By the Time He Regretted, She Was Gone Forever

Rowan had just arrived, intending to check on Samantha.

Instead, she saw Kinsley collapsing.

Rowan hadn’t expected to walk into this scene.

Panic gripped him as he rushed forward, crouching down to gather Kinsley into his arms.

Without hesitation, he turned and bolted toward the emergency room, his heart hammering against his ribs.

Behind him, Samantha stood frozen, momentarily stunned. Quinn, too, seemed slightly shaken, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her dress.

"Auntie, I think he was Kinsley’s university classmate. They seem really close."

Samantha’s expression darkened.

"Then why is she still clinging to my son?!"

"Quinn, you have a kind heart, no schemes, no deceit. Never let yourself be wronged, understand?"

Not once did she spare a thought for Kinsley’s condition.

Meanwhile, inside the emergency room, the situation had turned dire. The hospital had already issued two emergency notices.

"Kinsley! Stay awake! You’ll be okay!"

The usually composed Rowan was visibly shaken, his voice raw with urgency.

Kinsley barely managed to pry her eyes open.

"I’m fine," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

And then, darkness swallowed her whole.

***

Kinsley’s eyelids fluttered open and the first face she saw was Enzo’s.

Her lips parted, dry and cracked, but no sound came out.

Enzo barely spared her a glance, his voice laced with indifference.

"You're awake?"

She stared at him, dazed, as if time had rewound to the past, back to when his presence still held warmth.

Feigning a few coughs, Enzo rose from the chair, his expression unreadable.

"Since you’re fine, get up already."

"I was only gone for a few days and you’ve already stirred up trouble."

"Apologize to Quinn and this matter ends here."

Kinsley’s lashes quivered. She looked at him, confusion flickering in her eyes.

Seeing her hesitation, Enzo let out a low chuckle, void of humor.

"You don’t remember? Before you fainted, you bumped into Quinn. She’s fragile and now her leg is broken."

A cold scoff echoed in Kinsley’s heart.

Her hand instinctively rested on her lower abdomen as if seeking comfort in the silence. The words of defiance swirled on the tip of her tongue, but in the end, she swallowed them whole.

"I understand."

Enzo’s gaze darkened, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes. His voice turned even colder.

"Good. Don’t think faking an illness will get you out of this."

"Rowan was your classmate, wasn’t he? He seems awfully heartbroken over you."

For a fleeting moment, jealousy thickened the air between them.

Then, without another word, Enzo straightened and strode out.

The moment Enzo left, Kinsley struggled to sit up.

After a brief moment of thought, she stepped out, her mind set on one thing: finding Quinn’s ward.

When she arrived, the sight before her made her pause.

Quinn sat on the hospital bed.

"Enzo, I'm really fine. The wedding date is already set; we can’t postpone it over something this minor."

"Here, touch it and see. It’s really nothing."

A sudden tickle clawed at Kinsley’s throat, forcing out a harsh cough.

Enzo’s body stiffened. In an instant, he was by her side.

His hand lifted slightly, hesitating mid-air, before he withdrew it as if burned.

Turning away, his voice was steady, emotionless. "The wedding will proceed as planned. Just focus on recovering."

"And as for you, atone for your mistakes. Isn’t that what you do best?"