Chapter 297: Sympathy and Regret
Once she was sure Sean Sterling had left the hospital room, Isla Griffith’s body finally began to relax, inch by inch.
The only sound left in the air was the monotonous beeping of the medical equipment, its pale light illuminating the bedsheets.
Isla didn’t look back. She took a deep, difficult breath, and all the coldness, distance, and finality she had built up in front of Sean Sterling came crashing down in an instant.
It wasn’t that she didn’t love him anymore. She just didn’t dare to, couldn’t, love him again.
Every word she spoke to break up with him was like carving a piece out of her own heart.
She was in more pain than anyone, more reluctant to let go than anyone. More than anything, she wanted to throw herself into Sean Sterling’s arms, sobbing, and tell him about the agony she had endured.
But she couldn’t.
The unspeakable pain and fear hidden in the depths of her heart coiled around her like poisonous vines, suffocating her.
Isla was afraid that if she stayed by Sean Sterling’s side, she would not only destroy herself but also invite something even more terrible to happen.
She was afraid her shattered heart could no longer sustain a relationship already full of scars.
She was even more afraid that if Sean Sterling learned the truth, he would be dragged into a deeper vortex.
Breaking up was the only thing she could do—to force herself to leave and to force Sean to let go.
It was a decision made out of desperation, utter helplessness, and a heart that felt like it was being sliced apart, yet she had to brace herself and say the words.
After a long time, Isla Griffith slowly turned around. Her pale face no longer held any trace of hardness, only a broken, fragile vulnerability.
"Wren, you should go home too. Owen and Nina are still young; they need their mother."
"The doctors and nurses are here. I’ll be fine. You don’t have to stay and watch over me. Go back and get some rest."
Wren Sutton’s eyes glistened with tears. She sat by the hospital bed, leaned over, and took Isla Griffith’s hand.
"Don’t be silly. How could I leave at a time like this? I’m going to stay with you, take care of you, and we’ll get through this together."
"Don’t be afraid. Even without Sean Sterling, you still have me, your best friend. I will always be the friend you can trust, your safe harbor, and your rock. No one can ever replace that."
Isla Griffith’s hand trembled.
The two best friends looked at each other as tears streamed from their eyes at the same time.
There was no sound of crying, only scalding tears that rolled down continuously, drop by drop, landing on their hands and making their hearts ache with a burning pain.
Wren Sutton sniffled, forcing back a sob. She gently comforted her, "Isla, I know you’re in pain, and I know how much you’re suffering inside. But no matter how hard it is, you have to focus on getting better first."
"Rest well, eat well, and build your strength back up. Only then will you have the energy to find the person who did this and get justice for your babies."
Isla Griffith looked at Wren Sutton’s red-rimmed eyes and nodded, tears sliding down her cheeks.
"Okay, I’ll listen to you."
That single agreement seemed to drain the last of her remaining strength and spirit.
Her eyelids were as heavy as lead. Exhausted in body and soul, she finally fell asleep to Wren Sutton’s warm comfort.
Her breathing gradually became long and steady. But even in her deep sleep, her brow remained tightly furrowed, and the tear tracks at the corners of her eyes were still wet, as if an unrelenting pain lingered even in her dreams.
Wren Sutton pulled the blanket over Isla Griffith and tucked in the corners.
She sat in the chair by the bed, keeping watch, her gaze never leaving Isla’s face, her eyes filled with heartache and worry.
’Isla, who on earth hurt you?’
’Why won’t you say anything? Why won’t you tell Sean and let him get justice for you?’
Just then, the phone in her pocket vibrated softly, interrupting Wren Sutton’s thoughts.
She took out her phone and saw it was a call from Adrian Lancaster.
Afraid of waking Isla Griffith, Wren Sutton quickly got up and quietly stepped out of the room.
Closing the door, she answered the phone. "Hello."
"Honey, where are you? What on earth happened? You left in such a hurry without telling me. Can you tell me now?" Adrian Lancaster asked urgently.
