His Regret Arrived Three Days Late novel Chapter 20

When Annika refused his offer only to get into Tyler’s car, Hank felt a pang of disappointment. As he walked back into the ballroom, he was met with Conrad’s icy expression, a face as cold as a winter frost. His heart sank. He followed Conrad’s gaze and saw the spot where Tyler’s car had just disappeared.

By the time Hank looked back, Conrad had already turned away from the door, his face so impassive that Hank almost believed he had imagined the flicker of loss in his boss's eyes. But the chilling smile that touched Conrad’s lips sent a shiver down his spine. He knew Conrad too well; the calmer he appeared, the more furious he was inside. Hank couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread for Annika.

...

Tyler drove Annika to the hospital, insisting he should go up and pay his respects to Marcus, but Annika politely declined.

“Alright,” Tyler sighed, “I’ll come by to visit your father tomorrow, then.”

After he left, Annika went back to the hospital room. The shock of Serena being alive, a living, breathing person, was still difficult to process. Her return had severed the last thread of hope Annika had for her marriage to Conrad. It was impossible now.

“Annika…”

A weak voice interrupted her thoughts as she sat by the bed, silently crying.

Annika looked up. Her father’s eyes were open. “Dad!” she cried out, overjoyed.

The tear tracks on his daughter’s face caused a sharp pain in Marcus’s heart. He raised a trembling hand, an IV needle taped to the back of it, wanting to wipe her tears away.

Annika quickly dried her own eyes and clasped his hand, pressing his warm palm against her cheek. “I’m just so happy to see you awake,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.

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