Liam and Mnie had rushed over as well.

    Landonb, /bhuddling in the incubator, gently stirred bhis /bfragile body. His small chest was rising and falling withbored breaths, a tiny warrior determined to survive.

    Mnie kneeled on the floor and gazed at Landon, her eyes brimming with tears. She then said, “You have to tell Willow about this, Julian! I mean, Landon is her own flesh and blood! You can’t keep this from her forever. In addition, the Chapmans are nning to send her abroad. What if Landon’doesn’t make it? She never have the chance to see Landon again. That’s a regret that’ll haunt her forever!”

    Julian lowered his gaze, his voice rasping beyond recognition as he said, “He only has a 1% chance of survival, Mom. How can I tell her that? It would definitely crush her. It would eat away at her steal her rest, and drown her in agony. I’d rather she hold resentment toward me; at least after the initial pain, she can live a decent life.

    “I’m certain that going abroad is the best thing for anew, after all.”

    the moment. It would be a chance for her to escape the pain and start

    Mnie’s eyes were brimming with tears as she looked at Landon in the incubator. He wasn’t much to look at —but he was a Ziegler and her precious grandson. She silently hoped that Grace, who might be in heaven at the moment, would so small, so thin

    protect Landon and ensure his safe development.

    It was beyond anyone’s expectations that Landon would spend ten months within the confines of the incubator, ten months during which Julian maintained a tireless watch, around the clock, before Landon finally showed signs of life and growth.

    In the stillness of thete night, Willow made her way upstairs in the Chapman residence.

    Heather was coaxing Gabrie at the moment, trying to lull her to sleep. Having heard the footsteps, she knew that Willow had returned. She sighed internally but turned around with a faint smile, saying, “You’re finally back, Willow. Gabrie has been missing you terribly. I fed her twice, but she was clearly waiting for you, only taking a few sips each time.”

    “I’ll feed her,” Willow said softly, slipping off her shawl. She then walked over, picked up Gabrie, and unfastened her clothes.

    Upon catching Willow’s familiar scent, Gabrie eagerlytched on and began to nurse hungrily, the gentle sounds of her swallowing audible in the stillness.

    Having stayed with Willow for a little while, Heather silently made her way downstairs to prepare Willow’s postpartum meal.

    Timothy looked at Heather and murmured with a sigh, b“/bbI /bcan’t help but wonder if this decision we’ve made is the right one.”

    Heather lowered her gaze, pondering for a moment before saying, ‘You ought to know that Willow’s body simply can’t take it anymore, Timothy. As much as I despise Julian, I can’t gamble with Willow’s well–being. If this drags on for months, I’m worried that she’llpletely fall apart.”

    Timothy could only sigh in response.

    It was deep into the nightb, /band everything grew still when Willow finally managed to fall asleep with much effort. She dreamed of Landon walking toward her, calling her “Mommy” in his sweet soft voice. He nestled against her, telling her that he didn’t feel well and that it was lonely being by himself.

    “Landon… Landon…” Willow murmured restlessly in her sleep, her voiceced with distress. She kept calling out Landon’s name until the nurse roused her from her sleep.

    It was only after noticing the tear–stained pillow that she suddenly realized that it had all been a dream. Yet, the Landon in her dream felt so real and full of life, like a living, breathing four–year–old boy. bShe /bcouldn’t help but wonder, while in a daze, if that was what Landon would look like as a four–year–old boy.

    She was emotionally and physically drained, so she got up in the middle of the night to check on Gabrie. Her little one was fast asleep, smelling sweet and feeling soft to the touch.

    She reached out and gently traced the delicate contours of Gabrie’s face, noting that her daughter was growing into such a beautiful child. She thought that if Landon were still alive, he would undoubtedly be just as handsome and adorable. Though she was still in her postpartum recovery period, Willow still made weekly trips to see Landon in Cornerstone.

    She had personally knitted a tiny two–piece outfit for him, made using the finest cashmere yarn. She had stayed upte many nights working on these clothes, her eyes turning bloodshot and bing sore as a result. Though the others had advised her to take a break, she couldn’t bring herself to do so. It was the only thing she felt like she could do for Landon, after all

    She also bought a variety of toys for Landon, selecting items suitable for newborns up to four–year–olds. She carried these items to the chapel and arranged them next to the baster urn.

    It had been over two weeks, and her tears had finally run dry.

    In her spare time, she found sce in the flickering candles and religious scriptures, kneeling in prayer for Landon throughout the night.

    In the mountains, the chapel bells rang out loud and clear. In the chapel, Willow prostrated herself before the altar, tears streaming down her face.

    It was early in the morning when she stepped out of Cornerstone and found Julian in the parking lot.

    There was mist swirling through the mountains at the moment. Julian, in a white dress shirt and ck cksb, /bleaned against the car, smoking his cigarette. His cigarette smoke drifted upward, making his handsome features appear obscure. Willow looked intently at him, vaguely registering that Julian appeared to have lost a noticeable amount of weight.

    It seemed that he had been waiting for her, as he hurriedly walked toward her as soon as he saw her.

    It was after a long while that Julian finally broke the silence and said hoarsely, “I heard that you’re leaving for Faeria next week”

    Willow remained silent. She gathered her shawl more closely and opened the door of the ck car belonging to the Chapman family.

    Julian’s voice,ced with desperationb, /bcalled out from behind her, pleading, “Please let Gabrie stay with me for a week, Willow! It’ll be so hard for us to see each other again once you’re in Faeria, and with me being so busy here.”

    Willow’s hand tightened on the handle of the car door. She fixed her gaze on the mist swirling in the mountains and said softly,