It was all over the news the next day.

It was a huge deal: the CEO's pregnant wife had been attacked by some crazed stalker. The manhunt was on for the alleged attacker, identified as one Sarah Tan. Kyle had set up a reward for anyone who could provide information about her whereabouts.

Kyle was the idol of Country Tz even though he was not involved in the entertainment industry - save for that one blockbuster hit, John Wick 4. Thus, when the news broke out about his wife, that had been a total shock to everyone.

Other than those in the Smith Industries, no one had known he had gotten married. Now, not only was he married, his wife had been pregnant. Now, both the mother and children's lives were uncertain.

The school was abuzz with the news and Lianne's face paled upon finding out. She hardly watched the news and thus, had been completely unaware of it until everyone started talking about it.

She was worried about her mother, for this was surely a blow to her. Having her partner be so severely injured, and then the babies are in danger - how would she not be devastated?

Lianne also felt a kinship to the babies, even though they weren't her siblings. She looked upon them as her 'spiritual siblings' and she wanted to be there for her mother as well.

Unfortunately, she knew she can't.

During lunch break, she sneaked to a secluded corner away from the crowd and called up Zero.

"Zero," Lianne said immediately after he picked up the phone, "How's Kyle? Sayuri? The babies? And is she caught yet?"

Zero's face flickered with a slight frown upon getting the questions that were fired at him rapidly without a breath, then replied, "Sad. Coma. NICU. Dungeon."

"Well, duh," Lianne said in exasperation, "I know he's sad. But how is he coping? Is everything fine? He's not depressed is he?"

Zero's face softened a bit as he answered, "Don't worry, Sir is as okay as can be. He is handling it well."

"Thank you, Zero," Lianne replied, "Please let me know if it gets too bad. I can't be there for him all the time because my Dad won't let me, but at least I can go when Kyle needs me. And I know he'll never say it to me, so I have to rely on you."

"Okay," Zero said, a ghost of a smile forming on his face when he heard the genuine care and love in Lianne's voice for his Boss.

A distance away, Akira leaned close to Lucka and said, "Do you see what I see?"

Lucka blinked, rubbed his eyes, opened them again, and nodded, "I do. I do. It's a miracle."

Akira sighed, and got back to work, "Only Ms. Lianne can crack that face of his."

When Zero put down the phone after talking a bit more to reassure Lianne, he headed out. As he passed by Akira, he knocked on the back of Akira's head. Caught completely by surprise, Akira rubbed the sore spot, staring at the direction Zero had disappeared to while complaining.

After the call to Zero, Lianne felt a little bit better.

She wanted to call her mother at first but figured that her mother was probably busy taking care of Sayuri. Also, she didn't have much time to spare since she still had to have her lunch, so the best person to call to get the information was Zero.

When Stephan picked them up, he said to them after they had settled down and wore their seatbelts, "We're going to Trinity Hospital. I'm sure you know what happened to Kyle."

Lianne didn't say anything but nodded while Joseph replied, "Yes."

"But remember, we can't stay too long as we should not be too burdensome," Stephan said, "Visiting is good as we want to show our support and care but at the same time, we don't want to tire them out. From what I've heard, Sayuri is in a coma so we won't be tiring her out but I am sure Kyle needs his rest as well."

"Okay, Papa," Joseph and Lianne replied together.

Lianne was glad that her father was sensitive to this.

People who are at the hospital would surely like people visiting them but at the same time, not every patient is the same. If it was one or two people visiting, it's not so bad but when you have lots of people coming in?

Depending on what the patient is in the hospital for, such prolonged and continuous visits can tax the patient. Their sleep at night isn't undisturbed either as the doctors and nurses tend to come in at regular intervals to check on them.

Not only the patient, but upon the carer as well.

That was also the reason why Lianne hadn't called up Kyle during lunch break. When they meet, though, she could ask him directly and she knew that her mother would tell her the truth for she could handle it.

If her mother didn't want her to call, then she won't. If her mother felt it was okay at a certain time, then she can. Some people tended to be sensitive and get hurt if they were told 'don't call often', thinking that they weren't wanted.

For Lianne, she preferred to be told straight-up about the situation. She wouldn't get hurt for she knew her mother as well. She always would think of other people before herself and she always tried to be fair when she raised them.

Thus, Lianne knew that if her mother said 'don't call often', it wasn't because she didn't like her and was avoiding her. It's because she really wasn't up to any calls then.

This was the sort of thing that Lianne liked. A life without drama or having to 'read other people's mind' would be so relaxing. Unfortunately, most people don't dare to truly say what's on their mind and heart, and Lianne found it to be so taxing.

People were just too tiring.

Which was why she liked Zero so much.

Not only was he the epitome of 'pretty boy' that she really liked, but he also wasn't the type to beat around the bush or talk nonsense. She didn't have to think he meant one thing when he said another.

If only there were more people like him.

When they reached the ward, they saw that Junior and Dian were also there.

Kyle smiled upon seeing them, though Lianne could see the worry and sadness still on his face.

Unfortunately, because there were other people here, Lianne couldn't go and hug her mother or say the words she wanted to say. The only thing she could do was just stand close by quietly.

She was the one that rarely talked in public so if she was suddenly to go talkative now, it might make her father wary. She had to let the 'adults' talk, even though Kyle was younger than her father.

Despite the young age, Kyle was her father's boss. Top boss, in fact, so Stephan was being very formal and courteous. Lianne watched silently as her father talked to Kyle, getting the basic information which, undoubtedly, Kyle had talked about countless of times.

"Do you want to see the babies?" Kyle asked Lianne.

Lianne nodded.

Kyle took out his phone and showed her several pictures. Out of curiosity, Joseph was there as well.

"Alexander Belvior Smith," Kyle said, showing one picture then swiping it, "Aurora Misty Smith."

They were both together in an incubator, so the pictures were basically showing Alex and Rory from different angles. The last picture was of them together.

"It's just been one day, but the doctors have said there has been some improvement," Kyle said as he looked at the pictures before putting it back on the bedside table.

"That's a good thing," Stephan said, "They're strong."

Kyle smiled wistfully while looking at Sayuri, "Yes they are because their mother is strong."

Junior came over and gave Kyle a hug, saying, "Is Auntie Sayuri going to sleep for long?"

Kyle ruffled his hair and said, "Hopefully not, but no matter how long it takes, I will wait."

Junior nodded, looking at Sayuri on the bed.

When Dian told him that they were heading to the hospital after school, Junior was happy even though he didn't like hospitals. He had been worried that he would not be able to see Kyle much.

"Is it really okay for me to come everyday after school?" Junior asked Kyle hesitatingly.

"Of course," Kyle said, "But you need to do your homework before going back. Deal?"

"Deal," Junior replied, content.

Slowly, but surely, the shadow in his heart was lessening.

"If my Dad is okay with it, can I come for a visit sometimes by hitching a ride with Junior?" Lianne piped up suddenly.

Stephan stiffened at that question.

Lianne had plucked up the courage to ask.

It was a very risky move.

Her father was the type that did not like to be sideswiped like this. The normal procedure would be to ask him first, then ask Kyle.

By asking publically like this, she was essentially taking control away from her father. It was as if he couldn't say that he was not okay with it. She took the choice out of his hands.

Lianne turned to her father and said, "I won't without your permission, Papa. I asked Kyle first because I wanted to know if I would be a bother or not."

Stephan was appeased.