Caught In His Embrace: A Second Chance Romance

Josiah carefully placed Sienna into the car and drove toward the hospital. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, but his gaze kept flicking to the fragile figure beside him.

Sienna hadn't been unconscious for long before she slowly came to. Her delicate lashes fluttered as she opened her eyes.

"You're awake." Josiah spoke in a hushed tone, as though afraid Sienna might shatter like fragile porcelain. "How do you feel?"

Sienna didn't respond. She merely shook her head before turning her face toward the car window. Silent tears slid down her pale cheeks, each drop pulling a taut string around Josiah's heart, tightening mercilessly.

Josiah swallowed hard, falling silent. At times like this, words were futile. Nothing could soothe the agony of a mother's heart.

When they arrived at the hospital, Josiah parked the car and turned to carry Sienna. "I can walk by myself." She shook her head in refusal.

"How will you do that?" Josiah frowned, his worry undisguised.

"You just fainted, so you don't have the strength. Be good... Let me carry you."

As Josiah spoke, he used his strength to effortlessly lift Sienna into his arms. Sienna truly had no energy to resist. In the end, she allowed herself to be carried into the inpatient building.

Back at the inpatient building, Josiah settled Sienna into a family room. His fingers brushed against her cheek as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Her skin was icy to the touch. "I'll call the doctor to check on you."

A doctor arrived shortly and conducted a brief examination. "Her blood pressure is slightly low, but it's nothing serious. Some rest should do the trick."noveldrama

"Okay. Thank you," Josiah saw the doctor out. He returned to Sienna's bedside and pulled the blanket higher over her. "I know you won't be able to sleep, but at least close your eyes and rest...

Joyce will wake up soon and ask for you."

At the mention of Joyce, a sharp pain struck Sienna's heart.

Without another word, she shut her eyes.

Josiah let out a barely audible sigh. "Rest well. I'll go check on Joyce." With that,

he stood up, left the room, and quietly closed the door behind him.

"Mr. Flynn," Zach called, still standing guard outside. "Any news from Mr.

Fischer?" Josiah shook his head with a grave expression.

"The.. The surgery is in two days," Zach said. "It would have to be postponed if Conner couldn't be found in time."

Josiah waved a hand at Zach. "You've been up all night as well. Go and get some rest."

"Okay, Mr. Flynn." Zach nodded. "Let me know if there's anything I can do."

"Mm." Josiah turned and entered the room. He dismissed the nurse on duty and took her place at Joyce's bedside.

Joyce was fast asleep, curled up in the blankets, completely unaware that the only person who could save her, Conner, had vanished without a trace.

'Sienna is heartbroken. What should I do?' Josiah thought with a frown, pondering what to do.

Getting Tania to reveal Conner's whereabouts was nearly impossible now. That left only one option-finding him before the day of the surgery.

Doing so in such a short time would require immense financial resources and powerful connections.

However, Josiah was no longer the respected second son of the Flynn family. Miranda had made sure of that, forbidding him from laying a finger on anything related to Flynn Group.

***

As dawn broke, Josiah's eyes snapped open. He dozed off on the couch, just enough to shake off some exhaustion. Glancing over at the bed, he saw that Joyce was still sound asleep.

Josiah got up and stepped outside. Tara had already arrived and was in the cafeteria, unpacking the breakfast she had brought.

"Mr. Flynn, you're awake." Tara gestured toward the table. "Just in time. I brought breakfast. Have some."

Josiah barely acknowledged Tara and said, "Let me check on Sienna first." He had no idea if Sienna had managed to get any rest or if her condition had improved.

Just as Josiak turned around, Sienna emerged from the family room. She had freshened up, tying her long hair neatly behind her head. However, the dark circles beneath her eyes and the red streaks in them betrayed her sleepless night.

"Sienna." Josiah took two steps forward. "Tara brought breakfast.

Have some."

"Mm." Sienna nodded, saying no more. Overnight, she seemed to have lost even

more weight. Her jawline was sharper, and her eyes h a d sunken.

Josiah parted his lips as if wanting to say something more when his phone

suddenly rang. "Helo," he answered. It was Yvette.

Josiah turned away, lowering his voice instinctively. "Mm, yes.

Right. Al right, I understand."

After Josiah hung up, he turned only to see Sienna already seated at the dining table. She was holding a cup of milk to her lips and had her head hung low, lost in

thought.

"Sienna." Josiah put away his phone and walked up to Sienna. His gaze swept over the nearly untouched milk in her hands, and a sharp sting spread through his chest as if he had been stung by a wasp.

"I have something to take care of. I'll need to step out for a while,"

Josiah said.

Upon hearing that, Sienna lifted her gaze at Josiah, a smile spreading across her lips. "Oh? You're busy? Al right, go ahead."

"Sienna..." Josiah hesitated and gulped as he looked at Sienna's insubstantial smile. "Then, I'll be leaving. I'll try to be back as soon as possible."

"Go ahead." Sienna stretched the corners of her mouth wider, urging him on. "Don't let me hold you up."

"Okay." Josiah cast Sienna a long, searching look before turning to leave.

The moment Josiah turned away, the light in Sienna's eyes dimmed. The fragile, fleeting smile vanished, leaving behind only cold emptiness.

Sienna thought, 'He left, just like that. Just like before, I'm left alone to take care of Joyce and face everything on my own.

The call earlier-who was it from?

Yvette? There are too many people in his heart, not enough to share. He

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could only give so little to Joyce!' Sienna took a breath before she lifted the cup of milk and gulped it

down. Joyce was her daughter. If there was anyone she could rely on,

it would be herself.

Meanwhile, in the underground parking lot, Josiah retrieved his car while dialing Zach's number. "It's me."

"Yes, Mr. Flynn?" Zach answered.

"Yvette has a follow-up appointment at the hospital today. Head over to Silver Beach and lend a hand-I can't make it," Josiah instructed "Understood, Mr. Flynn, Zach replied.

Ending the call, Josiah pulled open the car door and got in. As the engine roared

to life, he drove out of the hospital's parking lot and headed straight for Clearbay Estates, toward the Evans residence.

At Clearbay Estates, Andy was already up, changing into his outdoor attire in the walk-in closet.

"Mr. Evans." The moment. ndy stepped out of the bedroom, the caregiver approached, her face clouded with worry. "Mrs. Evans refuses to take her medicine again."

Andy sighed, his brows knitting together. He wondered the point of keeping so

many housekeepers if they couldn't even handle that.

"Okay," he said. With that, he turned on his heel and strode toward Hailey's room.

Ever since Hailey had mistakenly swallowed disinfectant and had to undergo gastric lavage, her stomach had been in a fragile state, requiring constant medication to aid recovery. Besides, getting her to take her medicine was never an easy task-it was always an ordeal.

However, Hailey seemed to fear Andy. The moment he appeared, she would fall

into an eerie silence, offering no resistance and quietly complying. Hence, the

caregivers would come running to Andy whenever he was around.

In the room, Andy took the medicine and held it to Hailey's lips.

"Hailey, time for your medicine. Come on, open your mouth, ah."

At the doorway, Ethan stepped in. He halted behind Andy, bent down, leaned in

close, and whispered, "Mr. Edgar Evans is here.

His car has been parked outside for quite some time now but he hasn't come in."