Evander hadn’t slept a wink all night. Faint shadows lingered beneath his

    eyes.

    Charlotte kept her head down, quietly eating her breakfast without asking a single question. Jacques, on the other hand, seemed to notice

    Evander’s pallor. “Not feeling well?”

    His voice was hoarse. “I’m fine.”

    Jacques nced at Charlotte, but before he could say anything, she spoke up. “Dad, I need to stop by the hospital today.”

    He pondered for half a minute, then finally nodded. “Alright, go ahead.”

    Charlotte gave a slight nod. “Thanks for understanding, Dad.”

    Evander, looked at her. “I’ll drive you.”

    She instinctively wanted to refuse, but Jacques, still calmly slicing his steak, raised an eyebrow. “If you’re worried, have Holden take her.”

    “I wouldn’t trust anyone else.”

    Charlotte leaned in, lowering her voice. “Really, you don’t have to-”

    “I’m headed to the hospital anyway. Might as well give you a lift.”

    She fell silent, exasperated.

    He’d never been the clingy type before…

    After breakfast, Charlotte, left the hotel, Evander trailing after her with unhurried steps.

    The bodyguard pulled up with the car and opened the door for them.

    They got in, and almost immediately, Charlotte’s phone rang.

    It was Vera.

    She answered, but before she could speak, Vera’s frantic voice spilled

    b1/3 /b

    10.45 E

    Chapter

    through the line, “Charlotte, it’s Hiram Sterling–he’s on the roof!”

    Charlotte’s mind went nk with shock.

    Evander caught her stricken expression. “What’s wrong?”

    She lowered her phone, her voice hollow. “Take me to the hospital. Now. Something’s happened…”

    Up on the rooftop, Hiram clung to the railing, his whole body trembling. From that dizzying height, the people below looked as tiny and

    insignificant as ants.

    Word spread quickly that someone was threatening to jump. Most of the crowd gathered below, drawn by morbid curiosity, while the medical staff wasted no time calling the police. Within minutes, fire trucks and police cars arrived, with an ambnce on standby.

    Officers began clearing the crowd just as Charlotte rushed onto the

    scene.

    The police stopped her at the entrance. She tried to exin but her words tumbled out incoherently. Evander stepped forward, his tone calm and firm. “She’s family. The man on the roof–he’s her brother.”

    The officer hesitated. “You’re family?”

    “I iam/i!” Charlotte regained herposure and shed her hospital ID. “I

    work here. I’m a doctor.”

    They let her through.

    Charlotte ran inside, darted into the elevator, and pressed straight for the top floor. The rooftop itself was only essible by climbing a fire escape, and already several staff members were gathered at the bottom of the stairs–Judd, Vera, and a few others among them.

    Firefighters were suiting up, quietly strategizing their rescue n.

    “Let me talk to him! He’s my brother!” Charlotte called out.

    b212 /b

    12:46

    Everyone turned to look at her.

    Judd was about to say something, but then he spotted Evander hurrying in behind her, and whatever words he had died in his throat.

    The lead firefighter handed Charlotte a radio. “If things get dangerous, press this button.”

    She nodded. “Okay.”

    Evander reached for her arm. “Be careful.”

    She gave him a faint look, then started up the fire escape to the roof.

    “Hiram!” Charlotte shouted.

    He turned slowly, but she didn’t dare go any closer, afraid she’d spook him. “It’s dangerous over there. Please,e here. Whatever’s bothering you, just tell me I’ll help you through it, I promise!”

    “You’re a Sterling, Hiram! You’re the son Mom and Dad always believed in. You used to say you’d make them proud; that you’d be a man they could look up to! But if they saw you now, standing there like this… they’d be heartbroken. And so would I.”

    Charlotte’s voice trembled. The situation was teetering on the edge of

    disaster.

    He was all the family she had left.

    She couldn’t save Xavier or their mother, Rachel, but at least she could try

    for him.

    Her eyes filled with tears. “Hiram, please. Come here. I’m scared…”

    Hiram’s knuckles whitened on the railing. His eyes were rimmed red, hollow with despair. His voice rasped, “Don’t lie to me…”

    Charlotte froze. “Hiram… you- You can talk?”

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