Alden walked briskly down the gleaming hospital corridor, his tailored suit slightly creased from the tension of his hurried departure. He had been in the middle of an important business meeting when the call came in—Kara was involved in an accident, and someone had been hurt. He didn't wait for the full story. The moment he heard "accident" and "hospital," he was out the door.
Now, standing at the nurse's station outside the ward, he lowered his voice as he addressed the nurse on duty.
"The woman who was brought in earlier, the one involved in the road incident… What's her condition?" he asked.
"She's stable now, sir," the nurse replied gently, glancing at the chart in her hands. "She suffered some head trauma and bruises, but nothing critical. She's asleep for now."
Alden nodded, relieved. "And her identity? Does she have any relatives?"
"She's listed as Jane Mbatha," the nurse replied. "A local vendor, lives on the outskirts of the city. No immediate family noted. She's... a struggling woman, by all accounts. Kind, known by some of the hospital staff—comes here often, helps out when she can."
Alden's jaw tightened as he glanced through the small glass panel on the door. Inside, Jane lay quietly in bed, the rise and fall of her chest gentle, calm—almost peaceful. Yet the bandage across her forehead and the scratches on her face told a different story.
He didn't need to hear more. Kara had hit a poor woman and caused a public scene. Again.
His fingers clenched into fists as he stepped into the room. Though Jane didn't stir, her lips moved slightly, and Alden leaned in. A whisper, a faint sound like breathing the word "thank you."
Alden blinked, surprised. She didn't even know who had come in, and still, she was thanking someone. Probably for surviving.
He sat down on the chair beside her bed, quiet for a moment, lost in thought. His mind wrestled with the weight of everything—Kara's rage, her brokenness, her resistance to help. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to reach her.
After a long pause, he turned to the nurse. "When she wakes up, tell her someone will take care of her bills. And make sure she has everything she needs."
"Yes, sir," the nurse said with a small nod.
As Alden stood to leave, he took one last look at Jane. Her face—worn, but kind—lingered in his mind. So did the growing worry that Kara's anger, her unresolved pain, was no longer just hurting herself... but innocent people, too.
He pulled out his phone, dialing Ethan's number. It was time they had a conversation. A real one.
Somewhere else in the city…
Kara sat in her parked car, staring blankly at the dashboard. The air felt heavy. The silence inside the car was suffocating, broken only by the faint ticking of the engine.
She'd paid the bill.
She'd walked out without another word.
But nothing inside her felt better. If anything, she felt worse. For once, her tantrum hadn't brought her satisfaction—it had only left a bitter taste in her mouth and a tightening in her chest.
As she gripped the steering wheel harder, her hands began to shake.
Why was everything slipping out of control?
Why did she feel like even the smallest things now lit a fire inside her that she couldn't put out?
And worst of all—why did the word mother still have the power to undo her?
The night was only beginning, and deep in Kara's chest, something dark stirred.
The morning sun filtered through the hospital blinds, casting pale golden strips across the sterile floor. Jane sat upright in bed, her head bandaged but her spirit calmer than it had been the night before. The events were still hazy—a blur of screeching tires, shouts, pain… and then a hospital bed. She remembered being shouted at, humiliated. But more than anything, she remembered the voice of a man—calm, commanding—asking about her, arranging her care.
When the knock came on the door, she turned her head slowly. A tall man entered, dressed in crisp navy slacks and a white shirt rolled at the sleeves. His presence was polished, yet there was something quietly exhausted in the way he held himself.
"Good morning," he said with a warm but slightly formal tone. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."
Jane offered a faint smile. "No. Come in."
Alden stepped in fully, his gaze scanning the room briefly before settling on her face. For a moment, he paused. Something about her features tugged at him. The curve of her jawline… her eyes. They stirred a vague memory buried in time, but he couldn't place it.
"You look… familiar," he admitted after a beat.
Jane blinked, taken aback. "People say that sometimes," she replied softly. "But we've probably never met."
Alden didn't push it. "Perhaps. Either way, I wanted to apologize… on behalf of my daughter."
Jane's smile faded, her fingers curling around the edge of the blanket.
"She's been going through a lot," Alden added quickly, "but that doesn't excuse what happened."
Jane remained silent, sensing his discomfort, yet also hearing the sincerity in his voice.
"I also came to make you an offer," Alden continued, adjusting his watch as he spoke. "I've just let go of several house staff at my estate. I'm looking for a head housekeeper—someone responsible, mature, and grounded."
He looked her straight in the eyes now.
"I think you'd be perfect for the job."
Jane's brows lifted slightly, clearly stunned. "Sir, I… I'm just a market woman. I don't have experience in big houses, I—"
"I believe you'd learn fast. And the salary is… well, fair. Very fair." He reached into his jacket and handed her a paper—details of the offer, the salary amount listed at the bottom.
Jane's eyes widened.
That kind of money could help her settle her debts… pay for her niece's school fees… maybe even fix the roof that had been leaking for months.
Still, hesitation lingered. "But your daughter—"
"She won't have a say in this," Alden said firmly. "This is my home. And you'll have my full protection."
Jane studied his expression, reading not just power but a sort of deep weariness—as though he was carrying far more than he let on.
"I need someone like you," Alden added, voice lowering. "Not just to keep a house… but to bring peace into it."
The words hung in the air.
Jane took a long breath. She had been humiliated by Kara. But this was not about Kara anymore. It was about survival. Dignity. And maybe, a new beginning.
She nodded slowly.
"I'll take the job."
Alden offered a grateful smile and stood to leave. "I'll send someone to pick you up when you're discharged. Take your time to rest."