Chapter 187

The hospital corridor felt like a pressure cooker, thick with unspoken tension.

The operating room doors burst open suddenly. A white-coated doctor stepped out.

Harrison lunged forward, her voice trembling. "Doctor, how is he?"

"The procedure went well. He should regain consciousness within two days," the physician answered.

Harrison exhaled shakily. She'd seen Alexander's injury earlier - the blade had missed vital organs, but relief only came now. Had Alexander suffered because of her, she'd never forgive herself.

Moments later, Alexander was wheeled out. Harrison shadowed the gurney to the private suite without glancing back at Nathaniel or Isabella.

Isabella grabbed Nathaniel's sleeve, frustration dripping from her words. "Nathaniel! Harrison's completely unhinged! She struck you, then me! You must-"

Nathaniel jerked his arm free, voice razor-sharp. "Tell me you didn't deserve that."

Isabella froze, mouth agape.

Nathaniel's glacial stare pinned her as he slapped a photograph onto her lap. "Isabella, I never realized the depths of your malice. You've crossed every line this time."

The verbal blow drained Isabella's face of color. Panic flashed in her eyes as she scrambled to explain.

"Nathaniel, please! I dislike Harrison, yes, but I never wanted Alexander hurt! Things spiraled out of control-"

Nathaniel shoved her away, jaw clenched. "This ends now, Isabella. I won't keep salvaging your disasters. Sort yourself out."

"Nathaniel, I-"

"Leave. Alexander doesn't want you here. Neither do I."

Isabella's protest died as Dominic materialized beside them, voice firm. "Ms. Whitmore, this way."

Fury twisted Isabella's features. Her scheme had backfired spectacularly - Harrison remained unscathed while she'd alienated Nathaniel.

"Ms. Whitmore," Dominic repeated, unyielding.

With a venomous glare and her stinging cheek, Isabella stormed off. But she took cold comfort - Nathaniel still shielded her. As long as he remained her protector, she hadn't truly lost.

Nathaniel stood sentinel outside the suite, his tall frame silhouetted against the glass. Inside, Alexander lay unconscious, monitors beeping steadily.

Harrison kept vigil beside the bed, clutching Alexander's hand.

"Mr. Falcon," Dominic murmured. "Ms. Isabella meant to eliminate Mrs. Falcon using Dominic Graves, but Mr. Graves got injured instead. She overplayed her hand, yet you defended her. Mrs. Falcon is rightfully furious."

Nathaniel's expression darkened. The girl from the cave had become unrecognizable.

Yet abandoning her wasn't an option. He couldn't let her sink into criminality.

Harrison's anger burned through him. His cheek still throbbed where her palm had connected.

"Sir, your hand requires attention. The wound keeps bleeding."

Blood dripped steadily from Nathaniel's palm where he'd caught the blade bare-handed.

Through the glass, Nathaniel watched Harrison keeping her silent vigil.

As night deepened, a nurse slipped into the room to check Alexander's vitals.