Caught In His Embrace: A Second Chance Romance

Howard stood there, still as a statue. His face was expressionless, but in reality, his back was tense and his palms were sweating.

He could even see his own panic in Rosie's eyes.

The moment their eyes met, they were both stunned.

Howard was so nervous that his Adam's apple bobbed.

Rosie's eyes flickered slightly, then she quickly looked away.

"Ms. Miller, please look at my finger..." Ezra interjected, easing the awkwardness. "Follow my finger with your eyes... good, very good..."

Ezra gave Rosie a simple checkup, then said, "The surgery was successful. A nurse will come over in a moment to take you for a few tests. If everything checks out, you can be discharged."

"Thank you, Dr. Atkins," Rosie said.

"You're welcome."

"I'll also prescribe you some medication. You'll need to continue taking it for a while after you go home. I'll write down the precautions in detail in your discharge summary," Ezra said.

"Okay," Rosie replied.

After Ezra left, the nurse came in and took Rosie for the tests. Sienna accompanied her the entire time.

Of course, Howard tagged along in silence the whole time.

After the tests, Rosie returned to her room and glanced back. Howard didn't follow her in. She looked up at Sienna and asked, "Did Mr. Flynn leave?"

"No." Sienna shook her head. "He's outside. Howard wants to ask Dr. Atkins some questions about your follow-up appointment and the details of the medication prescribed to you."

She simply stated the facts.

In Sienna's view, Howard seemed a bit pitiful. However, she believed that it was better to let the two of them figure things out. As a bystander, she should not interfere.

"Oh." Rosie nodded, seemingly deep in thought.

"Sienna, could you please ask Mr. Flynn to come in? I want to tell him something," Rosie said.noveldrama

"No problem," Sienna said.

Sienna then got up to leave. "You two talk, I'll wait for you outside."

Soon, Howard came in, carrying Rosie's bag of medicine.

He put the bag on the table and cleared his throat. "Take these medicines back with you. The instructions are on the box."

"Got it." Rosie nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Flynn."

Howard's gaze flickered slightly. She had called him "Mr. Flynn", a distant and formal term of address. His heart sank with a sense of foreboding.

Howard frowned, his thin lips parting slightly. "Rosie, are you still angry with me for hiding my identity?"

Rosie looked at him calmly and asked, "Why did you hide your identity from me then, Mr. Flynn?"

Howard was at a loss for words. He hadn't expected things to develop this way with Rosie.

At first, he was still with Yvette.

He had only helped her because she was Bobby's mother, and he couldn't stand

to see her being humiliated and bullied by Daniel.

He rarely spoke in front of her because he didn't want to get too involved.

But then, he broke up with Yvette, and the thought of being with Rosie crossed his mind...

He would marry someday, so why not Bobby's mother? It would be the perfect way to give Bobby a complete family.

Besides, Rosie had suffered so much over the years because of him.

He hoped to protect her from now on and make up for what he owed her all these years...

Howard thought about these things and weighed his words.

He wondered how to tell Rosie that Bobby was the result of their fateful encounter years ago.

He wondered if it was appropriate to tell her so rashly. Her eyes had just recovered, and she still needed time to recuperate. Besides, would she accept Bobby?

After all, Bobby was the result of the humiliation she had suffered, and Rosie had abandoned the child.

Howard originally thought that after

her eyes were healed, he would

create some opportunities for the mother and son to bond. When Rosie's maternal instincts were awakened and they'd developed a bond, Rosie and Howard would naturally get along.

"Mr. Flynn." Seeing that he hadn't said anything for a long time, and even seemed

a little distracted, Rosie laughed. "Is this question difficult to answer?"

"Yes." Howard nodded, his brow furrowed. "It's complicated, and it's really hard to answer."

She didn't expect him to answer like this. Rosie was slightly startled and blinked blankly. "Then, I'll change the question... Mr. Flynn, do you like me?" Howard's whole body stiffened.

He was thirty-one, and it was the first time anyone had asked him this question so directly.

Facing his silence once again, Rosie sighed softly. "Let me answer that for you, Mr. Flynn. You don't like me."

Howard was surprised. "Why?"

"Why?" Rosie laughed and shook her head. "Mr. Flynn, my eyes were blind, but my heart wasn't. I can feel it."

Howard frowned, confused. "Why would you say that? Have I not been good enough to you?"

"No, that's not it." Rosie said

solemnly, "But there're many ways

one person can be good to another such as parents to children, siblings to each other, or even among comrades.I don't know which is it for you, but it's obvious you don't love me."

"Well then..." Howard frowned, feeling tongue-tied. "What do I have to do to show

you that I like you?"

"Ah." Rosie chuckled at his question. "It's something you feel, not a simple action. Do you understand?"

Howard's face darkened. He didn't understand at all.

"Mr. Flynn Rosie stopped smiling and said softly, "Thank you for taking care of me all this time. I'm being discharged today, and I'll take good care of myself."

She was saying she didn't need him anymore.

*****

The ward door suddenly opened and Howard walked out, his face dark as ink.

Sienna was startled. "Howard!"

She wondered what made Howard look so upset.

"Mm."Howard nodded slightly, said nothing, and hurried away with Hervey.

Sienna, utterly confused, entered the ward.

"Rosie."Sienna grabbed Rosie, who was packing, and asked curiously, "Did you and Howard have a fight?"

"Fight? What fight?" Rosie was amused by her. "I just told him that he doesn't like me and thanked him for taking care of me."

"Oh, I see." Sienna suddenly understood. "You refused Howard."

"No, I didn't." Rosie corrected her. "It would only be rejection if he liked me, but he

doesn't."

"But..." Sienna couldn't shake the feeling that Howard's desire to be with Rosie was genuine.

"No buts," Rosie interrupted. "My eyes are healed. What I need to do now is get a

divorce and then live a good life.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," Rosie said.

"Sorry, I'm late. I was stuck in traffic," the visitor said.