The man inhaled and said in a regretful tone, “It’s truly a…. You have such beautiful eyes.”

Soon afterward, the man said, “Where are you going? Do you need my help to send you to the place you want to go?”

“It’s fine.” Deirdre pondered closely and declined his offer. “I am used to this and can go by myself.”

“Let me send you. The hospital is crowded. You might get turned around if someone were to knock you over, and you might be unable to tell where you are.”

Deirdre was about to decline when she suddenly heard a phone’s mechanical voice coming from ahead of her. “Deirdre.”

It was Kyran.

Deirdre raised her head abruptly. The man’s arms wrapped around her, and the hug was tightened the next moment to protect her.

Kyran seemed to be on guard and exuded hostility. The man did not even have time to react to the situation before Kyran took it upon himself to speak through the phone. “Why did you come back by yourself? I could have come for you.”

He seemed to be declaring his poss