Isabella had desperately begged for a second chance, just one more opportunity to rewrite her ending with him. Her soul had prayed, wept, and pleaded for a life where she could make things right. A life where she could bring a smile to his face, chase away the coldness that had become his armor. And now, seeing that handsome face again, she couldn't be more grateful. This time, she would openly admire him and the boundless, selfless love he had always given her.
She had once grimaced at the mere thought of never seeing him again, never witnessing the way his eyes lit up at the sight of her, or how he always tried to pretend he hadn't noticed her presence, just to protect his heart.
Oh, Louis Rockwell. The man had done more for her than she could ever truly comprehend. He was one in a million her one in a million. Even when she had no idea of his feelings, he had gone to great lengths to make her life easier, asking for nothing in return.
She could still vividly recall how he secured massive brand deals for her without saying a word. He'd quietly reach out to her manager, help negotiate better contracts in her favor. He made sure no one disrespected her, no one shortchanged her. He never asked for thanks never even told her he was the one pulling the strings.
Louis had always made himself available when it came to anything that concerned her. He ensured she lacked nothing not financially, not emotionally. He cared for her in silence, in shadows. But he never once confessed his feelings.
And she… she had never bothered to ask. Not because she took his kindness for granted, but because he had wrapped it all in a cloak of selflessness, always insisting he wanted nothing in return. Perhaps he just didn't want a love born out of pity.
And truthfully, feelings rooted in pity are hollow a mix of guilt and emotional obligation. That kind of love is no love at all. It's a prison. It was either genuine or nothing, and no one, not even Louis, deserved to be tied to a partner out of guilt.
Isabella sighed deeply, a heavy wave of realization washing over her. Her success her entire smooth-sailing career in her past life had been possible because of Louis. The only man who would have plucked the stars and moon from the sky for her if she asked.
It had never been about what made him comfortable. It had always been about what made her happy.
…
It was her deep sigh that brought her back to the present the realization that Louis is still by her side. They were still in the hospital room, and the sudden clinking of hurried footsteps outside signaled the arrival of medical staff rushing toward them.
Louis had rung the bell beside her bed to notify the doctor that she was awake. But in his panic, he had pressed it too hard triggering an emergency alarm instead. The loud, shrill sound had sent the hospital staff into a flurry of action.
Realizing it was all just a false alarm, Louis tried to compose himself, quickly slipping back into his usual cold and detached expression. But it was obvious to everyone especially to Isabella that his reaction had come from deep worry.
"Mr. Louis," one of the doctors said gently, trying not to smile, "we understand how desperate you are about Miss Ella's condition, but we have to assure you nothing is wrong at the moment. Once we run a few more background checks, we'll be able to confirm her condition more accurately."
He turned to Isabella with a reassuring tone. "For now, the most important thing she needs is proper nourishment to replenish both body and soul. She also needs as much rest as possible. Any form of stress, whether physical or emotional, is strongly discouraged."
After completing a brief examination, the doctor nodded. "I'll prescribe some medications to help speed up her recovery," he added, before giving Louis a knowing look. "We wish her a speedy recovery."
With that, the doctor left the room, leaving one of the nurses behind to begin preparing Isabella for her full check-up. Louis stood quietly beside her, his posture stiff but his eyes filled with emotions he was still trying to suppress.