Evelyn Carter stirred as the soft patter of rain tapped against her window. The sky outside was heavy with clouds, casting a dim, gray light into her bedroom. It was her favorite kind of morning—cool, drizzly, and perfect for staying wrapped in her warm blankets. But duty called. After a long weekend of catching up on sleep, she had to return to the hospital.

With a sigh, she peeled herself from the comfort of her bed, stretching as she made her way to the lavatory. One glance in the mirror made her groan. Dark circles framed her tired eyes, her bun had half come undone in her sleep, and she looked every bit the overworked surgeon she was.

"When will I ever have time to fix myself up?" she mused.

Shaking off the thought, she stepped into the shower, letting the warm water wash away the remnants of sleep. As always, she sang—her carefree nature slipping through despite her exhaustion. By the time she was dressed and downstairs, the aroma of coffee filled her small kitchen. She prepared a quick breakfast of toast and jam, settling by the window as she sipped her coffee, gazing out at the rain.

"If only I could stay curled up all day," she thought wistfully.

But there was no time to waste. She grabbed her coat, slipped into her shoes, and hurried to her car.

The hospital was already buzzing with activity when Evelyn arrived. Walking through the familiar halls, she was immediately greeted by Dr. Felix Laurent, her mentor and senior surgeon.

"Ah, look who decided to show up," Felix said with a smirk. "You look like a living mess resurrected from the dead."

Evelyn rolled her eyes. "Good to see you too, Felix."

"I'm serious. You actually got some rest for once. Miracles do happen."

Before she could respond, a familiar voice chimed in.

"Oh, look who's finally back! Did you miss me?"

Evelyn turned to see Dr. Naomi Voss, her best friend in the hospital, grinning as she approached.

"Absolutely not," Evelyn teased. "The peace and quiet were wonderful."

Naomi placed a dramatic hand over her chest. "Ouch. And here I was, counting the minutes until you returned."

They all grabbed coffee and caught up on recent cases before heading back to their respective duties.

As Evelyn prepared for her first surgery of the day, Nurse Lillian Park approached her with a clipboard in hand.

"Dr. Carter, your patient is ready," Lillian informed her.

Evelyn nodded as Lillian briefed her on the case—a middle-aged man who had suffered a minor heart attack and needed a stent placed. She followed Lillian into the patient's room, where she was greeted by a worried elderly woman and two small children clinging to her side.

The kids' eyes darted nervously toward their father, lying on the bed.

Evelyn knelt beside them, offering a reassuring smile. "Your dad is in good hands. The surgery will go smoothly, and he'll be just fine."

The elderly woman—his mother, no doubt—sighed in relief. "Thank you, doctor. We just want him home safe."

Evelyn gave her a small nod before heading to prep for surgery.

The operation lasted two hours, and when Evelyn finally stepped out of the surgical room, exhaustion weighed on her shoulders. But seeing the man's family waiting anxiously outside, she put on a tired but reassuring smile.

"The surgery was a success," she announced.

The mother let out a breath of relief, clutching her heart, while the children's eyes brightened.

"Can we see him?" one of them asked.

"Soon," Evelyn assured them. "He needs to wake up first."

As she watched the family's joy, a strange thought lingered in her mind.

"I see so many families every day... When will I have my own?"

But she quickly pushed it aside. There was no time for such thoughts. She had work to do.

Little did she know, by the end of the night, her entire world would change.

Evelyn walked toward the emergency room, searching for Naomi, when she noticed the commotion inside. The room was filled with chaos—nurses moving swiftly, hushed but urgent conversations, and in the center of it all, two tiny children clinging desperately to each other.

They were drenched from the rain, their small bodies trembling, their clothes soaked and clinging to their fragile frames. The boy, though clearly terrified, held onto the girl protectively, his little arms wrapped around her as if shielding her from the world. Their faces were pale, and faint bruises and scratches covered their delicate skin.

Evelyn's chest tightened at the sight.

She spotted Naomi kneeling beside them, her expression filled with concern.

"They won't let anyone near them," Naomi explained, exhaling in frustration. "We need to check their injuries, but they refuse to let go of each other. No matter what we say."

Evelyn crouched down to their level, softening her expression. The boy's wide, teary eyes met hers, filled with distrust and something deeper—fear.

"How old are they?" she asked in a quiet voice.

"Three," Naomi replied.

So young, yet they looked so... tired. Like they had already seen too much of the world's cruelty.

Evelyn reached out slowly, keeping her movements gentle. "Hey there, sweetheart," she said softly, speaking directly to the boy. "I'm Evelyn. I just want to help. Can I check if you're hurt?"

The little boy tensed, his grip tightening around his sister. He didn't speak—just stared, his lip quivering slightly.

Evelyn exchanged a glance with Naomi before focusing back on him. "I know you're protecting her," she reassured him. "You're such a brave big brother. But right now, I need to help her, and I need to help you too. I promise I won't take her away."

The boy sniffled, his tiny fingers gripping his sister's sleeve tightly. He hesitated, his little chest rising and falling quickly.

Evelyn waited patiently.

After a long moment, the boy finally loosened his grip just a little, enough for Naomi to check the girl. But even as he let go, he leaned forward anxiously, his chubby hands still grasping the fabric of his sister's dress.

Then, in a small, broken voice, he spoke.

"Sh-She o'tay...?" His words were slurred, his baby voice struggling to form the question properly. "Sissy... no owie?"

Evelyn's heart clenched.

She nodded, offering him the gentlest smile she could. "She's okay, sweetheart. Just a few tiny 'owies.' Nothing too bad."

The little boy sniffled again, his lower lip jutting out slightly. "No... no more owwies..." he mumbled, shaking his head stubbornly.

Evelyn reached out, brushing a strand of wet hair from his forehead. "No more, I promise."

The boy's little shoulders slumped slightly in relief.

But before Evelyn could say anything more, the doors suddenly burst open.

A loud, sharp voice sliced through the room.

"Where are they? Has anyone seen two children? A boy and a girl?"

Heads turned as a tall, severe-looking woman stormed into the emergency room. She moved with authority, her cold eyes scanning the room like a hawk hunting its prey.

Evelyn immediately disliked her.

The woman—Beatrix Halloway—shoved past the nurses without so much as an apology. Her gaze locked onto the children with something that sent an uneasy shiver down Evelyn's spine.

"There you are," Beatrix hissed, her expression twisted with impatience. "You've caused enough trouble."

Before Evelyn could react, Beatrix reached for Cassian's wrist, grabbing him roughly.

The boy let out a small, frightened squeak, instinctively trying to pull away. The girl—Elara—whimpered, reaching for him desperately.

Evelyn moved without thinking, stepping between them. "Excuse me," she said, her voice sharp. "Who are you?"

Beatrix barely spared her a glance. "Beatrix Halloway. I run Greenfield Orphanage. These children belong to me."

Belong?

Evelyn's stomach twisted.

"They're not objects," she snapped. "And from what I can see, they're scared."

Beatrix crossed her arms. "They ran away. Clearly, they need discipline."

Evelyn's gaze flickered back to the twins. Cassian's tiny fingers clung desperately to his sister's sleeve, his big teary eyes darting between Beatrix and Evelyn.

Something wasn't right.

And Evelyn wasn't going to let these children go without a fight.