Chapter 18

The private hospital sat halfway up the mountain, far from the noise of the city. Outside the windows, the slopes were thick with trees, and a still lake lay tucked at the foot of the hill. Under Conrad's careful care and the work of a top medical team, Isobel's body slowly began to recover. The bruises and cuts on her face faded bit by bit. Her once dull complexion had given way to a healthy, natural color. Her eyes still carried the weight of her suffering, but the strength that despair had crushed was slowly gathering again. The day she was discharged, the sun was bright and gentle. It poured warm light across her shoulders. Isobel stood at the hospital entrance in the simple, comfortable clothes Conrad had picked out for her. She drew in a deep breath of fresh air. She didn't think about her future. Instead, she made her first request. "Conrad, I want to bring my mom home first." Conrad didn't look surprised. He just nodded. "The car's ready. All the paperwork's already tak