CHAPTER TWENTY–TWO

LIANA’S POV

Killian first of all picked Ryan from school. The moment Ryan saw my face, he frowned deeply.

“Mummy?” he asked, holding his backpack straps tightly. “Why are you crying?b” /b

I turned my face away quickly, wiping the tears with the back of my hand, pretending it was nothing.

“Why am I leaving school so early?” Ryan asked again while getting into the car. “Did I do something wrong?”

b“/bbNo/b, babyb,/b” I whispered, buckling him into his seat. b“/bYou didn’t do anything wrong.”

“But what’s going on thenb?/bb” /bhe kept asking. “Where are we going? Mummy? Why won’t byou /btell me?b” /b

I bit down on my lower lip, trying not to cry again.

Killian started the car and nced at me from the driver’s seat. b“/bJust rest, buddy,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady. b” /b

We’re going on a little trip.”

Ryan frowned, confused. “But why is Mummy crying if we’re going on a tripb?/b”

I couldn’t answer. My throat was tight. bMy /bhands gripped the edge of my seat while I stared nkly out the window. Every second that passed was making my chest heavier.

Killian drove for over four hours. We barely spoke. Ryan kept asking questions, but they slowly faded into silence when no answers came. He stared out his window too, quiet, thoughtful in that way only little kids could be.

Halfway through, Killian pulled into a rest stop.

“We need to stretch and eat something,” he said gently.

“I’m not hungry,” I murinured.

“Ryan is. And you should btry /bbto /bbeat/b. Pleaseb./bb” /b

We got out of the car. Killian bought sandwiches and juice. Ryan nibbled on his, even though he didn’t seem to want it much.

I didn’t touch mine. bI /bjust sat on the bench, watching Ryan’s little bfeet /bswing beneath the seat.

Afterward, Killian got back behind the wheel. As bwe /bcontinued driving, he reached out and turned bthe /bheater up a little. I hadn’t even realized bI /bwas shivering.

“We’re stopping again,” he said about an hourterb, /bpulling in front of a boutique.

“Why?” I asked softly.

Killian turned to look at me. b“/bYou need to change”

I looked down at myself I was still wearing his oversized shirt and my crumpled skirt. My hair was messyb, /bmy face probably stained with dried tears. I felt grossb. /bBut still, bI /bbdidn’t /bwant to get out of the car

I don’t care how I look,” I muttered.

“But I do,” he said quietly “Please Juste with me”

Killian helped Ryan out of the car and held his little hand while walking into the boutique. He turned to one of the shop

attendants

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“Please, could you help us find something for her to wear?b” /b

The woman nodded with a smile.

While she guided me toward the racks, Killian picked something simple and soft, a pale blue blouse with long sleeves and

dark jeans that looked stretchy andfortable. He brought over a few more things too: A clean bra, a pack of underwear,

and a brush.

“I’ll wait out hereb,/b” he said, handing everything to the saleswoman.

I walked into the dressing room slowly. My hands were trembling while I peeled off the old clothes. I stared at myself in the

mirrorb, /bmy face tired, my eyes puffy. I didn’t recognize myself.

Once I changed into the new clothes, I felt… not fixed, but better. A little more put together.

When bI /bstepped out, Killian had changed too. He was wearing a gray bt/b–shirt and jeans now. His suit was folded neatly into a shopping bag beside him. He looked casual, almost too casual for the kind of pain I felt inside.

He smiled faintly when he saw me. b“/bbYou /blook… better.”

I nodded.

He reached out and gently brushed some hair away from my cheekb. /bb“/bYou readyb?/bb” /b

I gave a small nod.

He also picked out a little green hoodie for Ryan, something with cartoon cars on it, and helped him change in the car while I sat in silence, watching the road ahead.

Once Ryan was settled, he leaned against the window and closed his eyes. Killian started the engine again.

I sat in the front seat, my arms crossed tight, like I was holding myself together.

Killian bnced /bat me once. “bIf /bbyou /bneed anything…”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly

We continued the drive and by the time Killian pulled up in front of the hospital, my heart was already beating so fast it was as if it might burst.

He threw the keys to the valet and rushed to open the door for me.

i“/iCome on,” he said softlyb, /bcarrying Ryan in his arms.

I didn’t think twice. I ran

He led me through the hospital halls, down the long corridor that smelled of disinfectant and silence. My steps were quick, my heart pounding But when we reached the ward, bI /bstopped.

I couldn’t move

Through the small ss window on the door, I saw her. My stepmotherb. /bShe was sitting by the bed, holding Dad’s hand while crying quietly Her lips were moving, as if she was praying or speaking softly to him.

My breath caught My legs locked beneath me

Killian stepped behind me, ced one hand gently on my waist, and slowly pushed the door open

The soft creak of the door made her look up.

Firstb, /bshe saw Killian

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Then Ryan.

And then… me.

Her eyes widened.

“Liana?b” /bshe whispered.

Tears spilled instantly. She stood, her hand trembling, then rushed forward and wrapped her arms around me. “bMy /bbaby… oh God, my baby girl…”

I broke.

I melted into her hugb, /bsobbing like a child while her hands held me tightly. It bwas /bas if the years melted baway/b,

moment nothing else existed but her arms around me.

“I’m sorryb, /bMother… I’m so sorry…” I cried into her shoulder.

She held me tighter. b“/bbYou /bcame… You came backb… /bI missed you so much…”

We cried together. Her tears soaked my shoulderb, /bwhile mine soaked hers.

bas /b

bif /bfor that

Then she pulled back a little and held my face between both palms. “He’s been waiting for byou/b, Liana. Even in his sleep, he keeps mumbling your name. He wanted to see you.”

I nodded slowly, my lips trembling violently as I tried to stay strong.

I turned toward the bed. bMy /blegs were trembling as I saw him.

bMy /bfather.

He looked pale. So different from the strong man I remembered. His chest rose slowly with the help of machines. There were tubes attached to his nose, an oxygen mask covering part of his face. It was too much. Too real.

I reached for his hand.

“bDaddy/b…” I whispered.

bMy /btears dropped freely as I gripped his hand tightly between mine.

‘Daddy, it’s me. It’s Liana… I’m hereb. /bI’m here nowb… /bPlease don’t go. Please..

The room was quietb, /bbexcept /bfor the soft beeping of machines. I was holding his hand tightlyb, /btrying to make him feel me. Trying to let him know bI /bwas here.

Then I felt a small hand rest gently on my back.

“Mommy… don’t bcry/bb./b” Ryan whispered softly from behind me.

I turned and pulled him into a hug. “This is byour /bgrandpab, /bbbaby/b.”

“Really?” Ryan looked up at the man in the bed, his bvoice /bbfilled /bwith quiet curiosity.

That was when I noticed my stepmother’s eyes shift to him.

She was looking closely now, her eyes flickering over his bface /b

Her brows pulled together, as if something bwas /bslowly clicking into ce in her mind.

bHer /bmouth parted slightlyb, /bas though the thought bjust /bhit her.

b3/4 /b

Then her eyes widened.

And she gasped.

Jend