?


    "You''re Mommy''s most precious treasure. If you ever got hurt from fighting, it would break my heart," N said.


    Mason hung his head, staying quiet for a while before finally nodding. "Okay, I understand."


    "Good. We''ll go to the hospital now. After the checkup, I''ll take you home if everything''s fine, and you can skip school for today," N exined. Mason nodded. "Okay."


    When they arrived at the hospital, Gabriel and Wilhelm were already waiting at the entrance.


    N held Mason''s hand as they approached them, her expression cold. "Let''s go."


    Noticing her frosty demeanor, Gabriel stepped closer and lowered his voice. "N, this was really just an ident."


    N replied coolly, "You don''t need to exin. I don''t care."


    With that, she quickened her pace, making it clear she didn''t want to continue the conversation.


    Gabriel watched her slender figure as she walked away, his gaze darkening.


    "Daddy, you''re hurting my hand!" Wilhelm''sint broke through Gabriel''s thoughts. He quickly let go.


    Inside the hospital, doctors and nurses efficiently examined Mason and Wilhelm.


    As he had said, Mason was unharmed.


    Wilhelm had only minor injuries-some redness, swelling, and a small scrape that would heal quickly with a little medication.


    Relieved that Mason was fine, N felt the tension leave her shoulders.


    She held the medical report and told Gabriel, "I''ll cover the cost of Wilhelm''s examinations and medication."


    Gabriel sighed. "N, there''s no need to be so formal with me."


    N frowned, about to respond, when her phone suddenly rang.


    Seeing Damon''s name on the screen, she bit her lip and pulled Mason aside to answer.


    "Hello? What''s up?" she asked.


    Damon''s deep voice came through the line. "N, where are you right now?"


    N hesitated momentarily, instinctively ncing around as if he might somehow see her.


    Did he already know she was at the hospital? Why else would he ask?


    "Is something wrong? Do you need me for something?" she asked instead.


    "No, I just heard from Lydia that you haven''te home yet, so I wanted to check on you," Damon exined.


    N nced at the time. It was nearly 10:00 a.m. She had dropped Mason off at school at 7:30 a.m. and should have been home long ago.


    After a brief pause, she decided


    against telling him about Mason''s


    fight. It would only add to his worries, and he was already busy with thepany''s bankruptcy proceedings.


    "After dropping Buddy off, I decided to go out for a bit. I thought it''d be better than just sitting at home Do you need me to bring you lunchter?" she replied.


    "No need. There''s a lot to handle with the bankruptcy process, so I''ll just grab something quick," Damon answered.


    "Alright then. Take care," she said gently before ending the call.


    Putting her phone away, N turned to Gabriel. "Give me the bills for the exams and prescriptions. I''ll go pay." "N, really-" Gabriel tried to decline.


    "Gabriel," N interrupted firmly. "I


    don''t


    donant to repeat myself. If yoret


    them to me, I''ll transfer


    the money directly to your ount."


    Count."


    "Fine..." Gabriel relented, handing over the papers.


    Without another word, N turned and walked off to settle the bills.


    After paying, she turned to Gabriel, who was holding Wilhelm''s hand and standing behind her.


    "The expenses have been taken care of. This matter is over. Make sure your son doesn''t say such things to Buddy again." Her tone was icy.