Chapter 121
Christiana’s POV.
The wait was excruciating.
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| 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
remindingthat 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 spoint, her small head nestled against the chair, clutching her stuffed toy as though
it held all her hope. | envied her innocence-the way she could find peace amid the chaos, trusting that
everything would be okay.
| took a shaky breath, glancing over at Alex. He looked composed, but | 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.
| managed a nod, but | 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 | 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 heldsteady,
pullinginto 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 anchorto the ground. “See? He's okay,” he
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtmurmured, 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 | 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. | 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 cout stronger.
“Thank you,” | whispered softly, both to him and to whatever guardian angels had watched over him.
shoulder as he watched Ethan, his face softening with the smix of love and Alex cup beside
my me, his hand on sadness | felt. | turned to him, reaching for his hand, and he took it, givinga 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.”
| nodded, leaning into him, my heart finally beginning to calm. looked over to Emma, still fast asleep on the
chair,
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09:28 Wed, Nov 6 BB.
Chapter 121
oblivious to the relief washing over us all.
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As | sat by Ethan's bed, the rhythmic beeping of the monitors beca strange comfort, a reminder that he was
here, alive, breathing. | 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, | 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, | saw the weight he carried.
Ethan stirred slightly, his small fingers twitching, and my heart leaped. “Ethan?” | whispered, leaning closer,
hoping he’d wake, just enough forto 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.
| smiled, my vision blurring with fresh tears. “Yes, sweetheart. I'm here,” | 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,” | said, my voice trembling as | 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 | 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. | let out a shaky breath, unable to take my
eyes off him. Every bit of panic and fear I'd felt cflooding back, but | forced it down, focusing only on the
relief of this moment.
Suddenly, there was a soft sniffle behind us. | 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.
| got up and went to her, wrapping my arms around her small, trembling frame. “Yes, sweetheart, Ethan is going
to be okay,” | assured her, holding her close. “He just needs srest, and soon he'll be back hwith us.”
Her face crumpled as she buried herself in my arms. “I was so scared, Mommy.”
“I know, baby, I know,” | whispered, stroking her hair. “I was too. But he’s strong, just like you. And your dad and
| are here, okay?”
Alex cover, crouching down
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been so brave for him, haven't you?
Emma looked up at him, sniffling. “Can | stay with him?”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAlex nodded, taking her small hand in his. “Of course. We'll all stay here together tonight,” he promised, looking
atfor confirmation. “Right, Christiana?”
| nodded, feeling a rush of warmth at how steady he was. “Yes, all of us.”
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09:28 Wed, Nov 6 BB.
Chapter 121
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Emma gave a small not and looked
back toward Ethan, who was now
peacefully asleep, Spek Tel
cautioudsteps 16 his bedside,
reaching out and placing her stuffed
toy beside him on the pillow, tucking
it in as if to guard him. The content is
on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
“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, drawingclose
to him. We stood in silence for a
moment, watchin QuePouEson ahd
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daughtéy feeling the weight of
everything that had happened but
also the immense relief that washed
over us. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
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, | believed him.