,

"It's all good,

" I found myself genuinely grateful for Yates at that moment, surprised by how much he seemed to enjoy himself., You'd think a professor of his caliber performing surgery himself was lucky enough, but to see him so invested in finding a heart donor... I knew it had to be because of Fanny.,

"When's the new heart supposed to arrive?

" I asked., Ernest lowered his gaze slightly.

"Not sure.

", I glanced down the hospital corridor, clean yet somehow still bleak,

"So what's Yates suggesting? Do we keep her hospitalized or should we head back for some rest?

",

"Let's head back. Susie, bless her, hardly ever left her hometown, never even been to Seabreeze City. I figured we'd explore a bit,

" Ernest shared his thoughts., I agreed with him. Susie had never even tried coffee or a milkshake before; the outside world must be so alien to her., She had only read about it in books, never experienced it for herself.,

"Alright,

" I said, supporting his idea., But, recalling a conversation I'd overheard at the stairwell, I decided to probe a bit,

"Just, if you're with her like this, you probably can't make it to the company.

", Ernest stayed silent, so I continued, somewhat wistfully,

"If only one could be a boss, not work, and still have money to spend quality time with family.

" He didn't respond, his silence almost deafening., Ernest had promised he'd never lie to me, and I believed him. But why he'd pretend to be broke, I couldn't fathom. Was there a hardship I wasn't aware of? Or perhaps he didn't trust me?,

"Ernest, why would someone pretend to be poor?

" I blurted out, my question as blunt as it was sudden., He flinched slightly but remained silent., I scoffed,

"You know, in novels and TV shows, it's always about mistrust. Guys pretending to be poor just to see if the women interested in them are after their money?

", I kept my gaze locked on Ernest, who didn't shy away, his expression not one of guilt., But I had clearly heard his conversation with Grant Smith.,

"Everyone has their reasons for what, they do. If someone's hiding, something, they must have their reasons,

" Ernest finally responded, under my persistent gaze., , A sneer crossed my heart. What a way to say he had his reasons. I forced a smile,

"I guess it's more about a lack of trust then.

", Ernest's expression faltered, and, pite laying it all out there, he still, 't come clean. Pressing him, further seemed pointless. ,

"Licia...

",

"I'm gonna find Fanny,

" I cut him off, handing him the water cup and jingling the keys from my pocket,

"Gotta return her keys.

", Ernest just hummed in, acknowledgment, and I walked away, with steady steps, although my, heart was anything but steady, upset over Ernest's deception., , But then, what was his reason? Afraid that revealing his wealth would make me a gold digger?, If I were after money, the Wagner family's fortune was nothing to scoff at., Even with the accident involving Conrad, if I were truly after wealth, I could have settled for Dustin, who showed interest in me., But I didn't. Ernest should see that I don't care much for money; I have my own and never relied on a man., He said he had his reasons to hide, maybe he did., Reaching Fanny's office, a nurse informed me she was in surgery., Always busy, that one., I left the rest room keys in Fanny's office drawer and left., But I didn't head back to Susie. Ernest's reluctance to be truthful was nagging at me., Instead, I went to Herschel's room, only to find two men in black by the door, one of whom I recognized., He was one of Lord Clark's bodyguards., Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.