Skyler's emotions churned—a tangled mess of regret, embarrassment, and unease. His face was burning, and he desperately wished he could turn back time.

If he had the chance to do it all over again, he'd have treated Caitlin like royalty, granting her every request, instead of making a complete fool of himself in front of her.

The car pulled up in front of the apartment building. As soon as they stopped, Skyler rushed out and hurried around to open the back door, bowing slightly. "Miss Kensington, please."

Caitlin didn't hesitate. She slid into the back seat with quiet confidence.

Tonight, the moon was spectacular. Silver light spilled through the windows, washing over her profile and giving her a serene, ethereal glow.

Skyler could see her clearly in the rearview mirror, and for a moment, her features struck him as oddly familiar. She looked so much like someone he knew. Then her name echoed in his mind.

His eyes widened in shock.

Could she be... Julian's ex-wife?

No, that was impossible. Julian's ex-wife was also named Caitlin, but she was always caked in makeup, dressed like an old lady, and looked at least twenty- seven or twenty-eight. The girl in the back seat couldn't be more than seventeen or eighteen, and her beauty and poise were unmistakable.

There was no way this Caitlin was Julian's ex-wife.

Skyler shook off the ridiculous thought and cleared his throat. "Miss Kensington, I really owe you an apology for what happened earlier. I was completely out of line. Please don't take it to heart."

Caitlin was looking down at her phone. She just murmured a quiet "Mm."

Skyler continued, trying to sound casual as he drove. "By the way, Miss Kensington, my name's Skyler. You can just call me that from now on."

In Silverhaven, almost no one outside of his family called him by his first name— except, now, for Caitlin. He was thoroughly convinced of her abilities, and he finally understood what his mother meant when she said not to judge someone by their age.

The drive was quick. Fifteen kilometers passed in just over ten minutes.

Gordon had already been moved to the ICU. Alaina and Justice waited anxiously by the door. Neither spoke; tension hung thick in the air.

Skyler jogged over. "Mom, Dad, I brought Miss Kensington."

Alaina turned first. She stared at Caitlin, astonishment flickering in her eyes. The girl was so much younger than she'd imagined-bright-eyed, striking features, dressed simply in a white blouse and black pants. She was bare-faced, but her natural beauty outshone any actress on the red carpet.

"Miss Kensington," Alaina said, a little dazed. She hurried over, taking Caitlin's hand, her eyes rimmed with red. "My foolish son didn't know who he was dealing with. I've already given him a piece of my mind. Please, I beg you, save my brother."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Cumming," Caitlin replied evenly. "I'll do everything I can. Let me have a look at Mr. Sylvester's condition first."

Justice spoke up, voice tight with hope. "Miss Kensington, if you can wake my brother, you'll have our family's eternal gratitude."

A nurse was already waiting with a sterile gown. Caitlin changed and entered the ICU.

Gordon lay motionless in bed—his lips pressed in a firm line, even in a coma radiating such authority that it made everyone uneasy, like some ancient monarch.

Caitlin reached out and took his pulse.

Outside the glass, Justice frowned, worry etched deep on his face. He leaned toward Alaina and whispered, "Isn't Miss Kensington a little too young for this?"

After all, renowned doctors usually earned their reputations in their fifties or sixties. Caitlin looked like she might not have even finished high school. Justice couldn't help but doubt whether she could save his brother-in-law.

Alaina shot him a sharp look, eyes still damp. "Don't be so shallow! Age means nothing. That Hackett fellow is in his seventies and can't even tell the difference between inflammation and exhaustion. If Gordon and Skyler had listened to Miss Kensington earlier, Gordon wouldn't be in the ICU right now."

Skyler's face flushed with guilt. "Dad, Mom's right. Some people are just gifted. Miss Kensington may be young, but she's twice the doctor Hackett will ever be."

Justice fell silent, but worry gnawed at him nonetheless. After all, the man lying in that bed was the head of the Sylvester family. If anything happened to Gordon, the entire business world would be thrown into chaos.

Justice had made sure all the necessary arrangements were in place before coming to the hospital. Otherwise, the place would have been swarming with reporters by now.

Just then, the ICU doors swung open. Caitlin stepped out.

Alaina and Skyler rushed over. "Miss Kensington, how is he? You can save him, right? Please tell us you can wake him up!"

"Mrs. Cumming, there's no need to panic," Caitlin said calmly. "Mr. Sylvester is unconscious, but his case isn't too severe. His internal organs are unharmed. With immediate acupuncture therapy, he should recover and regain consciousness."

Not too severe? Internal organs unharmed? He'll recover?

Every word left Dr. Zane Cartwright, the attending physician, staring in disbelief, questioning everything he'd learned in twenty years of medicine.

This girl had some nerve.

From his perspective, Gordon's condition was critical-his lungs severely compromised, and with such damage to a vital organ, one wrong move could mean disaster.