"I-I didn't push her that hard," the woman said in a daze.

But as soon as she spoke, Hendrix snapped out of it and immediately rushed after Noelle. But by the time he stepped out of the supermarket, she was nowhere in sight.

A frown immediately appeared on his face. After a quick glance at the street signs, he drove straight to the nearest hospital.

"Where are you going? Hendrix!" the woman called after him, but Hendrix didn't slow down.

He arrived at the hospital in no time, but when he checked the emergency room, Noelle wasn't there.

His frown deepened as he approached the nurse. "Was there a little girl brought in here just now? She's about two years old and has a nosebleed. The woman who brought her in looks like this.'

Hendrix quickly showed the nurse a photo from his phone.

"Oh, you mean the little girl with leukemia? She was taken directly to Dr. Moore. She should be in—" "What did you say?" Hendrix cut her off. His voice dropped, laced with a chill and a hint of disbelief. The nurse, startled by his sudden change of demeanor, swallowed the words she was about to say. "What did you just say?" Hendrix pressed, his teeth clenched. "What's wrong with the little girl? What illness does she have?"

"S-She has leukemia. She was hospitalized here for several days and was just discharged today." Hendrix's mind instantly went blank.

Noelle sat on a chair in the hallway with her head lowered.

The overpowering scent of

disinfectant in the hospital filled her nose, mixed with the faint metallic smell of blood on her clothes. The blood belonged to Rosie, from when she had clung to her earlier.

Rosie's blood clotting function was dangerously poor, which was why the doctor had given strict instructions to take extra care of her.

Today was supposed to be her discharge day. She had been looking forward to this day for so long, and when they went to the supermarket, she was so happy.

But Noelle had failed to protect her. Why did she have to get into a standoff with Hendrix at that moment? Why didn't she just leave with Rosie right away?

The trembling in her hands intensified. She bit her lip so hard that it bled, the taste of iron bitter on her tongue.

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway. The sound of leather shoes hitting the floor was familiar to Noelle, but she didn't look up.

Hendrix stopped in front of her. "How's the kid?"

His voice was tense, and his hands were clenched awkwardly at his sides.

Noelle slowly raised her head to look at him. "Leave."

Her tone was sharp and unyielding.

Hendrix frowned, about to say something. But before he could even open his mouth, Noelle continued, "I'm telling you, Hendrix. I'm going to make you pay if anything happens to Rosie."

Hendrix pressed his lips together, then said, "Don't worry. I'll arrange for the best doctors. The kid will be fine."

"Of course she'll be fine," Noelle shot

back without hesitation. "But I don't need your help, and neither does Rosie! Didn't you say you'd have a new wife and children? Go live your new dife, and don't you ever show your face in front of me or Rosie again!" noveldrama