"Daddy, why didn’t you co to save us? We’ve been waiting for you for so long." Stephanie’s voice was soft as Daniel picked her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck.
At the research site, she had heard Kane say again and again that Daniel would co. She believed him and kept waiting. But in the end, Daniel never appeared.
She didn’t bla him. She only wanted to know where he had been and if he was seriously injured like Xander.
"I’m sorry," Daniel said, looking at Chantelle with sincerity.
Chantelle didn’t respond to Daniel. She took Stephanie from his arms and hugged her tightly. "Steph, it’s late. You should go to sleep."
"I don’t want to sleep." Stephanie’s eyes were filled with worry as she looked up at her.
Chantelle understood her daughter’s worry. Stephanie wanted to wait for Xander, and after what she had just gone through, she wouldn’t dare sleep alone.
"Who’s in there?" Daniel suddenly asked.
Holding Stephanie, Chantelle walked toward the next room. "It’s Xander," she said. "He saved the children, but he was badly injured."
Daniel’s chest ached. When his wife and children needed him most, he hadn’t been there. Another man had risked everything to save them.
He realized he didn’t even have the right to feel jealous.
"Mr. Wilson, if you have nothing else to do, you should leave. There are too many people here, and it’s too noticeable." Chantelle led Stephanie into the room and took her to the bathroom to wash up.
Daniel followed them silently, unable to do anything.
Stephanie glanced at him. She believed he must have had a reason for being late. Maybe sothing had held him back. She didn’t want her mother to bla him.
Stephanie said softly, "Mommy, I want to sleep with Daddy."
Chantelle was stunned, then glanced at Daniel, as if asking if he was willing to stay.
Daniel nodded right away. "Don’t worry. I’ll stay with Steph."
"She was scared today. She might have nightmares tonight," Chantelle said worriedly.
Stephanie often acted mature, but she was only five. After what happened, how could she not be afraid?
"Okay." Daniel nodded and looked at Chantelle.
She handed Stephanie to him, then turned away without another glance and hurried to the next room.
The doctor ca out of the ward looking tired. "Ms. Chantelle, Mr. Quinn’s life isn’t in danger anymore, but whether he wakes up will depend on his condition."
Chantelle finally let out a breath. "Okay. Thank you."
The doctor sighed. "His injuries are very serious. He can’t take another hit like this."
Chantelle felt her nose sting. "Can I go in and see him?"
The doctor nodded. "Talk to him more. It’s best if he can wake up before tomorrow night."
Chantelle walked into the ward and saw Xander lying on the bed, tubes covering his body. She pulled out a chair and sat beside him.
"It seems Aunt Elia was right. Being around only brings you bad luck. Every ti we et, sothing terrible happens. When you wake up, I’ll return to Easthan. You can stay here and live a good life with Caitlin. Aunt Elia called you many tis, but I didn’t dare answer. Xander, I owe you too much. How can I ever repay you?"
She kept talking to him, recounting nearly everything from the ti they first t. But Xander did not respond.
The helplessness she felt was the sa as when the doctor declared Xander in a vegetative state two years ago.
Back then, she refused to accept it and kept talking to him, but no matter how long she talked, he never woke up.
"Why are you so stupid? You went out when you weren’t well, knowing you could die. Couldn’t you just pretend you didn’t get Steph’s call? You spoil her too much..."
Chantelle’s voice broke into soft sobs, her words turning shaky and unclear.
Daniel watched her through the crack in the door as his eyes turned gloomy and heavy.
Before, Daniel only saw Xander as a rival, no different from Joseph. But now he realized that in the six years he had been gone, Xander had stayed by Chantelle’s side through all her hardships.
Their bond was far closer than he had imagined.
If he ever hard Xander out of jealousy, he knew Chantelle would turn against him without a second thought.
After all, he was the one who had given Xander the chance to save Chantelle.
"Mr. Wilson, we found Dark Ops," a bodyguard reported.
Dark Ops was the force Daniel had built in Carcosa, but today they betrayed him and nearly cost him his wife and children.
He closed the door softly, walked a few steps away, and said, "Find a way to bring back those troop leaders. I want them alive."
"Mr. Wilson, it may be difficult. Their current master seems to have a strong background."
"I don’t care! Bring them back to !" Daniel gave the order coldly. If not for Chantelle and Stephanie being here, he would have gone himself to hunt down the traitors.
Chantelle stayed by Xander’s bed all night. When the bodyguards brought Kane and Railer the next day, she only said a few words and refused to let them inside to avoid disturbing him.
By noon, Daniel was worried about Chantelle’s health. He wanted to go in and bring her food, but Calvin stopped him. "Mr. Wilson, you should wait a little longer."
"She’s hurt and hasn’t eaten for a whole day. I’m worried about her." Daniel gripped the doorknob firmly.
Calvin stepped back and said, "Mr. Quinn was hurt because of you, even if it wasn’t direct. Do you really think Ms. Chantelle wants to see you now?"
Daniel shot him a cold glare, but Calvin didn’t flinch. He stood straight and looked him in the eye.
Before yesterday’s attack, Calvin might have welcod Daniel’s reconciliation with Chantelle and shown him more respect. But after what happened, Daniel had completely lost credibility in Calvin’s eyes.
Calvin didn’t care why Daniel failed to co back in ti to save the children. What mattered was that Daniel had promised him again and again that they would be safe. Believing those words, Calvin followed him to the restaurant without worry, only to find the children in danger. To him, that ant Daniel’s promises were worthless.
For the first ti, Daniel took a serious look at Calvin. This man had been by Chantelle’s side ever since she returned to Easthan, and she trusted him deeply. Until now, Daniel had assud their bond was no different from his own working relationship with Ashton. But it was clear there was more to it.
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