Seeing Mervyn hesitate, Alfie carefully continued, keeping his voice low.
"Besides... Mr. Ryley has already fallen," he said gently. "There is no need to invite more trouble for ourselves later..."
For a moment, it almost seemed like Mervyn might listen.
But stubbornness returned just as quickly.
He shoved the ring deep into his pocket and lifted his chin with a defiant, almost smug expression.
"You think I'm too stupid not to understand that?!" he snapped. Then he exhaled sharply, jaw tight. "I just don't want Ryley to have this ring."
His eyes narrowed. "So you'd better shut up—and don't tell anyone, okay?"
***
When Jade returned to the hospital, the light inside Ryley's ward had already been dimmed.
A paper bag still in hand, he tiptoed toward the nearby sofa, intending not to disturb him—
but stopped halfway when the figure on the bed shifted.
"Jade?"
He immediately changed direction and approached the bedside instead.
