Chapter 120

Christiana’s POV.

The buzzing of the salon was a soft hum around me as the stylis gently applied the dye to the tips of my hair. I was sitting back, sipping a cold iced tea, in the middle of a lighthearted conversation with Grace about the latest fashion trends, when my phone vibrated on the counter beside me. I glanced at the screen, my heart skipping a beat when I saw Alex’s name.

“Hello?” I answered, pressing the phone to my ear, a smile still lingering on my lips.

“Christiana,” came Alex’s voice, calm but with an edge I knew too well, that controlled tone he used when he was holding something back.

I straightened immediately, my heartbeat quickening. “Alex? What’s wrong?” My voice was barely a whisper, but already, I could feel the panic creeping up.

There was a pause, a breath, and then he said, “It’s Ethan. He has a ruptured appendix. He’ll be in surgery in no time.”

The world stopped. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move, couldn’t think. “What?” My voice came out strangled, barely a whisper. “A…. ruptured…?” I couldn’t even finish, my mind racing with images of Ethan, his little face pale and twisted in pain. My baby boy.

“He’s going to be okay, Christiana,” Alex’s voice tried to reassure, but it sounded far away, muffled by the roaring in my ears. “Just get here as soon as you can.”

“yes, yes, I’m coming. Right now,” I stammered, my voice shaking as I hung up, barely able to register the stylist’s confused look as I jumped out of the chair, hair dye still in place. The cape around my shoulders flapped as I ran, dropping everything, my iced tea spilling as I darted through the salon toward the exit.

“Ma’am, wait! Your things!” Grace called after me, her footsteps quick behind as she gathered my purse, my shopping bags, everything I’d left in my wake. But I couldn’t stop, couldn’t even slow down. Every thought, every instinct was focused on getting to my son.

My heart pounded wildly, my breath coming in short gasps as I burst through the door and into the street, searching for the car. My driver was standing by the door, his eyes widening as he saw me running toward him.

“To the hospital!” I cried, barely giving him a chance to process what was happening as I all but threw myself into the backseat. “Now!”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied quickly, his calm professionalism kicking in as he jumped into the driver’s seat, the car roaring to life. But every second felt like a lifetime, like the clock was mocking me as we sat there, still, waiting to break free from traffic. Every inch of my skin was burning, my hands trembling as I gripped the edge of my seat, my mind racing in a thousand different directions, all of them ending with Ethan.

Grace scrambled in beside me, her face was of worry and confusion as she placed her hand on my arm, trying to steady me. “Ma’am, breathe. What’s going on?”

“It’s Ethan,” I choked out, barely able to say his name. “He’s in the hospital. Surgery… ruptured appendix.” The words were spilling out, broken, barely making sense as my voice cracked, and I saw her expression soften, a hand covering her mouth as she took it in.

“Oh, my god,” she whispered, her own eyes misting over. She squeezed my arm, trying to keep me steady, but I was already somewhere else, back in that hospital, imagining every possible horror.

All I could see was his face, his little smile, and the idea of him in pain, of him lying in a cold hospital bed while doctors worked to save him, tore me apart from the inside.

the sharp, sterile smell hit me,

Chapter 120

as my eyes scanned the crowded hallway, frantically looking for them. And then

stuffed rabbit, her small face tear–streaked and red as shed up at

as he took a step forward and reached out for me. The moment our eyes met, I felt my knees buckle. The weight

two quick strides and steadying me with his hands on my shoulders. His voice was calm but firm,

my heart might give out from the sheer panic clawing its way up inside me. “Alex, I–I can’t…he’s just a little boy,” I managed to stammer, feeling the sting of tears welling

Alex said, his voice soft yet commanding. He placed a hand on the small of

in a hospital bed, awaiting surgery. Ethan and Emma

around him. His face was

my hand flying to my mouth as my knees almost gave out again. “Oh, my baby.” I felt hot tears spill down my cheeks, blurring my vision. I

he held me close. He wiped a tear from my cheek, his face inches from mine. “I know it’s hard, but he’s in good hands. They’re doing everything they can. We have to be strong

apart, losing all control. “I just…I just can’t stand seeing him in pain, Alex.

gaze steady. “He’s going to pull through this,” he said, his voice filled with

us, and I turned, barely able to breathe as

gentle but clinical. “We’re preparing Ethan for surgery. The appendix has ruptured,

Alex replied, giving a nod. His grip on my hand was tight, grounding, as he

he’s okay?” I asked, my voice still shaky, my gaze locked on the

me to sit down as he knelt beside me, placing a steady hand over mine. “But he’s going to be alright, Christiana. He has the best doctors, the best care.

huddled beside us, clutching her stuffed rabbit tightly, her little shoulders shaking. I reached down, pulling her close, trying to

voice was muffled, her tears staining my blouse. “Is…is Ethan

with trembling fingers. “Yes, sweetheart,” I whispered, my voice

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and I prayed with everything in me that it was true. That Ethan would be okay, that we’d get through this…together. And as I clung to Alex and Emma, I closed my eyes, holding

the waiting area, time seemed to slow down. The antiseptic smell of the hospital filled my senses, each tick of the clock digging into my nerves like tiny, endless pinpricks. I kept my arms wrapped around Emma, feeling her small, trembling body against mine as she clutched her stuffed rabbit tightly, her tear–streaked face

tension coiling through his own body. He looked composed, his jaw set and his expression calm, but I could see the flicker of worry in his eyes, the way his shoulders stiffened each time he looked toward the hallway where Ethan had been

insides. “I was….at the salon, shopping…while our son was here. In pain.” The words felt bitter as they

he said softly, his voice carrying a calm firmness. “You couldn’t have known. None

lying in a hospital bed, and I hadn’t been there. A tear slid down my cheek, and

brought me back, her wide, anxious eyes searching mine. “Is Ethan hurting a lot?” She looked so lost, her little

whispered, forcing myself to sound stronger than I felt. “But the doctors are going to make

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