Chapter 125

Christiana’s POV.

As I walked Ethan up the steps to our hotel suite, his little hand in mine, a wave of relief washed over me. He looked up at the door with a small, proud smile, as if the weight of this moment meant something even to him. After days in the hospital, being back, albeit not yet home, felt like a blessing. Ethan’s surgery was behind us, and a hint of color was starting to return to his cheeks.

Emma bounded beside us, her energy bright and unrestrained. She had been Ethan’s little shadow since we left the hospital, always reaching out as if to make sure he was really there. I could see that Ethan was trying to be strong, but I knew his limits, and I wanted him comfortable, letting him recover without pressure.

“Ethan, you feelin‘ okay?” Emma asked, her eyes wide with concern, though a spark of curiosity flickered beneath.

He nodded, giving her a soft smile. “Yeah, Em. I’m fine. Just… tired.” He looked up at me, a little wrinkle forming between his brows. “Can we go inside?”

“Of course, sweetheart.” I leaned down, brushing a stray curl from his forehead. “Let’s get you settled.”

Alex was right behind us, holding the bags we’d brought from the hospital. He had barely left Ethan’s side since the surgery, and I couldn’t have been more grateful. His presence had been a steadying force through every tear and every shaky sigh. Having him here was a reminder that I didn’t have to shoulder everything alone.

“Hey, champ,” Alex said to Ethan, a faint smile softening his usually firm gaze. “You want me to carry you to the bed?”

Ethan looked torn, pride and fatigue battling in his expression. “I can walk,” he insisted, but his voice was soft, betraying how exhausted he was.

I gave Alex a knowing glance, and he nodded. “Of course you can. But it’s okay to take a little break,” I said, running my hand gently down his arm.

He seemed to consider it, and finally, with a small nod, he reached out for Alex, who lifted him effortlessly. Alex’s face softened, his usual boldness melting as he cradled Ethan with such care. Emma followed us inside, her small hand wrapped around mine as we made our way to the suite’s bedroom.

Once there, Alex laid him gently on the bed, arranging the pillows so he could sit up comfortably. Ethan gave a soft sigh as he settled in, his eyes already drooping a bit.

“Better?” Alex asked, brushing a hand over Ethan’s hair.

Ethan nodded, his small voice almost a whisper. “Thanks, Dad.”

placing my hand on his. “You don’t have to worry

it

“Okay. But not

from the nightstand, flipping it open to a well–worn page. She began reading, her little voice filling the room with a familiar

Alex, my head resting on his shoulder as we watched the twins together. There was a comforting silence between us, a sense of unity that

he?” Alex murmured, his voice low and filled with pride as he looked

nodded, feeling the weight of everything lift, if only for a moment. “He gets that

genuine sound. “I think he gets more from you than you realize. That

my gaze meeting his, and for a second, the world outside this room fell away. There was something unspoken in his eyes, a gratitude, a respect that made me feel like maybe, just maybe, we could build

Chapter 125

of this.

eyelids were starting to droop, and Emma, sensing his fatigue, closed the book softly. “Night, Ethan,” she whispered, giving him a

them, my heart swelling as I realized how lucky we were, how close we had come to losing

were back in the suite’s living area, Alex took my hand, his fingers intertwining with mine in a

done this without you,” I whispered, my voice trembling slightly. “Thank you for

steady. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m here

at the corners of my eyes.

for Alex’s presence. I hadn’t expected him to be there through it all. After so much pain, the steady comfort of

with a hesitance I hadn’t seen in years. He took a step closer, reaching for my hand, his fingers

said, his voice low, almost pleading. “There’s something I need to say. I know you haven’t brought it up, but it’s there.

gaze. I already knew where this was going, and suddenly, every

“When I left you, it was the biggest mistake of my life. Bianca…everything I did

rising, an urge to shove away the memories of those years when he was gone, when I had raised our children

on my hands as if he knew I wanted to pull away. “I called you barren,” he said, his voice thick with regret. “I didn’t know… I didn’t know about Ethan and Emma, Christiana. I wasn’t there, and you had to raise them alone,

I was blind. I let Bianca, that…” He swallowed, his

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