?


    "Alright, thank you for your help," Vrie said.


    "No problem," the officer replied.


    After the police left, Vrie turned to Brandon. "You should go to work. There''s really nothing else I need here—I''ll just finish packing and get ready for dischargeter."


    "I''m not busy. I''ll help you with the discharge papers," Brandon offered.


    Just as he finished speaking, his phone began to ring.


    Vrie gave him a knowing smile and teased, "Is this your version of ''not busy''? Your phone has rung at least a dozen times this morning. Just go. My parents areing soon, so no need to worry about me."


    "I''ll leave when they get here," he replied, determined to stay.


    Seeing how insistent he was, Vrie had no choice but to let it go.


    After waiting another half hour, her parents still hadn''t arrived, but N showed up.


    With someone else there to keep Vriepany, Brandon finally relented. He gathered his files and left for work.


    After arranging the flowers she had brought, N turned around to find Vrie still staring toward the doorway. She couldn''t resist teasing her. "He''s already gone. If you miss him that much, want me to call and bring him back?"


    Vrie snapped her attention back, trying to cover. "I wasn''t looking for him. I was waiting for the nurse to bring my morning meds."


    "Ohhh..." N exaggerated, clearly unconvinced.


    From Vrie and Brandon''s earlier exchange, N could tell something had definitely happened between themst night. The looks they had shared practically crackled. She''d have to be blind to miss it.


    Vrie knew it was pointless to hide, so she admitted, "Brandon and I are together now."


    N didn''t look surprised at all, which left Vrie feeling a bit annoyed. "Could you at least pretend to be surprised?"


    "Oh! You''re actually together! I''m sooo shocked!" N gushed, feigning surprise.


    Vrie was speechless.


    Forget it. No point in saying anything.


    "Since I returned to Saintornia and you showed up at Damon''s house, I could tell you had feelings for him. You two getting together was just a matter of time," N exined.


    Vrie fell silent for a moment, then looked at N with a hint of concern. "Was it really that obvious?"


    "Mm, probably only you and Brandon didn''t see it," N replied.


    "Fine..." Vrie conceded.


    Noticing the faint worry in Vrie''s eyes, N spoke gently. "However you got here, what matters is that the two of you are together now."


    Vrie lowered her gaze. "I just worry... if we''ll make it to marriage. He''s still six years younger than me..."


    "It''s just six years, not 60. And since


    you''re already together, stop overthinking it. If it ever ends


    l.ne


    because of that, so be it. At least you''ll have had this time together," N reassured her.


    Vrie nodded and managed a smile. "You''re right. I''m overthinking it."


    N checked the time and then got up. "I should go. I only got the morning off."


    "Alright. I''ll be out this afternoon, so don''t worry about visiting," Vrie replied.


    "Mm," N hummed in response.


    As N left the room and exited the hospital building, her phone buzzed with a call from Jane.


    "N! What do you and Damon


    mean? Just because of the kids ying around, you''re rallying the whole ss against my son? Don''t you think that''s overboard for a little boy?" Jane growled.