Caught In His Embrace: A Second Chance Romance

Precisely speaking, it was Lucas who came out.

Sienna and Josiah rushed over. "Dr. Nelson, how's Joyce?"

"Don't worry." Lucas' smile reassured them. "The operation went well. Joyce did great, and everything was smooth. She's a well-behaved little one."

Hearing this, Sienna breathed a sigh of relief, tears welling up instantly.

Josiah glanced at her, furrowing his brow. He shook hands with Lucas. "We owe it all to your excellent skills, Dr. Nelson. Joyce..."

"Oh, Joyce has been sent to the sterile isolation unit. Sienna knows," Lucas said Sienna nodded. "I thought we could see her for a moment."

"Just a little longer," Lucas said while smiling. "Once Joyce recovers, you'll be able to be with her every day. By then, you might even find her too noisy."

Sienna paused, then smiled faintly. Her eyes shimmered with tears. "Thank you for your kind words."

"You can go to the sterile isolation room in a bit," Dr. Nelson said.

"The nurse can show you the monitoring footage."

The sterile isolation unit had stricter rules than the intensive care unit; visits were not allowed, not even through the glass. The family could only view the footage from the office area.

"Al right," Josiah responded. "Thank you for your hard work."

"You're welcome. It's my duty," Lucas replied.

After Lucas left, they went to the sterile isolation room. The nurse showed them the surveillance footage of Joyce.

In the footage, Joyce lay quietly with her arms raised above her head. If not for the oxygen mask on her face, she would have looked like she was peacefully sleeping.

She wore a hospital gown, with various tubes extending from her body-some connected to monitoring equipment, others were drainage tubes embedded within.

"Joyce.." nouth. Her eyes reddened.

Sienna's heart skipped a beat. She quickly covered her Although she understood these were normal, it was hard to be entirely rational as a mother.

Her heart ached. Joyce was still under four years old.

"It's time," the nurse reminded them. "Don't worry, we'll take great care of her."

"Thank you. We appreciate it," Josiah said.

Even after leaving the room, Sienna hadn't calmed down.

Josiah glanced at her, wanting to comfort her, but he, too, was heartbroken for Joyce. Such a little girl had already endured hardships that some might never experience in their entire lives.

After a long pause, he spoke softly, "Let's look on the bright side.

Joyce's suffering will be over after this, and her life will only be full of sweetness."

Sienna was taken aback, looking up at him with her eyes red- rimmed.

Josiah's chest tightened at the sight. He handed her a tissue and said, "You haven't had much rest these past few days. Since visits aren't allowed, take this time to recharge. Once Joyce is out, you'll be busy again."

Sienna nodded, accepting the tissue.

Josiah's phone rang. It was the nurse. "Mr. Evans, about your treatment today..."

"Got it," Josiah replied. "I'm coming."

After hanging up, he turned to Sienna. "Let's head back to the room."

"Okay," Sienna replied.

Josiah took her back to the hematology department.

"Let's stop here," Sienna stopped at the entrance. "You still need your infusion."

She smiled faintly. "I'm heading in now. Call me if you need anything." With a wave, she turned and walked inside.

Her demeanor was natural, neither close nor distant, yet to Josiah, she felt impossibly out of reach.

Josiah's eyes narrowed slightly. A hollow emptiness settled in his chest. He had never truly possessed her, yet somehow, it felt like he had lost her a million times.

Rosie had arrived in the inpatient room, carrying two large bags.

"Sienna." She was at the nurses' station, just about to ask for the door to be unlocked. "Tara asked me to bring these over. You're back, so the surgery's done?"noveldrama

It ended so early, which likely meant everything had gone well.

"Yeah," Sienna nodded with a smile. "It went well."

"That's great!" Rosie gasped, dropping the bags as she hugged Sienna. "Such great news!"

She shed tears of joy, genuinely happy for Sienna. "Your struggles are finally over."

Sienna smiled. "Yeah, finally."

"Wonderful." Rosie then learned Joyce wouldn't be returning to the room for the time being. She then pointed at the bags on the floor.

"Tara had me bring all this food."

"We'll eat it," Sienna smiled. "And once Joyce's out, we'll prepare fresh meals for her."

"Good point." Rosie grinned. "Joyce's our little newbie. She deserves only the freshest and the best."

They picked up the bags and headed inside.

The room was quiet. As they unpacked, they chatted.

"I've been so focused on Joyce that I haven't asked about you,"

Sienna said. "How have you been?"

"Pretty good," Rosie replied.

She then remembered something. "By the way, I applied for a job as a designer. I made it past the first round."

"Really? Congratulations!" Sienna exclaimed.

"Not yet." Rosie laughed, shaking her head. "I only submitted my resume and

portfolio. I still have an interview, so nothing's certain."

"At least there's hope," Sienna said. Something else came to her mind. "How's your divorce going?"

"Everything's fine..." The two pulled

out chairs and sat down as Rosie continued, "I already drafted the divorce agreement and sent it to Daniel. I'm waiting for his reply."

She added, "It's just a simple agreement. I asked for nothing-no financial disputes

and no custody battles since we don't have kids.

After he signs, it's done."

"Okay." Sienna nodded

***

That night, Sienna stayed in the room as usual. Even though Joyce wasn't there, she needed to remain in case the hospital required a family member's presence.

In addition, seeing Conner stable and with a caregiver, Tania didn't stay overnight. After she left, Sienna went to Conner's room, helping him drink some water and have a bit of soup.

Conner let out a helpless chuckle. "Sienna, you don't have to worry about me. Dr. Nelson said I just need a week of rest before I can be discharged."

"Stay an extra week." Sienna frowned. "You've been hospitalized twice this year, both for major surgery. Just do it for my peace of mind..."

Conner couldn't refuse. "Okay. Whatever makes you happy." He grinned.

Sienna smiled and sighed. He was only 22 or 23-still a kid in many ways. Yet the loyalty and responsibility he carried were things

his father, Larry Fischer, had never possessed. en

Meanwhile, after leaving the hospital, Rosie headed back to Sunshine

Neighborhood. On the way, she received a call from an un f a miliar numbe

r.

"Hello?" she answered the call.

"Hello." A deep, raspy male voice came through, familiar yet distant.