Chapter 284

As dusk settled over the city, Emily Smith had just stepped out of the BestTech Group building when her phone lit up with a call from William Johnson.

"The meeting will run until eight," his deep voice came through the receiver. "Go to the hospital and stay with your sister first."

"I'll wait for you at BestTech," she tapped her fingers lightly against the steering wheel. "It's on the way."

A soft chuckle sounded from the other end. "Text me when you arrive."

The silver-gray Bentley came to a stop in front of the hospital entrance just as Emily removed her earbuds. The window reflected the tall silhouette of a man, and when she instinctively glanced up, she met his amused gaze.

Caught staring, she quickly masked her embarrassment with a polite smile. The man responded with an even warmer expression, forcing her to nod in acknowledgment once more.

Inside the elevator, the sharp crack of a lollipop breaking echoed loudly. Amidst a little boy's tantrum, Emily subtly shifted half a step to the side. George Taylor's assistant stood in the corner with a bouquet, his eyes darting between his boss and the striking young woman.

"Mommy, fix it!" The boy suddenly flailed his arms and bumped into Emily.

Stumbling forward, she nearly fell—until a firm grip steadied her. She looked up in surprise, meeting George's smiling eyes behind his glasses.

"Thank you," she murmured, quickly releasing the grip she had on his suit sleeve.

As he withdrew his arm, the cufflink glinted subtly in her vision. "Be careful," he said with a slight nod before turning away, the hem of his coat sweeping gracefully behind him.

Emily remained rooted in place until his tall figure disappeared around the corridor. The sterile scent of disinfectant lingered in the air, but her thoughts drifted back to the faint trace of a ring mark she had glimpsed on his left hand.