Luciana, who had once held her hand and professed maternal feelings, was now threatening her.

Luciana's fondness for her felt as delicate as dandelions, easily scattered by the slightest wind.

Raegan had previously tried to understand Luciana's actions as a mother's concern for her son, but now, things seemed less clear.

Was she truly the sole cause of all these problems? What brought Tessa to that dire strait? Wasn't it because of Lauren? And the root cause of Lauren's actions was none other than Mitchel. Wasn't Raegan, too, a victim in this tangled web?

“Luciana, I assure you, I will keep my promise. I won't reach out to him unless he does so first," Raegan said with calmness.

The boldness she had mustered earlier had evaporated.

One distressing episode was more than enough.

However, Luciana's concerns were different. She knew Mitchel well.

Beneath his carefree and rebellious exterior, he was not one to easily let go.

Luciana then voiced her suggestion, "You know, you're still young.

Studying abroad might open up better opportunities for you. Think about it. If you agree, I'll handle the expenses."

Raegan hadn't expected Luciana to be so averse to her presence, to the point of not wanting her to stay in the country.

Raegan offered a faint smile, pondering Luciana's suggestion but not dismissing it outright.

"I'll think about it."

Raegan's plans to go abroad were already in motion. She didn't wish to upset Luciana. After all, she once held a deep affection for Luciana, seeing the latter as a maternal figure.

Having expressed her thoughts, Luciana exhaled a sigh of relief.

Neither of them felt like engaging in idle chatter, so they went their separate ways.

In the hospital room...

Katie gazed at Mitchel. Though Mitchel appeared somewhat frail, his charm was undeniable. She couldn't hide her happiness at the sight of him, grinning widely.

“I've been longing to hug you. It's been so long. However, I didn't expect you to be so fragile.'