Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 137

Chapter 137

It felt like time had stopped and doubled in on itself. Luca sat with his elbows on his knees, head in his hands. His knuckles were white. His breathing was shallow. The walls were starting to get to him, but he hadn’t moved in over an hour.

Neither had Roman, posted at the door like a guard. Keira was in a chair beside him, hands clasped so tightly that her knuckles cracked every time she shifted. Blair sat quietly nearby, staring at the tiled floor, her expression unreadable. Antonio and Bella sat together talking softly.

Someone coughed down the hall. Footsteps.

Then the door opened.

A doctor in a white coat stepped gently into the room, her ID badge tucked against her chest.

“Mr. De Santis?”

They all looked up at once.

Luca stood abruptly, his body jerking to attention, and so did Antonio.

“I’m Dr. Smith,” the woman said. “Cardiology.” She said to them both.

Everyone in the room held his or her breath.

“Your father pulled through.”

Luca exhaled. Hard. Shoulders slumped for the first time in four hours.

Dr. Smith continued, “He’s stable–for now. But the next forty–eight hours are critical. The artery we cleared today was dangerously close to full blockage. He was in the early stages of cardiogenic shock by the time we got him into surgery.”

“Is he awake?” Antonio asked from beside him.

“He’s sedated, but holding.” The doctor gave a tight but gentle smile. “He’ll need bed rest for at least a week, very limited activity after that. But if he gets through the next two days without complications, I’m optimistic. But if your father is still working, I would suggest retirement.”

Luca swallowed against his pulse rising in his throat. “Thank you,” he managed.

Dr. Smith gave a nod and stepped out.

If he never had to live through another twelve like he had just experienced, he would thank God every day.

His father was alive. Barely. But alive.

Everyone remained still. No tears. No celebration. Because they still needed an update on Sutton and the baby.

The minutes passed again in indistinct clumps. Roman said something quietly to Keira and Blair. Antonio sat beside Bella and pressed his forehead to her shoulder wordlessly. Luca paced the room, waiting.

another knock at the

doctor entered… this one younger, in blue scrubs, a clipboard held in close to

“Mr. De Santis?”

a second before catching

voice gentle, almost apologetic. “You’re going through more in one day than most do in a year, but… I have

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Luca braced himself.

in

well,” the doctor said first. “He’s still on ventilator support, which is expected for a twenty–eight–weeker. The lungs aren’t fully developed yet, but all signs point to strength. His numbers are stable. He’s feeding through a tube and already responding to minor

his

the doctor continued. “We

A

little

tried to picture him… his son, but the image wouldn’t

he’s a

in a blanket as they

“Have you thought of a

Luca looked up.

to Keira, and Blair and Roman

glances and, after just a moment together,

yet, not

“No. Not until

”

thought as much.” Then he flipped the page on

“And Sutton?”

just getting

Please just let her

was lucky,”

knees went weak

could’ve been far worse. Initial imaging suggests a bruised kidney on her right side, likely from the fall or

sharply, as if she’d been holding her

minimum, a week, most likely two. No standing without

problem. I’ll make sure

managed. You’ll be able to see her soon. But not all at once. Only one or two people at

forward ever so slightly, like his bones had stopped pretending to hold themselves

Keira saw it first.

under his arm to steady

he asked one more time,

“Your little family just weathered a storm,

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Chapter 137