"Don't play the innocent victim," Jethro said, turning back, his voice icy with contempt. Annie's bravado faltered. "Wh-what do you mean?" "You know exactly what I mean." Just then, the door opened, and the ER doctor entered with a nurse. "Doctor, my foot hurts so much! Will I be disabled? If I'm crippled, I don't want to live anymore! Please, you have to fix me!" Tears welled up in Annie's eyes. With her delicate features, her weeping was a picture of tragic vulnerability. The doctor and nurse couldn't help but feel sympathy. "Don't worry, Ms. Roby. We'll do everything we can," the doctor reassured her, then glanced meaningfully at Jethro. Jethro understood. He followed the doctor out, closing the door behind him."What is it, Doctor?" he asked, frowning. The doctor sighed, "Ms. Roby's ankle fracture is complex. A full recovery will take considerable time." Jethro nodded. "Spare no expense. Please provide the best care possible. I will cover all costs." Hearing that, the doctor visibly relaxed. In accident cases, payment disputes were a constant headache for hospitals. After the medical staff left, Jethro checked his phone. The screen was black again. The brief charge from the car had died. Helpless, he borrowed a charger from the nurses' station and sat on a bench in the hallway to wait. Closing his eyes, his mind drifted back to an hour ago. To make it to the restaurant on time, he'd pushed back a meeting, sending Rowan in his place. But just as his car exited the parking lot and merged onto the main road, it hit someone.Hearing a cry and a thud, Jethro was momentarily stunned. The road was clear a second ago. How did he hit a person? Instinct took over. He unbuckled and got out, striding to the front of the car. "Miss, are you alright?" The woman in the white dress slowly turned, her face contorted in pain. "My ankle... it hurts. I think it's broken." When his eyes met hers, Jethro froze. For a few seconds, time seemed to stop. Annie. The person he'd hit was Annie. His throat tightened. He looked down at her ankle. It was already swollen to the size of a baseball, blood trickling down her foot. "I'll call an ambulance." "No," she gasped, clutching his hand. "It's too painful. I can't wait. Please, just drive me to the ER. I'm scared I'll be crippled." "...Alright." He was silent for a beat. "Can you stand?" She bit her lip, looking up at him pleadingly. "Carry me. I don't have the strength." He lifted her, placed her in the back seat, his movements efficient and devoid of any personal touch. During the drive, Annie tried several times to speak. Jethro stayed silent. At the hospital, after she was wheeled into an exam room, he finally had a moment to breathe and call Darcy. That's when he discovered his phone was dead. The wait dragged on. Annie's emotional state was volatile, and the doctors had asked him to stay to help calm her. He was exhausted by the charade. He'd never imagined Annie would return, let alone that they would meet again like this. The past was gone, carried away by time's current.Seeing her now, aside from the initial shock, he felt strangely calm. And now, with a calmer mind, doubts crept in. The intersection had been clear. Where had she come from so suddenly? The next morning, the first thing Annie did upon waking was scan the private hospital room. Not seeing Jethro, she softly pressed her lips together. In the past, he'd fretted over a paper cut on her finger. Now, with a fractured ankle, he couldn't even be bothered to stay. She reached for her phone to call him. It was almost funny. If not for the accident last night, she wouldn't even have his private number. He was more compelling than ever, yet further out of reach than he'd ever been. It doesn't matter. I captured his heart once. I can do it again.Click. The door opened. "Good morning, Ms. Roby. I'm Mr. Blackwood's assistant. You can direct any needs or concerns to me. Here's my card." Annie's nails dug into her palms. Her smile was strained. She tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Where's Jethro? Why isn't he here?" Rowan's expression was professionally blank. "Mr. Blackwood has other pressing commitments. I'll be handling all matters related to this incident from now on. Please let me know if you require anything." Frustration churned inside her, but she forced herself to sound reasonable. "Fine. I'll reach out when he's not busy." Rowan gave her a strange look. "Mr. Blackwood is always busy."