Henry Mills had fair skin and naturally charming eyes that seemed tender no matter who he looked at. At first glance, she’d thought he was frivolous because of this.

But as she got to know him better, she realized he wasn’t the man she had imagined. His love was intense, yet always careful and considerate.

Now, his lips were drawing nearer. Claire Xu nervously shut her eyes and awkwardly turned her head aside, unsure where her gaze should land. She glanced about the room, trying to mask her embarrassment.

"Um, I'm... I'm fine now. You don't have to look so closely."

Henry Mills saw how uneasy she looked, and couldn't help his Adam’s apple bobbing.

"I was just worried about you," he said softly—so softly that Claire Xu didn’t catch it.

She leaned in a little. "What did you say?"

As she moved closer, Henry Mills’s heart thumped wildly.

She wore a white blouse, and perhaps from all the movement, a button at her chest had popped open—leaving her exposed for a brief, accidental moment.

But Claire Xu hadn’t noticed. Seeing Henry Mills silent, she stared at him in confusion.

"Henry Mills, why are you quiet all of a sudden?"

Henry Mills's gaze was fixed on the opened spot. Despite himself, he couldn’t look away, feeling his whole body flush with heat.

He stammered, "I... I—"

A rush of warmth suddenly trickled from his nose...

"Ah! You’re getting a nosebleed!"

Claire Xu turned to grab some tissues, but every move she made only seemed to make Henry Mills feel more flustered.

"Do you feel alright anywhere?" she asked with concern, reaching out to feel his forehead. She realized he was burning up. "You have a fever! I have some medicine at home, let me find it for you."

As she turned away, Henry Mills caught her hand. "No need, I’m not feverish."

Claire Xu looked at him doubtfully, noting how his eyes were locked onto a particular spot. She followed his gaze and looked down—and instantly wished she could vanish into thin air.

"You pervert!" She flung the tissues at him, crossed her arms over her chest, and fled to the room in a mix of shame and anger.

With a "bang," the door slammed shut. Henry Mills pressed the tissues to his nose, wearing an innocent expression. "How am I a pervert? I didn’t undress you at all—how could this be my fault? Women are so unreasonable..."

Staring at the closed door, he sat on the sofa with a goofy grin.

Even though nothing intimate had actually happened, he was so happy today—he might even smile in his sleep.

—

Lauren Shaw and Yancy Shaw had just gone to bed.

The phone on the nightstand rang. Half-asleep, Lauren Shaw reached out a hand to answer.

"Is this Miss Li? Could you please come to the hospital right away?"

Lauren Shaw instantly woke up, recognizing the number as Li Qiuchi’s—except it wasn’t Li Qiuchi on the line, but her assistant, Yuan Qi.

Lauren Shaw hurriedly got up. Yancy Shaw sat up too. "What’s wrong?"

"Qiuchi-jie’s assistant just called—she’s been in a car accident. I need to check on her."

As soon as she finished, Yancy Shaw’s phone rang as well. He frowned, a sense of dread creeping up.

When he answered, a darkness clouded his face.

"Who was that?" Lauren Shaw saw his whole demeanor cooling, knowing right away something bad had happened.

"Second Brother was in an accident. He’s in surgery at the hospital right now."

Lauren Shaw’s heart skipped a beat.

Both of them rushed to the hospital.

Outside the operating room, Yuan Qi was stationed by the door, anxiously stealing glances inside.

Seeing Lauren Shaw arrive, some of the tension drained from Yuan Qi’s face.

"How is everything?"

"No news yet—they’re still operating," Yuan Qi replied, her face and hands scrapped and bruised. She hadn’t even bothered to treat her own injuries.

Yancy Shaw kept steady. "Walk us through exactly what happened tonight."

Earlier that night, Li Qiuchi had attended a wrap party. Bryce Shaw had come to pick her up, and Yuan Qi’s car had been following behind. Suddenly, a van darted out of nowhere and rammed straight into Bryce Shaw’s car—

The van driver was reckless, single-mindedly targeting Bryce Shaw’s vehicle.

Yuan Qi chased the van, trying to block its escape, but the driver still managed to get away.

The operating room doors finally opened and the doctors came out. Spotting Yancy Shaw, the lead surgeon paused a moment before reporting.

"The female patient has a concussion from the collision, but her condition is stable. The male patient’s situation is more severe."

The doctor hesitated, glancing at Yancy Shaw.

Yancy Shaw met his eyes. "Please, Director Feng, don’t hold back. The patient is my second brother."

So, he was Dr. Shen’s brother. Director Feng nodded.

"He suffered a head injury and needs immediate surgery. We require a family member’s signature."

Yancy Shaw froze in place at the news, while Lauren Shaw looked at him, worried.

Once the forms were signed, an agonizing wait began.

Li Qiuchi was wheeled out first, still unconscious. Yuan Qi went to care for her in the ward.

Yancy Shaw remained silent, sitting just outside the operating room. Ten minutes later, Madam Chen and Shen Wentian hurried in, eyes filled with anxiety.

"How is he?" Madam Chen’s face was streaked with tears, her eyes swollen and red.

Lauren Shaw supported her gently. "Second Brother’s still in surgery."

"Why did something like this have to happen out of nowhere?" Madam Chen choked, tears streaming down as she trembled.

"Has the driver been found?" Compared to Madam Chen’s state, Shen Wentian was slightly more composed, but his voice still shook. He was desperately trying to hold himself together.

"The police are still investigating. We should have answers soon." Yancy Shaw stood rigid, his gaze locked on the glowing sign above the OR.

Sweat was pooling in Lauren Shaw’s palms. She silently prayed for Bryce Shaw’s safety inside.

Dawn broke, casting a pale light. The hospital was quiet, only the operating room remained bright. The Shen family crowded the entrance, worry etched on every face. Even the normally steady Yancy Shaw couldn’t hide his anxiety.

The surgery lasted over seven hours.

At last, the light above the door went out and Director Feng emerged.

Madam Chen and Shen Wentian jumped to their feet, voices trembling, "Doctor, how’s my son?"

Director Feng removed his mask, his face relaxed. "The operation was a success. He’s out of immediate danger, but we’ll still need to monitor his recovery. We’ll know more once he wakes."

Bryce Shaw was transferred to the ICU. His condition was stable for now, but he remained unconscious.

Lauren Shaw accompanied Madam Chen to see him. Through the glass, they watched him lying amid tubes and monitors. Tears spilled from Madam Chen’s eyes.

"Yubai has always been the most business-savvy of my three sons—the one I’ve always been the proudest of. How could something like this happen to him?"