?<strong>Chapter 305:</strong>


    Adrian made his way to Flex Club, looking visibly ill. The club owner, worried about potentialplications, promptly called Michael. Michael showed up with Lacey. They found Adrian in the empty room, feverish and barely able to open his eyes. “Adrian?” Michael attempted to rouse him, yet Adrian gave no response, simply murmuring under his breath.


    Michael bent closer to hear. “Joelle, Joelle…”


    Exchanging a worried look with Lacey, Michael offered, “We need to get him to a hospital.”


    “How has he deteriorated this much? Wasn’t he nearly better?” As they transported him to the hospital, Adrian continued to whisper Joelle’s name.


    Lacey sighed, shaking her head. “He should have seen thising.”


    Driving towards the hospital, Michael was lost in thought, his expression serious.


    “What’s on your mind?” Lacey nudged him gently.


    Coming back to the present, Michael asked, “Do you think we should step in to help Adrian? He has realized his mistakes. Now that Rafael is out of the picture, doesn’t their kid deserve a whole family?”


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    Lacey gave a nomittal shrug and said, “That’s your call.”


    Michael looked at her. “If you cared that much about my opinion, you’d have that surgery sooner rather thanter.”


    “No chance.”


    Lacey, typically bold and impulsive, faced a hereditary heart issue, simr to her mother who had sumbed to the same condition. She was a proponent of living life to the fullest. Although she had managed her condition effectively for two years, doctors still advised a heart transnt for better stability.


    Michael said, “With the advancements in medicine today, the sess rate is quite high.”


    “But it’s just a rate, right? I could still die.”


    Michael fell quiet. His attempts to convince Lacey had repeatedly hit the same wall. After a brief silence, he asked again, “Getting a heart transnt is tough, but is it tougher than Adrian winning Joelle back?”


    Lacey paused to consider. Suddenly, it all clicked. “How about a bet?” Michael proposed. “If Adrian wins Joelle back, you’ll go through with the surgery.”


    “Why are you pushing for this surgery so much?” Lacey turned sharply to him, her eyes piercing. “Wouldn’t you be sad if I died?”


    Michael nearly missed the gas pedal, clutching the steering wheel tightly. After a moment, he replied, “The most important thing for me is your survival.”


    Lacey strained to hear. “What?”


    “Never mind.” Michael sighed. “So, do you ept the bet?”


    “Why wouldn’t I? If Adrian can truly reconcile with Joelle, then surely I can face a long life ahead!” she responded.


    Michael smiled quietly. With light traffic, he asionally nced over at Lacey as he drove.


    A few dayster, Shawn, apanied by his assistant, took a flight overseas. He was on a business trip under his alias, Frankie. As he settled into his first-ss seat, his assistant came up quietly. “Mr. Watson, I believe I just spotted Katherine Nash.”


    As he took a sip of water, Shawn nearly choked on hearing this. Why did she appear wherever he went? “Where is she?” His assistant scanned the area carefully. “She doesn’t appear to be in this section.”


    That was a relief. Shawn returned his focus to the documents on his tablet.


    Shortly after the ne ascended, the woman seated next to Shawn summoned a flight attendant. “I’d like to change seats. My child is sitting over there, and I need to be next to her.”


    The flight attendant inquired about the child’s seat number. “Alright, I’ll see if the other passenger is willing to switch.” Shortly thereafter, the flight attendant came back. “Ma’am, the other passenger has agreed to switch seats with you.”


    Shawn had been vaguely aware of the ongoing activity around him, catching glimpses of movement at the edge of his vision. People shuffled about, though Shawn paid them little mind.


    “Hey, Shawn?”


    Hearing Katherine’s voice, Shawn initially doubted his ears. After a brief pause, he looked over to find Katherine settling into the seat beside him!


    “What a coincidence!” Katherine eximed with a smile, though Shawn felt his heart skip a beat. “Indeed, quite the coincidence.”


    As Katherine removed her coat, she asked, “Are you heading to Bristania too?”


    “Yes.” Shawn felt his hands grow mmy.


    He wished there was another person with them. It would spare him from having to engage in a solo conversation with Katherine. She continued to chat, requiring Shawn to respond. “It’s quite fortuitous! I’m heading there for a business event.”


    Shawn was aware of the event—it was on his agenda too, but he chose not to disclose this to Katherine. After exchanging a few more niceties, Katherine began to feel tired and yawned. “I’m going to get some sleep now.”


    “Okay.”


    Shawn tried to return his attention to his tablet, but the words blurred before his eyes. The cabin was silent, the lights dimmed, and the air at a pleasant temperature—all perfect for a drifting mind. Involuntarily, Shawn found his gaze wandering over to Katherine.


    Thest selfie Katherine had sent him was still saved on his phone. He couldn’t figure out why he hadn’t deleted it yet. After all, wasn’t it somewhat typical for someone to hold onto photos of an ex?


    “Ugh…” Katherine shifted restlessly in her sleep. Shawn’s feelings for Katherine wereplex, simr to those he held for Joelle. He rose, carefully lifted her head, and rearranged her pillow to make her morefortable.


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