This wasn’t the first time he had called Wren Sutton. He had tried several times before, but she hadn’t answered.
Wren Sutton felt a sting in her nose. She didn’t hide anything.
"I’m at the hospital. Something happened to Isla."
She paused, her throat tightening as she fought back the wave of sadness welling up inside her.
"She had a miscarriage. She lost the babies."
The other end of the line went silent for several seconds.
Adrian Lancaster was stunned at first, then his heart sank, leaving a sour feeling in his chest.
After all, it was two little lives—and they were Sean Sterling’s children.
He sympathized with Isla Griffith’s plight and also felt sorry for Sean Sterling.
But he was more concerned about Wren Sutton’s feelings, so he first tried to comfort her softly.
"Something like this happening is truly heartbreaking. Don’t be too sad, and don’t try to carry all these emotions by yourself."
Wren Sutton murmured an "mhm," but her eyes couldn’t help but turn red anyway.
’How could I not be sad? That’s my best friend.’
"Everything was fine. How could she suddenly have a miscarriage?" Adrian Lancaster asked, puzzled.
"Where’s Sean Sterling? Is he at the hospital too?"
Wren Sutton shook her head and sighed helplessly.
"Isla won’t say. None of us know who hurt her."
"Sean Sterling came to the hospital, but Isla is emotionally unstable right now and didn’t want to see him. He just left a little while ago. Before he left, he said he would investigate this matter thoroughly."
"She won’t say?" Adrian Lancaster frowned, his confusion laced with disbelief. "That doesn’t make any sense."
"She’s the victim. Why would she cover for the perpetrator?"
"Even if she didn’t tell anyone else, there’s no reason not to tell Sean Sterling."
A flash of insight struck Adrian Lancaster. His eyes darkened as a thought suddenly occurred to him. "Unless..."
"Unless what?" Wren Sutton asked urgently.
Adrian Lancaster collected himself. "I’m just making a wild guess. You can’t make accusations like that without enough evidence."
"Since Sean Sterling is investigating it, I’m sure there will be results soon."
Wren Sutton sniffled, barely managing to hold back a sob.
"Actually, I have a vague suspicion about something too. Just like you, I can’t be sure."
"If it were a stranger, Isla would have no reason not to tell me or Sean Sterling."
"The more she tries to hide it, the more it suggests that the person is an acquaintance."
Adrian Lancaster tightened his grip on his phone but didn’t respond to her point.
The atmosphere inexplicably grew heavy.
After a long silence, Wren Sutton changed the subject.
"I don’t feel right leaving Isla at the hospital by herself. I’m going to stay and keep her company tonight. I’ll have to trouble you to look after Owen and Nina."
Adrian Lancaster understood his wife’s feelings. He didn’t object and readily agreed.
"I understand. You focus on being with her. I’m here at home, so don’t worry. I’ll take good care of the kids."
After saying that, he thought of something else and immediately added a reminder for Wren Sutton.
"Takeout isn’t very healthy. I’ll have the maid make dinner and a late-night snack at home and bring it over for the two of you."
"I’ll also bring you a change of clothes and a few daily necessities."
Wren Sutton’s heart warmed. "Thank you for the trouble."
But Adrian Lancaster felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.
He didn’t want Wren Sutton to be so formal with him; it created an invisible distance between them.
"It’s no trouble. We’re husband and wife. This is what I should do."
Those two words, "husband and wife," landed heavily on Wren Sutton’s heart. She pressed her lips together and turned to look out the window, something fleeting flashing in her eyes, too quick to be caught.
"I’ll call you when I get there. I won’t go into the room," Adrian Lancaster said.
Wren Sutton acknowledged, "Okay."
"Take care of yourself. Don’t get too worn out."
"I know."
Wren Sutton hung up the phone, walked to the window, and gazed into the distance.
The sky was gradually darkening. She put her phone away, the phrase "We’re husband and wife" stirring a bitter feeling in her heart.