Fern's Perspective
I rushed to catch up with Daniel in my arms, my heart pounding wildly, terrified beyond measure.
He can't be okay… He can't be okay…
The light in the hallway was dim and cold.
Giovanni was wheeled into the emergency room, and the door slammed shut in front of me. I stood there, frozen, as if I had lost all strength.
"Mommy…" Daniel sobbed, tugging at my hand. Only then did I slowly snap back to reality, pulling him close and gently patting his back to soothe him. But my own body trembled slightly.
Would he wake up?
Would he open his eyes and look at me?
I held Daniel tightly, my nails digging into my palms as I forced myself to stay calm. I can't break down. I can't let myself fall apart. But—
"Fern," Tobias's voice rang out. He stood in the doorway of the emergency room, his gaze heavy with unspoken emotions.
"He…" My voice cracked. "He's going to be okay, right?"
Tobias didn't answer. He simply pressed his lips together, and after a long moment of silence, he whispered, "He's been waiting for you."
My body shuddered involuntarily.
"He's been waiting for you to come back ever since you left. He thought you were dead and nearly lost his mind." Tobias sighed. "If he doesn't pull through… you'll destroy him yourself."
I stiffened, tears finally spilling down my cheeks.
I know. I know…
But it was only today that I realized my heart had already been completely consumed by him.
A little more time passed.
The door remained shut, no sound coming from the emergency room.
I hugged Daniel, sitting with him on the cold bench, and stayed there for the rest of the night.
"Mommy." Daniel murmured softly in my arms, his voice thick with tears. "Will Daddy… wake up?"
I looked at his tear-streaked face, took a deep breath, and spoke firmly.
"He will."
The cold operating room door stood closed, its red indicator light hanging like a sharp blade, making my heart sink with each passing second. The sharp scent of antiseptic filled the air, distracting and overwhelming. I held Daniel tighter, his tiny fingers clutching the fabric of my shirt as his tears silently soaked my shoulder.
"Mommy, is Daddy going to die?" His voice, soft yet piercing, was like a needle stabbing through my heart.
I lowered my head and tried to summon a reassuring smile, though the corners of my mouth were so stiff they seemed about to shatter.
"No, Daniel," I whispered, wiping the tears from his face. "Daddy will wake up."
But my fingertips trembled, and deep inside, a suffocating fear twisted around my throat.
After escaping the battlefield, I had barely any time to think. All my focus was on him. When I finally saw the extent of his injuries, my world crumbled—his entire back had been torn apart, scorched and bloody, with his bones faintly visible. In that moment, my heart twisted so violently that I forgot to breathe.
He had tried to save Daniel and me, using his last strength to push us out of the blast radius.
I didn't dare think further, fearing that the horrific thoughts would become reality the moment they took shape. All I could do was stare at the door to the operating room, praying it would open soon and tell me he was still alive.
Time slowed to a crawl, each second dragging on indefinitely. The clock in the corridor ticked regularly, each beat like a hammer striking my heart. Tobias stood nearby, his brow furrowed, silent as a stone. His hands were still stained with dried blood, and his eyes were shadowed with exhaustion, but beneath that, they were heavy with pain.
"Tobias, he…" I finally couldn't hold it in anymore. My voice was hoarse, unrecognizable. "He's going to be okay, right?"
Tobias lowered his gaze and gave me a complicated look. After a long silence, he spoke slowly. "He's made it through so many close calls. This will be no different."
His words were firm, but I could hear the hesitation in his voice.
He was lying to me.
He didn't know the answer any more than I did.
I took a shaky breath and pulled Daniel closer to me, trying to find some warmth and comfort in his little body. But no matter how hard I tried, the cold fear gnawed at my sanity. I had never been more scared than I was right now, even more than when Elena had raised a dagger to kill me.
Because back then, I knew that as long as he was there, he would save me.
But now, the person who had always saved me was lying on an operating table, his life hanging in the balance.
I don't know how long it took, but the door to the operating room finally opened. I jumped to my feet, startling Daniel, who let out a small sob. The doctor removed his gloves, his expression weary, but his gaze steady.
"He's out of life-threatening danger for now," the doctor said.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding, tears flowing freely down my face. Tobias stepped aside, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.
"But…" The doctor's next words made my heart lurch.
"His injuries are severe, especially the burns on his back, which may cause permanent damage. Additionally, he's severely weakened from overexertion, and with the previous bond break, he's still in a fragile state." The doctor sighed. "Whether or not he wakes up depends on his will to fight."
I stood frozen in place, my nails digging into my palms.
Depends on his will?