Sadie's heart trembled, besieged by a torrent of worrying thoughts. A few possibilities arose — maybe Holden hadn't returned to his room at all, or he had stumbled upon something amiss, or, in the worst case scenario, another woman had entered his room.

The more she pondered, the more her flustered state deepened. She stole furtive glances at Holden and tentatively inquired, “Why did you only just arrive? You have no idea how upset I am. My whole body aches.

To her dismay, Holden remained absorbed in checking on Adele's well-being, not sparing a glance in her direction.

Unable to endure being ignored, Sadie's eyes brimmed with tears. Observing that Holden's attention still eluded her, her sobs echoed, a symphony of distress.

Only then did Holden raise his head, casting an impassive glance her way, and uttered in a toneless voice, “If you're in so much discomfort, I can call a doctor for you."