Angelena's fingers danced across the keyboard in a relentless blur. Within forty-five minutes, she had secured a secondary supply chain through a shell company in Switzerland, completely bypassing Richmond Corp's blockade.
She slammed the laptop shut, letting out a long, hard breath.
Before she could even take a sip of her cold coffee, her cell phone rang. The caller ID showed the pediatric wing of the Manhattan Private Hospital.
"Ms. Beasley," the head nurse said, her voice strained. "Leland Richmond was admitted for observation. He's refusing all treatments and throwing a massive tantrum. He keeps screaming for you."
Angelena's jaw tightened. She wanted to say no. She wanted to tell them to call his arrogant father. But the image of Leland's pale, tear-streaked face flashed in her mind.
"I'm on my way," she muttered, grabbing her car keys.
Half an hour later, Angelena strode down the pristine, white-tiled corridor of the hospital's VIP wing. She pushed open the heavy door to Suite 1.
Leland was huddled in the corner of the large hospital bed, clutching a pillow to his chest, tears streaming down his flushed cheeks. Foy stood next to the bed, looking helpless and frustrated as he tried to pat his brother's back.
The moment Leland looked up and saw Angelena, his eyes lit up like stars. He scrambled across the mattress, practically throwing himself off the edge of the bed and straight into her arms. He wrapped his small arms around her neck in a death grip.
Angelena's heart melted into a puddle. She caught him effortlessly, burying her face in his soft hair, rubbing his back in slow, soothing circles. She didn't even notice that the room was otherwise empty.
Foy walked over. He reached out and grabbed Angelena's free hand, his small fingers wrapping around hers. He looked up at her, his usually cold eyes soft. "Mommy. You finally came."
Angelena's body stiffened. She knelt down, keeping Leland in one arm while looking Foy directly in the eye. She spoke gently but firmly. "Foy, I am just an auntie. You can't call me Mommy."
Foy shook his head stubbornly. He placed his small hand flat against his chest. "Right here tells me you are Mommy. No one else smells right. Only you smell right."
The sheer, innocent certainty in his voice felt like a physical blow to Angelena's chest. Her psychological defenses crumbled. She pulled Foy into the hug as well, holding both boys tightly against her.
At that exact moment, the door to the VIP suite was pushed open.
Julian Finch, the hospital's Chief of Medicine and Fabian's close friend, walked in holding a clipboard. He wore gold-rimmed glasses and a tailored white coat.
Julian stopped dead in his tracks. His jaw dropped slightly.
He had known Foy and Leland since they were born. These two boys were notoriously icy. They despised being touched by anyone, especially the women Fabian occasionally brought around. Yet here they were, clinging to this woman like she was their lifeline.
Julian pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, clearing his throat loudly. "Excuse me. And you are?"
Angelena quickly released the boys and stood up. Her face instantly morphed back into a mask of cold, professional detachment. "I am just a friend. I know a bit of medicine."
Julian's eyes gleamed with intense curiosity. He walked over and checked Leland's vitals on the monitor. He raised an eyebrow. "The febrile seizure symptoms are completely gone. No residual neurological stress. What exactly did you do?"
"Just a traditional acupressure technique passed down in my family," Angelena lied smoothly, avoiding his gaze.
Julian didn't push it, but his smile turned knowing. "Fabian rarely lets outsiders near his sons. You must be very special to him."
Angelena let out a sharp, derisive scoff. "If it wasn't for the fact that I pity these children, I wouldn't be within a hundred miles of that man."
Julian chuckled softly. He found her brutal honesty incredibly refreshing. No wonder she could handle the two little terrors.
Heavy, rapid footsteps echoed in the hallway outside.
Fabian burst through the door, bringing a wave of freezing, hostile energy into the room. He had just received a text from his security detail that Angelena had bypassed his guards and entered the hospital.
Fabian's eyes swept the room. He saw Angelena standing close to the bed, her hand resting gently on Leland's head, while Julian stood right next to her, smiling warmly.
The image looked sickeningly domestic. A violent, irrational surge of jealousy exploded in Fabian's chest. The blood rushed to his head, blinding his logic.
He crossed the room in three massive strides. He grabbed Leland by the arm and roughly pulled the boy away from Angelena. "Who gave you permission to be in this room?" Fabian snarled.
Leland shrieked in terror at his father's sudden aggression. He burst into fresh tears, reaching his hands out desperately toward Angelena.
Angelena's blood boiled. She violently shoved Fabian's arm away, stepping protectively in front of Leland. "Are you insane? ! You are terrifying him! You are a tyrannical, abusive monster!"
Julian quickly stepped between them, holding his hands up. "Fabian, calm down. She was just visiting the boys. They asked for her."
Fabian couldn't hear him. The roaring in his ears was too loud. He glared down at Angelena, his eyes dark and lethal, looking like he wanted to tear her apart piece by piece. The tension in the room was stretched to the absolute breaking point.
