"Well, at least my darling can rest easy knowing you're alright," Mike attempted to lighten the mood with a joke, but Leslie remained silent.
Guilt weighed heavily on her, and she finally spoke up.
"I heard Lily was hurt because of me. I'm sorry," Leslie confessed.
Mike, understanding the weight of her words, reassured her, "Lily doesn't blame you. But please, for my wife's sake, just stay out of dangerous situations."
"I don't remember what happened, but I'll be more careful next time," Leslie promised.
Mike's concern deepened, and he frowned slightly. "Leslie, you can't keep putting yourself in danger for useless things," he urged, his worry evident.
"My job isn't useless," Leslie argued. As a reporter, she had a penchant for chasing after dangerous stories that even other reporters avoided. However, her determination to go it alone, refusing help from her husband Ethan, had caused strain in their marriage.
Mike was about to continue the argument when Ethan arrived at that moment, his presence adding a layer of tension to the room.
"What's going on here?" Ethan asked, entering the room.
Mike, sensing the tension, decided to leave. "Nothing. Take care of your wife," Mike said before making a quick exit.
"Ethan," Leslie called out, turning to her husband.
"How stupid. If you're going to put yourself in danger, don't involve my family in it," Ethan retorted in a cold tone.
Leslie, smiling bitterly, replied, "I'm also hurt, you know."
Ethan scoffed in annoyance. "And whose fault is that?" he shot back.
As Leslie lay back on the bed in silence, she silently wiped away her tears. The room became a space of unspoken grievances and unresolved issues. In the quiet tension, Leslie dozed off, slipping into a strange dream.
In her dream, Leslie found herself lying on the ground in an unfamiliar building. Lily stood before her, wielding a bat, her usual calm and innocent smile now replaced by an ominous presence. "This is your fault. You shouldn't be too nosey," Lily accused before lifting the bat and striking Leslie's head.
Leslie's eyes shot open as she woke up with a jolt. The remnants of the dream lingered, leaving her unsettled. She realized it was just a dream, but as she laid back down, the dull ache in her head returned, a physical reminder of the shadows that haunted her even in sleep.
---
Mike returned to Lily's side, finding her in the company of her in-laws. Lily's mother anxiously checked for any other wounds, a manifestation of a mother's protective instincts. Lexis noticed Mike's return and greeted him with a comment, "You're back."
Lily, seeing an opportunity for relief, turned to Mike with a smile that silently begged him to rescue her from her mother's obsessive care.
Mike chuckled and carefully took a seat next to Lily on the bed, ensuring not to agitate her wound. "Mom, I think Lily would like to rest now," Mike suggested, trying to create some space for Lily.
Erica, Lily's mom, was initially taken aback but soon realized that her daughter might indeed be exhausted.
"Sorry, baby. You can rest now. We'll just go and visit your sister-in-law," Lily's mother said, leading the rest of the family out of the ward.
Lexis, however, questioned the sincerity of the visit, asking, "We're not really going to visit Leslie, right?"
Mrs. Caldwell, Erica, frowned in distaste, expressing her disdain, "Why would we visit that b****? I'm heading home for a while." Mr. Caldwell took his wife's hand, and they left together.
Lexis, not wanting to be a part of the tension, followed suit and headed home, leaving Lily and Mike in a momentary calm within the hospital room.
---
Back in the hospital ward, Lily expressed her gratitude by kissing Mike on the cheek. A bright smile adorned Mike's face after the sweet gesture.
Lily, curious about Leslie's condition, inquired, "So how is Leslie?"
"She'll be fine, but she doesn't remember anything about the attack," Mike replied.
Lily was surprised by this revelation. "She really doesn't remember a thing about the attack?" she asked.
Mike confirmed, "Yeah, so she probably won't be able to give her testimony."
Unbeknownst to Mike, Lily's expression changed. A smirk played on her lips, and a dangerous glint flashed in her eyes. "She's so lucky," Lily muttered in a low tone.
Confused, Mike questioned, "Why?"
Lily's eyes softened as she turned back to Mike. "She doesn't have to remember such horrible things," Lily explained.
Mike, trying to comfort Lily, hugged her and reassured, "It's okay, I'm here now."
Unbeknownst to Mike, Lily's eyes flashed with a vicious glint as he embraced her. Leslie had no idea how fortunate she was.
Lily, harboring unspoken intentions, hoped that Leslie would regain her memories soon so that their plans could be set in motion. A smirk adorned Lily's face as she contemplated the unfolding events.
The door to the emergency ward swung open, and the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the room. Lily turned to see her biological father, Carl Harper, entering.
A bright smile lit up Lily's face as she greeted, "Daddy, you're here."
Mike released Lily from the hug and nervously greeted, "Sir... I mean, Father."
Carl Harper's disdain for Mike was well-known, though Lily remained blissfully unaware of it. Ignoring Mike, Mr. Harper focused on examining Lily. "It seems you're fine," he remarked.
"She was stabbed while trying to protect a friend," Mike explained.
Mr. Harper scowled, turning his gaze towards Mike. "You mean your friend," he retorted. Intimidated by Mr. Harper's glare, Mike hesitated.
However, Lily, always the innocent mediator, spoke up, "Daddy, Leslie is our friend and our sister-in-law."
As Lily took Mike's hand and squeezed it for support, a courageous smile formed on Mike's face. Mr. Harper, watching the scene unfold, felt annoyance simmering beneath the surface.
"Since you can talk about nonsense, you must be fine. Call Aiden and tell him that you're fine. He was worried," Mr. Harper said before leaving the room.
Mike, still feeling the weight of Mr. Harper's disdain, remarked nervously, "He still hates me."
Lily, however, focused on the positive. "I love you, and that's all that matters," she reassured Mike.
His nervous chuckle turned into a genuine smile. Lily's declarations of love were a balm to his soul.
"Mike, do you think you could have them discharge me?" Lily asked, looking hopeful.
Mike, concerned for Lily's well-being, hesitated, "Lily, you're wounded. Maybe it's best if you stay here until they say it's okay to leave."
Lily's demeanor shifted, a mix of fear and anxiety evident in her eyes. "It's just being in the hospital makes me uneasy. Mike, please," Lily pleaded, her eyes searching for understanding.
Feeling Lily's discomfort, Mike wished nothing more than to take her back home where she would be comfortable. He voiced his worry, "But your wounds..."
"We could have doctors come and treat me at home," Lily suggested, her eyes pleading with a mix of vulnerability and determination.
Mike, touched by Lily's plea, sighed, "Okay, I'll see what I can do."
Lily's face lit up with a bright smile. In that moment, Mike couldn't fathom how his decision to bring Lily home would inadvertently seal someone's fate.