Before she could utter a single word, his icy glare silenced her.

"You had better pray Adele is okay!" he cautioned.

Upstairs, Adele sat in stunned silence on the bed. Gauze was wrapped around her forehead, and her arm bore the mark of red ointment. Her eyes remained swollen and bloodshot from her earlier tears.

The doctor delivered his instructions to Holden in a hushed tone when he arrived, saying, "It's nothing grave; just keep the wounds dry."

Holden nodded, a pang of anguish piercing his heart at the sight of Adele's condition. He moved with great care to the bed and settled down beside her.

“Is there pain elsewhere, my dear? You must tell Daddy if you're feeling unwell."

Adele simply sat in a daze.

Holden retrieved some toys from beside the bed, hoping to provide Adele with a much-needed distraction. Gradually, she began to respond, engaging in the play.

The tranquility of the moment was shattered when Sadie suddenly entered the room. At the mere sight of Sadie, Adele let out a frightened wail and sought refuge in Holden's embrace.

Holden swiftly enfolded Adele in his arms, casting a withering glare in Sadie's direction.

"Get out!" he commanded briefly.

The severity of his tone took Sadie aback. Disturbed as she clearly was, she had no option but to comply and exit the room.

But the damage had already been done - Adele had been deeply distressed by Sadie's presence and continued to sob in Holden's chest.

Observing Adele's flushed complexion and her tear-streaked face as she cried, Holden's heart ached. He gently lifted her into his arms, swaying gently to provide her solace.

After he had patiently soothed Adele for some time, her cries gradually began to subside.

Just then, Shawn knocked and entered, conveying to Holden, "Miss Pierre appears to be experiencing some heart trouble outside."

Already seething over Adele's injury and the subsequent trauma, Holden was pushed to his breaking point by Sadie's latest antics. He snapped irritably, “If she's indeed having a heart attack, call an ambulance!"

Beyond the door, Sadie, always one for theatrics, overheard and swiftly backtracked, saying, “Oh, I'm perfectly fine now. I was just distraught seeing Adele in such a state."

Unable to enter the room, she was compelled to make her case through the closed door.

But hearing her voice only deepened Holden's vexation; he had no desire to engage with her melodramatics at this moment.