The Ex-Con Queen Strikes Back - Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Yana sobbed, her hands trembling as she wiped at his mouth with a tissue.
Skylar stepped forward, taking Carlos's wrist to check his pulse. Her tense brow relaxed slightly, a knowing glint in her eyes.
She set his hand down, her voice serious. "His condition is critical. He doesn't have much time."
Carlos's voice was faint, his words slow. "Skylar, I'm not afraid to die."
He coughed, his eyes meeting hers, filled with a desperate hope. "But I can't go without seeing you come home..."
Skylar's lip twitched, and she took a few deep breaths to steady herself. "Mr. Lambert..."
Yana jumped in before she could finish, her words spilling out fast.
"Skylar, it's your dad's only wish," she said, her eyes begging. "We're not pushing you, of course, but... we just want you home, with us, so he can pass without regrets."
Carlos coughed loudly, a fresh streak of blood staining his lips as he sank back against the pillows, his breathing rough and uneven.
Skylar pressed a hand to her forehead, hiding a smirk.
'These two deserve an Oscar,' she thought. The Lamberts' act was so dramatic, it was almost funny.
This was a staged show to pull at her heart and bring her back to the Lambert family.
Her medical know-how had seen through their charade from the start. Carlos was far from dying.
Still, Skylar stayed firm, not ready to give in.
Yana's impatience showed, but she wiped her tears and tried a new angle. "Skylar, don't you have a friend here in the hospital?"
Her eyes softened, watching Skylar closely. "If you come back to us, we can bring him along. Our security is the best. Your friend would be safe with us."
Yana had noticed how carefully Skylar looked after someone, clearly important to her.
She'd also looked into Louis Xavier's past, learning his enemies were serious players, which gave her the confidence to make the offer.
Skylar's eyes flickered with interest, a hint of consideration.
The Lamberts, as the richest family in the country, were untouchable, in both legit and shady circles. Anyone thinking of crossing them would think twice.
With their protection, Louis would be safe from his old enemies.
Skylar weighed her options, her mind moving fast. Finally, she nodded. "Alright. I'll come back to the Lambert family."
Yana, ready for a no, started to ramble. "If that's not enough, we can—wait, what?"
"Skylar, you're coming home?" she asked, her voice shaking with disbelief. "Oh, Skylar, that's amazing!"
She threw her arms around Skylar, pulling her into a tight hug. "You have no idea how long I've waited for this. You're finally coming home. I'm so happy."
Skylar tensed, not used to hugs. Her hand twitched, a reflex from years of staying sharp.
But then she paused, catching herself, and let her hand drop.
That was lucky for Yana, who stood clueless, still caught up in her joy.
Skylar stood stiff unsure how to handle the warmth around her.
Yana pulled back, smiling wide, and led Skylar to a chair, chatting excitedly.
She seemed to completely forget about Carlos, who was still playing the dying man on the bed.
Carlos, stuck in his role, didn't dare move, though his eyes followed his wife and daughter with a mix of jealousy and amusement, trapped in his act.
Freya stepped into the ward later, only to find a nurse cleaning an empty room, the bed stripped down.
"Where's the patient?" she asked, her voice tight.
The nurse looked up, still folding sheets. "They checked out earlier. Went home."
Freya's face darkened, a storm brewing in her eyes. Carlos had been discharged, and no one had bothered to tell her.