With that, Mark stared down at the woman.

The woman remained in a daze for some time before her arrogance crumbled away.

She covered her face as her tears ran down.

Her husband grumbled sternly, “You've got the nerve to cry. Bring that child here to apologize to the little girl. If something is wrong with the girl's leg, tell your son to marry her."

Peter's wife immediately exclaimed, "My Laura would never marry a scoundrel!"

Their discussion had clearly veered off course.

The adults talking over each other left Mark with a growing headache, so he decided to leave Peter to deal with the couple and proceeded into the ward.

As he entered, a flood of thoughts overwhelmed his mind.

It had been a considerable time since he last saw Laura, and when he was face to face with her again, his emotions were far more complicated.

Inside the ward, Laura's leg was immobilized in a cast.

Remarkably so, she hadn't shed a tear despite her injury.

When she caught sight of Mark, her lips parted, as if she wanted to say something.

Mark gazed at Laura.

She was hurting, yet her didn't shed tears.

A wave of sadness washed over him as he wondered, if she wouldn't talk, would she allow herself the release of tears?

With a tender gesture, he reached out and brushed her hair softly with his fingertips.

Laura's eyes, bright and intense, met his.

Peter had left the tricky situation to his wife. Bursting into the ward, what he saw was a silent exchange between the two.

He harbored deep affection for Laura.

He was aware that, despite being taken in by him, her thoughts often wandered to Mark.