Chapter 170

Angela POV

The chaos around us faded into a dull roar.

Christina was screaming something at William, who stood paralyzed, his face drained of color.

Evan was already on the phone, presumably calling for an ambulance. None of it mattered.

All I could focus on was Angela's face. Even unconscious, even with blood matting her hair, she was beautiful. If things were different, if she wasn't injured, having her lie quietly in my arms like this would have been...

"Mommy!" Aria's terrified wail cut through everything, her small body rushing toward us. Ethan was right behind her, his eyes-my eyes-wide with panic though he was clearly struggling to remain calm.

"She's breathing," I told them, trying to sound reassuring despite the fear clawing at my throat. "But we need to get her to a hospital right away."

"An ambulance will take too long," I decided, already moving toward the elevator. "We're going now."

I turned briefly, fixing William with a stare so cold it seemed to physically make him recoil.

I'll never forgive him-no way. But now's just not the time.

The elevator ride down was excruciating. Each second felt like an eternity as Angela remained motionless in my arms.

Ethan and Aria stood pressed against my legs, both silently crying. I wanted to comfort them, to assure them everything would be alright, but the words stuck in my throat.

You can't leave me, I thought fiercely, gazing down at Angela's pale face. Not when I've just found you again. Not when we have so much unfinished between us.

With the children secured, I carefully placed Angela across the back seat, her head resting on Ethan's lap. I hated relinquishing her, even to her own son, but I needed to drive.

I caught Ethan's solemn gaze in the rearview mirror. "Ethan, can you help watch your mother? Make sure her head stays still."

"I can," he responded, his small voice shaking but resolute.

"Good. You and Aria help take care of her. Mr. Night is going to take you all to the hospital."

"Okay," Ethan nodded, gently placing his small hand over his mother's.

"Mama, you'll be okay. You won't be hurt. You'll be fine." The tenderness in his voice, the way he stroked Angela's hair away from her face-it pierced my heart.

My son. This is my son comforting his mother.

"Is Mommy going to die?" Aria's terrified question shattered the tense silence.

"Aria, don't say stupid things!" Ethan snapped, though I could hear the fear beneath his forced bravado.

"But she's not waking up..." Aria's voice dissolved into sobs.

"Mama just hurt her head," Ethan insisted, his voice rising. "Mama won't die! She won't!"

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles turning white as I navigated through traffic.

"Ethan, Aria," I said, struggling to keep my voice steady, "Mr. Night... I won't let anything happen to your mother. I promise. Please believe me."

I caught a glimpse of Aria's tear-streaked face in the mirror.

"Mr. Night, Aria hates you," she declared, her childish voice thick with tears.

The words stung more than they should have, coming from a five-year-old in distress. I forced a bitter smile. "Hate me if you want. Right now, we need to get to the hospital."

"Stay close," I instructed the children as we hurried through the automatic doors. "Help is coming."

"My wife needs immediate attention," I called out, the word 'wife' slipping out naturally despite our years apart.

In that moment, in my heart, she was still my wife. She would always be my wife.

Medical staff quickly surrounded us, efficiently transferring Angela to a gurney. I watched helplessly as they wheeled her away, the doors to the emergency ward swinging closed behind them.

Thirty minutes later, I paced the waiting room floor while Ethan and Aria sat huddled together on uncomfortable plastic chairs. Neither child had spoken since Angela was taken away, their small faces tight with worry.

The sound of hurried footsteps drew my attention to the corridor, where Thomas Smith appeared, looking flustered and out of breath.

"This... this is a disaster," he gasped, adjusting his glasses. "What happened? How did Ms. Wilson end up in the hospital?"

"It was sudden," I replied tersely.

"Buy some food the children might like," I added, suddenly remembering that neither Ethan nor Aria had eaten dinner. "Something suitable for kids."

Thomas glanced around, his expression confused. "Ethan young master and Aria young miss are here too? Where-"

"They're in the room with their mother," I cut him off, not wanting to admit that the children had refused to let me accompany them once the doctors allowed visitors. "You won't need to look for them."

"In the room?" Thomas repeated, looking perplexed. "The patient's room?"

His gaze drifted to the closed door of Angela's room, then back to me standing alone in the hallway. A flicker of understanding crossed his face.

"Mr. Shaw," he ventured cautiously, "if I may ask... were you perhaps asked to wait outside by the twins?"

My jaw clenched involuntarily.

The truth was too humiliating to acknowledge aloud.

My own children had made it crystal clear they wanted me nowhere near Angela's bedside.

Took me forever to get the kids to like me, and now my idiot friends went and screwed it all up!