Evelyn turned back to Oscar, her eyes steady.
"Investigate the real client first," she said. "Quietly. No traces back to us. Once we know who is pulling the strings, we decide the next step."
Oscar’s lips curved into a grin, equal parts admiration and excitent.
"Now that," he said, "is why you’re my favorite partner in cri."
Evelyn smirked. "Don’t let Axel hear you say that."
Oscar raised both hands. "My lips are sealed. I value my life."
And just like that, humor returned, but suddenly Oscar asked sothing she wanted to avoid.
"Eve, I’m sorry..." Oscar’s voice softened, losing its teasing edge. "I know you want to forget those painful mories about your accident. But have you thought about the possibility..." He paused, watching her with a careful look.
Evelyn’s playful smile slowly faded. The lightness in her eyes dimd, giving way to a quiet intensity. She didn’t speak. She simply looked at Oscar, waiting for him to finish.
"Eve," Oscar continued, his voice cautious now, "...what if your accident wasn’t a simple accident?"
For a brief mont, shock flickered across her face. But Evelyn was practiced at hiding emotions. She quickly masked it with a faint smile.
"I thought so," she admitted calmly. "I even asked Axel about it. He said he would check. But I never heard anything from him after that. He is busy."
Oscar nodded slowly, though his suspicion didn’t fade. He could tell from her eyes that she was more unsettled than she wanted to admit.
Just as he was about to change the subject, Evelyn spoke again.
"Can you investigate it?"
Oscar blinked. Then his lips curled into a grin far too eager for such a serious topic.
"Of course I can. I’ve been itching to do that since the mont I heard you flew off a cliff. I an—" He stopped himself. "That sounded insensitive."
Evelyn chuckled, "A little."
"But honest," he added proudly.
She shook her head, amused despite the heaviness in her chest. "Just be careful. Don’t draw attention from anyone who might be sealing the news about my accident."
Oscar leaned closer, lowering his voice, "You an your hubby?"
Evelyn couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped her. "You didn’t have to say it out loud, bro."
He leaned against the sofa and crossed his hands over his chest. "I live for stating the obvious."
"Try living longer instead," she shot back.
"I’ll try, but no promises if your husband finds out I’m poking around his territory."
Their laughter softened the tension, but the unspoken truth remained between them. Soone might have tried to kill Evelyn. And that thought sat heavily in both their minds.
Oscar cleared his throat, "No worry, Eve... I’ll be discreet. No trace, no noise, no drama. If soone really tries to kill you, I will find them. There will be no place to hide for them."
Evelyn’s expression gentled. "Thank you."
For a mont, neither spoke.
Then—
"Uncle Oscar...?"
A loud, excited voice echoed from the doorway.
Oscar and Evelyn turned just in ti to see Oliver sprinting toward them with a beaming smile.
Behind him, Laura chased after the four-year-old, clearly regretting every life choice that led her to cardio duty.
"Young master, please slow down!" Laura called, nearly breathless.
Oliver ignored her entirely. He launched himself at Oscar with surprising force for soone so small.
Oscar caught him reflexively, "Whoa! Little missile detected!"
Oliver giggled loudly, hugging Oscar’s neck. "Uncle Oscar! Jimmy said you ca from far away."
"Yes, I crossed oceans and ti zones just to see your handso face."
Oliver blinked. "Okay. Did you bring a present for ?"
Oscar froze.
Evelyn laughed, shaking her head. "Sweetheart, this is not your birthday..."
"Little buddy, you wound . Not even a hug first, just a present?" Oscar protests.
"I hugged you," Oliver said, very proud of himself.
Oscar looked at Evelyn. "He’s a negotiator in training."
"Well, Uncle Oscar, he is a little CEO..." Evelyn playfully said.
"No, Mommy... But little doctor." Oliver protests.
They all laugh at Oliver’s answer.
...
Later that afternoon, Evelyn woke from her nap to the sound of lively voices drifting in from outside her room.
She blinked groggily and turned her head. "What’s going on out there?" she asked, still sleepy.
The nurse imdiately hurried to her side. "Ma’am, Miss Stella arrived with her mother. They are waiting in the living room."
Evelyn’s eyes brightened instantly. "They ca..." she murmured, happiness warming her chest.
Even after everything—the accident, the surgeries, the grief—she had never once felt alone. Her family and friends refused to let darkness swallow her.
"Madam, would you like to go et them?" the nurse asked, already helping her sit up.
"Yes," Evelyn answered without hesitation.
With careful steps and the nurse’s support, Evelyn made her way toward the living room. She had barely crossed the doorway when a familiar voice rang out.
"Sister!"
Stella practically flew off the sofa, rushing toward her. Evelyn smiled weakly as Stella grabbed her hand with both of hers, as if afraid Evelyn might fall.
"Hi. You finally ca," Evelyn said softly.
"Of course I ca. Did you think I’d stay ho doing nothing while my favorite sister is broken like fine china?"
"I’m not a fragile China," Evelyn protested lightly. "More like... tough and expensive glassware."
"What? That’s worse," Stella replied seriously. "Glassware is fragile and replaceable."
Evelyn laughed. "Are you calling replaceable?"
"No," Stella said, then hugged her carefully. "I’m saying you’re expensive."
Behind them, a graceful woman stood with a gentle smile.
"Hi, Alice," Evelyn greeted.
Alicia, her stepmother, stepped forward and kissed her forehead. "My poor dear. You’ve been through too much."
Soon they were all seated on the sofa, warm tea resting on the low table between them. The nurse slipped away quietly, leaving the family to themselves.
As expected, Stella and Alicia imdiately began questioning her condition.
"Can you walk longer today?" Stella asked.
"Any pain?" Alice added.
"Do the bandages itch?" Stella chid in again.
Evelyn held up a hand. "Dr. Stella, please, one question at a ti. I’m healing. Slowly. Painfully. And yes, everything itches. Especially when I try not to scratch."
Alicia chuckled. "Oh dear, that ans you’re recovering."
Stella narrowed her eyes. "Or turning into a lizard."
Evelyn rolled her eyes. "Wonderful. I survived a car crash only to evolve into a reptile."
Their laughter filled the room, light and familiar.
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