Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3458

After spending two days in H City, Marina made her decision on the flight back to J City. She was going to move out of Carson's apartment immediately and then talk to her family about calling off the engagement.

When her flight landed at four in the afternoon, she checked her phone and saw three missed calls from Rhiannon.

She dialed back while walking toward the exit. Rhiannon picked up quickly, her voice raspy, likely from crying. "Marina, your dad is sick. He's in the emergency room right now!"

Marina's ears rang, and she nearly dropped her phone. "Which hospital? What happened?"

"A brain hemorrhage," Rhiannon replied, giving her the name of the hospital.

Forcing down her panic, Marina immediately hailed a cab.

The ride was agonizing. By the time she arrived at the hospital, the sky was nearly dark. Almost the entire Evert family was gathered in the corridor outside the emergency room.

"Marina!"

Seeing her daughter run toward her, Rhiannon threw her arms around Marina and broke down in tears again.

Pale-faced, Marina stared at the lit sign above the operating room doors. "How is Dad? Why would he suddenly have a hemorrhage?"

There hadn't been a single warning sign.

Rhiannon sobbed as she explained, "I don't know either. We went out for lunch, and afterward, he went to get the car. When he didn't come back for a long time, I went to look for him and found him collapsed next to it."

"I couldn't reach you on the phone. Thank god Carson was nearby. He helped me get your father to the hospital. He's also the one who found the best specialists and handled all the paperwork."

Rhiannon had been utterly paralyzed by fear, entirely out of her depth. Thank goodness Carson had been there.

Marina looked up and saw the man walking slowly toward them. As twilight fell and the sky grew dim, the harsh fluorescent lights cast shadows over his strikingly handsome face. His eyes, usually filled with a lazy, mocking amusement, were now dark and unreadable.

In the face of her current panic, all her previous anger felt completely insignificant. A lump formed in her throat as she whispered, "Thank you."

Carson's gaze swept over her travel-worn appearance. He offered a faint smile. "We're family. No need to thank me."

Carson gave a polite smile. "Marina isn't in J City right now. It was the least I could do."

Phoebe's lips curved upward. "My cousin is very lucky to have you. It's just that she can be a bit headstrong sometimes, so I hope you'll be patient with her."

Since Phoebe had her back to the corridor, she jumped when Marina's voice cut in behind her. "I was wondering who was badmouthing me to my fiancé. Turns out it's my dear cousin."

Carson looked up, his eyes gleaming with a half-smile as if he were enjoying the show.

Phoebe spun around, her face growing a shade paler, but she quickly recovered with a gentle laugh. "You misunderstood, Marina. I was just thanking Mr. Foster on your behalf!"

Marina brushed past her and hooked her arm through Carson's, offering a cold smile. "How strange. My own fiancé helps my father, and yet my cousin feels the need to step in and thank him."

Phoebe's smile was flawless. "Of course, given your relationship with him, you don't need to say thank you. But as a member of the Evert family, it's only right that I thank him for saving my uncle."

She offered a polite nod. "Since Uncle Jude is stable, I should be heading back. I'll come visit him first thing in the morning. Goodbye, Marina. Goodbye, Mr. Foster."