The driver acknowledged her request.

A notification chimed on Emily Blair's phone.

It was a message from Elizabeth Wilson: *Patient Angela, female, seventy-nine years old, late-stage bone cancer. She's at The Central Hospital, Room 9117, Building A.*

Emily glanced at the message and looked up. "Take me to The Central Hospital."

"Right away, Ms. Blair," the driver replied.

Meanwhile, Andrew Lane planned to drop Isabella Austin and Dennis Lane off at the hotel before heading out to his dinner engagement.

On the way, Andrew's assistant couldn't hold back any longer. "Mr. Lane, you went to all this trouble to get the regulatory office involved why didn't you tell Ms. Blair?”

Isabella's eyes flickered at the question. Emotion churned beneath the surface as she silently pulled Dennis closer into her embrace.

Andrew, who had been reviewing documents on his tablet, barely reacted at first. When he finally looked up, he only raised his brow slightly, fixing his gaze on the assistant in the driver's seat.

The silence dragged on. The assistant suddenly realized he'd crossed a line and snapped his mouth shut, turning his attention back to the road.

"Watch your tongue," Andrew said quietly.

"Sorry, Mr. Lane," the assistant murmured.

He thought Andrew would leave it at that. But after about a minute, Andrew finally spoke. "She doesn't need to know."

The assistant risked a glance in the rearview mirror, nerves prickling, and answered with a dry, "Understood."

Isabella pressed her lips together, her palms unexpectedly damp with sweat. A slow, uneasy tension curled in her chest.

She knew about the situation with Ryan Cox. She also remembered Andrew's attitude when it all started, and the promises he'd made to Grandpa Kevin.

She'd read the news-Ryan Cox had already been arrested.

But she hadn't realized Andrew was the one working behind the scenes to make it happen.

The thought weighed on her for a long stretch of the ride.

So long, in fact, that Dennis finally looked up at her, concerned. "Mom, are you upset?"

Andrew glanced her way. Snapping out of her thoughts, Isabella forced a smile for Dennis. "No, honey, I'm just fine."

A few more moments passed in silence before Andrew said quietly, "I helped Emily Blair."

Isabella was turned toward Dennis, which meant her back was to Andrew. She was grateful he couldn't see her face— couldn't see how pale and nervous she'd become.

She took a breath, composed herself, and turned to Andrew with a gentle expression. "Okay. I understand."

He regarded her calmly, lips pressed in a thin line, wordless.

Isabella gave a small smile and reached for Andrew's hand, squeezing it softly.

"Andrew, you don't have to doubt me. I'm really okay. Emily is like a sister to you, and it's only natural you'd want to help her," Isabella said. "I get it. I care about her too, in my own way, so of course I hope things turn out well for her."

She smiled again, earnest. "Besides, I'm your wife. Whatever you do, I'll stand by you."

Andrew studied her for a moment.

Then, slowly, his hand turned under hers, gripping it firmly—warm and steady, filling her with a quiet sense of security.

A faint blush colored Isabella's cheeks. She glanced up and gave Andrew a gentle smile.

The car was silent for a while, a calm settling over them. Then, the shrill ring of a phone broke the quiet.

Andrew released Isabella's hand and pulled out his phone.

She felt a small pang of disappointment as their connection broke.

Andrew glanced at the caller ID. His face remained composed as he answered, "Grandpa."

Kevin Lane's voice erupted on the other end, booming with anger. "Andrew Lane, what on earth have you done?! I saw the news-don't think I don't know it was you who had the regulatory office go after him."

Andrew listened to his grandfather's fury, his demeanor unchanged.

"Grandpa, the media is flooded with stories about him. Even if you wanted to keep it quiet, it would only be a matter of time before something happened," he replied, his voice steady.

Kevin Lane's voice was tight with frustration. "So that's your excuse for dragging the regulatory office into this? Don't bother lying to me I've already heard everything from them."