He Wouldn't Claim Me — Another Man Did-Chapter 59 - 53: Passionate Kiss

Susan Dudley was still processing it all when Sienna Prescott burst out excitedly, "He’s really my brother-in-law now!"

Shane Sterling raised an eyebrow at Sienna. "I’ll take that as a good omen. I’ll give you a big red envelope for that another day."

"Alright, thanks, brother-in-law!"

"Oh, you..." Susan Dudley laughed.

The oppressive atmosphere in the hospital room suddenly lightened considerably.

Isla suddenly understood the old tradition of holding a celebration to ward off misfortune. It seemed a dose of happiness really could temporarily relieve anxiety.

Susan Dudley started chatting with Shane Sterling. She asked about his hand and when he and Isla had gotten together.

Shane Sterling and Isla exchanged a look, and he said calmly, "We’ve been together for a while now. Things weren’t serious at first, so we didn’t tell you."

Isla felt a pang of guilt but nodded along.

Susan Dudley was overjoyed. She patted Shane Sterling’s arm. "Take good care of Isla."

She said it with a smile, but it inexplicably sounded like she was entrusting her daughter to him on her deathbed.

"Don’t worry, Auntie. I will definitely take good care of her." Shane Sterling’s voice was more solemn than ever before.

Isla turned away, taking a long moment to hold back her tears.

The surgery was scheduled for the next afternoon.

Shane Sterling went to the office in the morning to arrange his work, then came over at noon.

Jude Dudley came as well.

From the moment the surgery began, the group kept vigil outside the operating room.

Isla was relatively calm at first, but the surgery dragged on for what felt like an eternity. Eventually, she grew increasingly anxious. She started getting up every five minutes to pace back and forth in front of the operating room door, trying to peek through the crack for any sign of the outcome.

"Are your legs spring-loaded?" Shane Sterling pressed her back down onto the bench. "Be patient. Don’t worry."

Isla wanted to be patient, but worry, fear, and anxiety took turns controlling her body.

Shane Sterling felt her hand.

"Are you cold?"

Isla shook her head.

"Then why are your hands so icy?" He took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. Then he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into his embrace.

There were other people in the hallway. Isla struggled gently.

Shane Sterling tightened his hold, not letting her break free.

"My uncle-in-law has been a doctor for many years and has never had a single failed surgery. Auntie will be fine." He was comforting her, but his voice was just loud enough for Sienna and Jude Dudley, a few feet away, to overhear.

His words were the reassurance they all needed.

He managed to soothe the anxiety of the other two as well.

Time still crawled by, second by agonizing second, but with Shane Sterling by her side, the fear gradually faded. Isla felt a sense of peace, as if she were being gently held by the world itself.

After what felt like another eternity, the surgery finally ended.

When Director King walked out of the operating room, his brow was furrowed with exhaustion, but the corners of his lips were turned up.

"The surgery was a success."

Hearing this, Isla let out a long sigh of relief. "Thank you, Director King. Thank you for saving my mom."

"You’re welcome. The patient will be moved to the ICU now. Once all her vitals are stable, she’ll be transferred to a regular ward."

"Okay, thank you."

The long battle for life had finally seen the dawn of victory.

--

The ICU didn’t allow visitors. Shane Sterling booked two rooms for Isla and Sienna at a hotel near the hospital and drove them to the front door.

"You two should get a good night’s sleep. I’ll arrange for someone to keep an eye on things at the hospital." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Thanks, brother-in-law."

Sienna got out of the car first, while Isla deliberately hung back.

Shane Sterling unbuckled his seatbelt and turned sideways in the driver’s seat to look at her. "What is it? Do you have a secret to tell me?"

"Thank you."

Shane Sterling looked disappointed. "Did you really need to wait for your sister to get out of the car to say that? You don’t have any other secrets to tell me?"

"I do."

"Quick, tell me. I’m all ears."

Isla smiled and said again, "Thank you."

These past few days, Shane Sterling had been like a basket of charcoal on a winter’s night to her. Every time she was on the verge of breaking down, he was there to heal her.

She owed him too much.

