The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 490

The corridor outside the isolation ward was quiet, entirely devoid of anyone except medical personnel.

When Wendy walked in, Petty noticed her immediately.

Wendy glanced past Petty at the sealed door of the isolation room. Knowing the critical condition of the child inside, she offered Petty a brief, respectful nod.

Petty had been sitting completely still by her son's bed for hours. As she took her first few steps down the hallway, the stark white hospital lights suddenly felt blinding. A violent wave of dizziness hit her. Her knees buckled, and she pitched forward.

"Careful!"

Wendy rushed over, catching Petty's arm just in time and bracing her shoulder to keep her from hitting the floor. "Are you alright, Ms... Petty?"

Petty pressed a hand to her temple, her voice weak. "Thank you. I'm just a little dizzy."

Wendy guided her to a nearby bench. As she released her grip, her eyes fell upon the thick gauze wrapped securely around Petty's wrist. Wendy froze, looking up at the woman who was now leaning against the wall with her eyes closed, desperately trying to steady her breathing.

Despite her pale, haggard complexion, Petty's features were striking. Her beauty was undeniable, a tragic kind of radiance that made it impossible to look away.

So this was Petty.

The woman whose name Franco had obsessively carved into the dirt on that desolate island.

*Malcom.* *Petty.*

Wendy's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. It all made sense now.

Watching the color slowly return to Petty's cheeks, Wendy spoke in a soft, soothing tone. "Let me walk you back to your room."

Petty slowly opened her eyes. The vertigo made her eyelids feel heavy. Looking at the masked doctor, she recognized her as the woman from the elevator—the specialist brought in for Manley.

"I'm fine, thank you," Petty replied politely. "My friend is waiting for me outside. You don't need to—"

"I saw him," Petty said softly. "He was sleeping."

"Sleeping is good," Jackson said, offering a warm, relieved smile. He let out a long breath, glancing toward the intensive care unit with red-rimmed eyes.

Meanwhile, after being unceremoniously kicked out of Franco's room, Galen hadn't left the hospital. Instead, he had paced the lobby, taking several business calls.

One of those calls was from Livia Carter's ex-boyfriend. The man wanted money, and Galen agreed without a second of hesitation.

"Take this cash and disappear from Livia's life permanently," Galen snarled into his phone. "If I ever catch you showing your face in Cabinda again, I'll break your other leg."

The man on the other end muttered a reply. Galen's expression darkened as he remembered catching Livia kissing the bastard. She treated everyone else with warmth, saving her icy, violent hatred exclusively for him.

Galen scoffed into the receiver. "I'll cure Livia of her terrible taste in men myself. Take the money and get the hell out."