Chapter 54

Raymond shifted upright in the hospital bed,determination flashing in his eyes. "No matter how busy Vincent claims to be, I am his father-in-law, and I deserve at least a visit."

A meaningful glance passed between Raymond and Margaret,silent understanding hanging in the air.

He added, "Besides, you two have been married for five years, and we've never even met your husband.That doesn't feel right."

Hannah met his gaze, sensing his resolve and knowing nothing she said could change his mind.

Trying to smooth things over, Margaret offered a gentle smile, "Don't worry. Our daughter said Vincent would come. Let's trust her."

Without hesitation, Hannah replied, "I'll call him right now."

Stepping into the hallway, Hannah kept her phone pressed to her ear, hoping Vincent would finally answer. But call after call went unanswered, each one feeding her mounting anxiety.

Frowning, Hannah reached out to Derek for answers."Any idea where Vincent is right now?"

"Mr. Jones left the country on a business trip. Has something happened?" Derek didn't need to ask-just by the sounds in the background, he could tell she was calling from a hospital.

Avoiding the details, she kept her voice steady. "Do you know when he'll return?"

"He didn't mention a specific date. Maybe try calling him directly?" Derek suggested, treading carefully.

With nothing left to say, Hannah murmured,"Thanks," and ended the call.

Resorting to Derek was a last resort. She hadn't wanted to bother him, but Vincent's silence left her no choice. She then sent Vincent a message. "When are you coming back?"

But after she hit send on the message, the urge to call vanished completely. Still, when she caught sight of her parents' hopeful faces through the glass of the hospital room window, something in her refused to give up.

Relentlessly, she kept dialing his number, feeling the old ache she thought she'd buried return with every unanswered ring. That familiar sting of waiting for Vincent, of being met with silence, dragged her back to the hardest