Shane Sterling didn’t seem to like hearing her say thank you. "Haven’t you been in a relationship before? Don’t you know that’s what boyfriends are for?"

Isla honestly didn’t know.

Back when she was dating Silas Lockwood, she had always felt somewhat inferior. He was the young master of the Lockwood Family, the man she had secretly loved for years and finally won over. Because of that, she never dared to take up too much of his time or make any troublesome requests.

And while Silas Lockwood never acted like he was doing her a favor and was always gentle enough, looking back on their relationship, he seemed to believe a girlfriend should be meek and agreeable. The boyfriend should take the lead in everything, and she should always accommodate his schedule.

"Sounds like your ex wasn’t very effective." Shane Sterling gave her a suggestive wink. "Don’t worry, you’ll find me very useful. In every way."

Isla’s face flushed. "I’m getting out. Bye."

「A week later.」

Susan Dudley was transferred from the ICU to a regular ward.

Isla and Sienna took turns caring for their mother, and Jude Dudley also came by every day.

"Sis, I think Uncle Dudley likes Mom," Sienna whispered to Isla while Jude Dudley was out getting water. "I just got back from buying food and saw Uncle Dudley giving Mom some water. After he helped her drink, he wiped her mouth and even tidied her hair a bit."

As Sienna spoke, she mimicked Jude Dudley’s gentle gesture by Isla’s temple.

Isla had also noticed that Jude Dudley was visiting the hospital quite frequently, but she hadn’t thought about it that way at all. After all, Susan Dudley and Jude Dudley had known each other for so many years. If they were going to become a couple, it would have happened long ago.

"Don’t be ridiculous. Uncle Dudley is just being kind and helping us out."

"It’s true! My taste in men might not be the best, but I’m never wrong when it comes to shipping couples. The first time I saw my brother-in-law, I could tell he was totally into you. And look, now he’s actually my brother-in-law!"

Speak of the devil, just as they were talking about Shane Sterling, he arrived.

He was wearing a white shirt today.

Isla rarely saw him in white; she had always thought black suited him best. But today, she realized white was even better. It seemed to strip away any flashy pretense, allowing his clean-cut, elegant nature to shine through.

"Brother-in-law is here a lot, too," Sienna winked at Isla. "Mom is incredibly pleased with her future son-in-law. She even told me yesterday that any kids you two have would definitely be beautiful."

Isla wasn’t so optimistic about her future with Shane Sterling. She shot Sienna a look. "Stop talking nonsense."

"Oh, alright."

After entering the room, Shane Sterling went to see Susan Dudley as usual. Only after greeting her did he walk over to Isla.

For the past few days, Shane Sterling had come to the hospital every day, no matter how late he finished work. Today, he had arrived earlier than usual.

"I saw the flowers by Auntie’s bed have wilted. Come downstairs with me to buy her a new bouquet," Shane Sterling said to Isla.

Isla realized he had something to say to her, so she nodded and followed him out of the room.

The flower shop was on the first floor. After they went downstairs, Shane Sterling didn’t rush to buy flowers. Instead, he slowly strolled toward the hospital’s small garden.

"Sean, is there something you want to talk about?" Isla asked.

"I’m flying to Caelus for a business trip tonight. I came to let you know."

’Let her know...’

Isla’s heart skipped a beat.

"When are you coming back?"

"Not sure yet. Two weeks, if it’s quick."

"Okay."

Shane Sterling moved closer to her. "Just one word, ’Okay’?"

"What else? I can’t exactly tell you not to go, can I?"

"You could."

"Then don’t go."

"Alright. I’ll change my plans right now."

He didn’t sound like he was joking at all, and Isla panicked. "I was kidding! You should go. Work is important."

Shane Sterling said nothing.

She quickly asked, "What time is your flight?"

"Six o’clock."

"Have a safe trip."

"That’s it?"

Isla didn’t dare say anything else, afraid he would do something unpredictable and actually listen to her nonsense.

"Why don’t you just tell me what you want?"

"Usually, when a couple says goodbye, there’s at least a passionate kiss, right?"