Emily had been the one to pull Isabella into the river with her. In a way, she was just reaping what she'd sown.

If Emily hadn't done what she did, someone would have rushed to save her without hesitation.

She had no one to blame but herself.

With this thought, Alex felt a weight lift from his chest. He ruffled Isabella's hair gently and spoke in a low voice, "Let's not worry about her right now. I'll take you to the hospital for a checkup first."

Isabella nodded with a soft smile. "Okay."

Alex glanced over at Andrew, who was still gripping Emily's arm. Andrew's expression was dark, his brow tightly knit, his gaze fixed on Emily's pale face- impossible to read.

With a frown, Alex strode over and brusquely pried Emily's arm out of Andrew's grasp. He steadied Emily with a hint of distaste before saying, “You take Isabella to the hospital. I'll handle Emily."

Andrew looked up, eyes shadowed and intense.

Alex's tone hardened. "Don't forget, you and Isabella are engaged. You should really keep your distance from other women."

Before Alex could finish, Andrew stepped away, heading towards Isabella. He bent down, helping her up from the chair with careful hands, then draped his jacket over her shoulders.

Only after making sure she was okay did Andrew finally speak. "I know exactly what I'm doing. You don't need to tell me."

Alex's face darkened immediately.

When Emily finally woke up, her eyelashes fluttered against the harsh white glare above her.

The light was so bright it hurt; she had to squint for a while before her eyes adjusted and she could look around.

"You're awake! Are you feeling any pain?" a nurse asked, bustling at her bedside. Emily blinked, her throat dry and scratchy. "How long... have I been asleep?” "Seven or eight hours. It's morning now."

Emily silently counted the hours, relieved she hadn't missed the next round of competition. "Miss, could you get me some water? I'm really thirsty."

The nurse smiled and tucked the blanket around Emily. "Of course. I'll be right back."

A few minutes later, the nurse helped her sit up and handed her a cup. Emily gulped down the entire glass, finally feeling a little better. "Thank you."

The nurse gave a gentle nod. "It's nothing."

She glanced at the door, then around the crowded ward, lowering her voice. "Be careful—there are two very handsome men outside with the police. I think they're here for you."

Emily's eyes dropped. "I know."

The nurse hesitated, curiosity written all over her face as she spoke even softer. "Did something happen?"

By now, the hospital was buzzing with gossip. Just hours earlier, two strikingly good- looking men had carried two women into the emergency room. One was a younger woman, unconscious, cradled in the arms of a man with a stormy expression. The other man—arguably even more handsome had gently supported a fragile, beautiful woman, treating her with obvious care. The sight of all four walking in together had turned heads instantly. Within half an hour, their story was already making the rounds among the staff: four people, impossibly attractive, tangled up in what could only be described as a real-life soap opera.

Unable to contain her curiosity, the nurse finally asked Emily directly.

Emily's bed was in a shared room. As she set her cup back on the nightstand, she noticed curious glances from the other patients and their families. She lowered her gaze, her voice calm. "It's nothing."

The nurse, rebuffed, straightened awkwardly. "Well, get some rest. Just press the button if you need anything."

Emily looked up, meeting her eyes. "Thank you."

The nurse couldn't help but pause, taking in Emily's pale, delicate face and those luminous, pleading eyes—so beautiful and fragile, she looked heartbreakingly vulnerable.