy expression. "Something bothering you?"
"I tried calling Mom yesterday because I wanted her to come home and make dinner for me, but she never answered. Just now I called twice more, and she's still not picking up. When I tried a third time, it said the line was disconnected."
Cullen stated matter-of-factly, "She switched her phone off."
Sabrina's brow furrowed in confusion. "Like, the battery died?"
Cullen remained noncommittal. "Could be."
"Then what am I supposed to do? I was hoping to hit the slopes today. Mom mentioned before that she'd take me skiing if she had the chance."
Initially, she'd been too worried about Niall's condition to think about recreational activities, preferring to stay close to the hospital. But everyone kept discouraging her visits, citing infection risks and the need for rest. Now that Niall was clearly on the mend, Sabrina's anxiety had eased considerably.
With time on her hands and no companion in sight, naturally she'd thought of her mother. But getting through to her was proving impossible.
"Give it some time and try again. She'll probably turn it back on eventually."
Sabrina's shoulders sagged with disappointment. "I guess..."
Veronica had no intention of keeping her phone off indefinitely. After all, she needed to coordinate with Dario about their ongoing projects. Leon might also need to reach her later in the day.
Roughly thirty minutes later, she reactivated the device.
Almost immediately, Sabrina's call came through again.
Veronica opened her laptop, deliberately ignored the incoming call, and dove into her research manuscript.
When her mother continued to dodge her calls and Cullen prepared to head out for his own commitments, Sabrina's desperation peaked. "Dad, she's still not answering when I call. Could you try reaching her instead?"