After I hung up, I left for the hospital immediately.
I'd intended to go straight to the cold storage unit, but passing through the inpatient wing, I caught sight of Julian Moretti through an open doorway.
The doctor stood at his bedside, voice heavy. "I'm sorry, Mr. Moretti. The crash caused severe damage to your left wrist. I'm afraid competitive racing is no longer possible."
Adrian Winslow was draped over the edge of the bed, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.
Julian coaxed her gently. "Don't cry, be good. It breaks my heart when you cry like that."
He let out a quiet sigh. "Racing was always dangerous. You worried about me every time. I'd already been thinking about stepping away. This just moved up the timeline, that's all." His voice softened further. "Didn't you always say I neglected you because of racing? Now I can't compete anymore, so all that time belongs to you."
He paused, and his tone grew warmer still. "Our wedding anniversary is coming up soon. Let's hold a banquet at the Midnight Gala. Celebrate properly. How does that sound?"
The tenderness in every word, the careful coaxing, made it impossible not to understand how much she meant to him.
Adrian Winslow finally broke into a teary smile, wiped her face, and held out her little finger like a child, hooking it through his.
"Promise."
The scene drove a sharp, twisting ache through my chest.
I didn't want to watch anymore. I pulled my gaze away and turned toward the cold storage corridor.
I hadn't taken more than a few steps before Adrian Winslow's voice reached me from behind.
I turned. She was hurrying after me, slightly out of breath.
"Adrian, you're at the hospital and you didn't even let anyone know?"
She didn't wait for my answer before continuing, her tone carrying the faint edge of dismissal. "Julian needs rest these next few days. He shouldn't be seeing visitors. I'm taking care of him, so there's really no need for you to be here. You should head home."
She smiled, then added as though it were an afterthought. "Oh, and our third wedding anniversary is in two weeks. He's planning a celebration at the Midnight Gala. You absolutely have to come, and don't you dare show up without a gift."
I looked at the triumph and the challenge bright in her eyes. I lowered my gaze. Said nothing.
Two weeks from now also happened to be the day I would leave the Moretti compound for good.