Christiana’s POV.
The wait was excruciating.
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+5.
I sat in the cold hospital corridor, my fingers tightly knotted in Alex’s as the minutes crawled by, each one feeling like an hour. The distant sounds of the hospital, the quiet hum of machines, and the shuffle of nurses passing us by did nothing to calm the relentless storm in my chest. Alex squeezed my hand every so often, wordlessly reminding me that he was here, steady and calm, grounding me. But even his strength couldn’t stop my mind from spinning with fear. My little boy, my sweet Ethan, was on the operating table, and there was nothing could do.
Emma had drifted off at some point, her small head nestled against the chair, clutching her stuffed toy as though it held all her hope. I envied her innocence–the way she could find peace amid the chaos, trusting that everything would be okay.
I took a shaky breath, glancing over at Alex. He looked composed, but I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his shoulders seemed to bear the weight of my fears as well as his own. He caught my gaze, his thumb brushing over my knuckles.
“He’ll pull through, Christiana,” he said, his voice warm, soothing.
I managed a nod, but I couldn’t bring myself to respond. Words felt too fragile, like they’d shatter under the weight of my
worry.
After what felt like an eternity, the doors to the operating room swung open. My heart leaped, and I was on my feet in an instant, clutching Alex’s arm as the surgeon approached us, pulling off his mask.
“It was successful,” the doctor announced, offering a reassuring smile. “Ethan’s appendicitis had ruptured, but we managed to clean the area thoroughly. He’s stable now, and we’ll monitor him closely as he recovers.”
Relief flooded through me, sudden and overwhelming, and my knees nearly gave way. Alex held me steady, pulling me into an embrace as my shoulders shook. Tears blurred my vision, but they weren’t the tears of despair I’d feared–they were tears of relief, of gratitude.
“Oh, thank you… thank you,” I whispered, my voice breaking.
The doctor nodded, his expression kind. “He’ll need rest, but children are resilient. You can see him in his room shortly.”
Alex’s hand found mine again, his fingers tightening as if to anchor me to the ground. “See? He’s okay,” he murmured, his forehead pressing against mine as we took in this moment of shared relief.
As we waited in the hallway, the nurses finally wheeled Ethan out, pale but peaceful, tubes and monitors surrounding him. My heart clenched as I watched him, still so small, lying so quietly after such a terrifying ordeal. It hurt to see him like this, but at least he was safe. That was all that mattered.
We followed as they took him to his room, the door swinging open as they settled him into his bed. I moved closer, brushing a hand over his forehead, feeling the warmth of his skin under my fingers. He looked so vulnerable, yet there was something peaceful about his face, as if he’d fought his battle and come out stronger.
“Thank you,” I whispered softly, both to him and to whatever guardian angels had watched over him.
shoulder as he watched Ethan, his face softening with the same mix of love and Alex came up beside
my me, his hand on sadness I felt. I turned to him, reaching for his hand, and he took it, giving me a gentle squeeze.
“He’ll be fine,” he assured me, his voice a low, steady murmur that somehow seemed to chase away the last lingering shadows of fear. “We’ll all be fine.”
I nodded, leaning into him, my heart finally beginning to calm. looked over to Emma, still fast asleep on the chair,
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Chapter 121
oblivious to the relief washing over us all.
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As I sat by Ethan’s bed, the rhythmic beeping of the monitors became a strange comfort, a reminder that he was here, alive, breathing. I stroked his hand softly, the warmth of his skin reassuring, even as his tiny face was still so pale.
Alex was beside me, standing with his arms folded, his expression softened in a rare way. He had been strong for all of us, but as he looked down at our son, I saw the exhaustion and, worry he had been holding back. He’d been our anchor through all of this, and now, in the quiet of the hospital room, I saw the weight he carried.
Ethan stirred slightly, his small fingers twitching, and my heart leaped. “Ethan?” I whispered, leaning closer, hoping he’d wake, just enough for me to see his eyes.
His eyelids fluttered open, and he looked around groggily, his gaze landing on me. “Mom?” he croaked, his voice weak but steady.
I smiled, my vision blurring with fresh tears. “Yes, sweetheart. I’m here,” I murmured, brushing his hair back gently. “I’m right here.”
He managed a faint smile, his eyes finding Alex, who had moved closer. “Dad…?”
Alex bent down, his hand gentle on Ethan’s shoulder. “I’m here too, buddy. We’re both here,” he said softly, his voice thick with emotion.
Ethan blinked slowly, as if trying to take it all in. “My tummy hurts,” he mumbled, his brow furrowing in pain.
“Oh, sweetheart,” I said, my voice trembling as I cupped his cheek. “The doctors helped you, and you’re going to feel better soon. You were so brave.”
“You’re stronger than any of us, Ethan,” Alex added, his voice soft but full of pride.
Ethan’s eyelids began to droop again, and I saw exhaustion taking over. He gave a little nod, his hand slipping out of mine as he drifted back to sleep, his breathing evening out. I let out a shaky breath, unable to take my eyes off him. Every bit of panic and fear I’d felt came flooding back, but I forced it down, focusing only on the relief of this moment.
Suddenly, there was a soft sniffle behind us. I turned to see Emma, awake now, her wide eyes filled with tears as she clutched her stuffed toy tightly to her chest.
“Mommy… is Ethan okay?” she whispered, her voice quivering as she looked between us and her brother.
I got up and went to her, wrapping my arms around her small, trembling frame. “Yes, sweetheart, Ethan is going to be okay,” I assured her, holding her close. “He just needs some rest, and soon he’ll be back home with us.”
Her face crumpled as she buried herself in my arms. “I was so scared, Mommy.”
“I know, baby, I know,” I whispered, stroking her hair. “I was too. But he’s strong, just like you. And your dad and I are here, okay?”
Alex came over, crouching down beside us. “Hey, Emma,” he said gently, reaching out to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Your brother’s going to be fine. You’ve been so brave for him, haven’t you?”
Emma looked up at him, sniffling. “Can I stay with him?”
Alex nodded, taking her small hand in his. “Of course. We’ll all stay here together tonight,” he promised, looking at me for confirmation. “Right, Christiana?”
I nodded, feeling a rush of warmth at how steady he was. “Yes, all of us.”
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SEND GIFT
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Chapter 121
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Emma gave a small not and looked back toward Ethan, who was now peacefully asleep. She took a few cautious steps to his bedside, reaching out and placing her stuffed toy beside him on the pillow, tucking it in as if to guard him.
“He likes it,” she whispered, giving him a final, lingering look before turning back to us, her face softening with a shy smile. It was as if, in her childlike way, she felt the need to protect him too.
Alex held my hand, drawing me close to him. We stood in silence for a moment, watching over our son and daughter, feeling the weight of everything that had happened but also the immense relief that washed over us.
He kissed the top of my head, his voice soft as he murmured, “They’re both going to be alright. And so will we.”
In that moment, wrapped in the warmth of his arms, with our children close and safe, I believed him.
