When would his relationship with Chloe ever change? No matter how long it took, he was determined to try. After leaving Lewis Group, Chloe drove to an upscale department store. She planned to pick up a few things before heading to the hospital to visit Zachary. Lately, Zachary had been messaging her nonstop about Melinda. The girl was doting on him day in and day out, treating him like royalty. The lively dynamic between them was genuinely entertaining. Chloe couldn't help but think how amusing it would be if Zachary—who always prided himself on being suave and unflappable—was thoroughly charmed by someone even more striking and self-assured. That would be a pairing for the ages, and certainly a sight to behold. If she found the time, she might even try playing matchmaker. Blaine had often expressed hope that Melinda would find a dependable partner. Whether Zachary could actually win Melinda over remained to be seen, but he was undoubtedly a good man—reliable and worthy. Turning these thoughts over in her mind, Chloe entered the store. She selected a few items for Zachary and also picked up some of Robert's favorite snacks. "Excuse me, miss, could you help me reach that box of cookies on the top shelf? My grandson loves this kind best." A frail, raspy voice suddenly spoke beside her. Chloe had been reading a product label. At the sound, her expression shifted almost imperceptibly. She glanced up to where the elderly woman was pointing. Without comment, she reached up, retrieved the box, and handed it over. The woman accepted it with repeated thanks. "Thank you, dear. My little grandson adores these. I'm getting them for him. Are you shopping for your children as well?" Chloe glanced at the items in her cart—some for Robert, some for Zachary and Melinda. "Just a few things," she replied briefly. She offered the woman a faint smile. "Please take your time. I've finished here." "Of course, dear. Thank you again," the woman said, straightening her hunched posture as much as possible and returning the smile. Chloe gave a slight nod and walked away. She had promised to meet Zachary and the others. Zachary was finally allowed to sit up for short periods and was craving a proper meal. He'd been texting her to hurry.She proceeded to the checkout. After paying, she pushed her cart onto the descending escalator, pulling out her phone to let Zachary know she was on her way. "Look out!" A woman's sharp cry pierced the air. Chloe looked up to see a commotion on the parallel escalator. At the foot of that escalator, a store employee stood frozen, shouting in horror, "Move! Get out of the way!" Following the employee's gaze, Chloe saw a fully loaded shopping cart that had broken free, now careening down the upward-moving escalator toward the lower floor. With nothing to stop its momentum on the metal steps, the cart was picking up dangerous speed. That alone would have been bad enough. But the real problem was the figure standing directly in its path at the escalator's end, just about to step onto solid ground—the elderly woman who had asked for the cookies moments before. Chloe's eyes widened. If that heavy cart, accelerating under its own weight, struck the woman... the consequences didn't bear thinking about. Frowning, Chloe quickly gauged her own position, mentally calculating the cart's speed and the distance to impact. In one fluid motion, she released her own cart, placed her right hand on the escalator handrail for leverage, and vaulted onto the adjacent ascending escalator. Without pausing, she used the same method to cross onto the runaway escalator. She moved swiftly, positioning herself in front of the elderly woman just as the cart barreled toward them. Spinning around, she thrust her arms out and caught the heavy cart with a jarring impact, stopping it dead. Amidst the gasps and screams of nearby shoppers, Chloe held the cart steady. The elderly woman, hearing the commotion, turned to see what had happened. Store staff swarmed in, quickly securing the cart. "Miss, are you alright?" an employee asked anxiously, clearly worried she was injured. "I'm fine. Check on everyone else," Chloe said, releasing the cart to the staff. The employees were visibly shaken, their faces pale. One gently guided the elderly woman aside, asking if she was hurt.The woman, also frightened, kept looking toward Chloe. After a moment, she asked hesitantly, "Are you hurt, dear?"