She murmured softly to soothe him, regretting that she shouldn’t have argued with him earlier.
He’s just a patient. Why was she so petty?
Before Aunt Harper could bring the dication, the man in her arms, tense all over, gradually cald down, his gasping breaths slowing bit by bit.
Alia lowered her head to look at him and asked quietly, "How are you feeling? Any better?"
Christopher lifted his gaze to her, his expression extrely complex—startled yet unfamiliar.
Suddenly, Alia understood sothing. Her face showed surprise, and she stamred, "Did... Did you rember things from before?"
He didn’t speak. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and after a mont, when his emotions steadied a bit more, he asked, "If I do rember, will you leave?"
That question...
Alia froze instantly.
Did he think her change of heart was only due to pity and sympathy for him?
That once he recovered, she would turn and leave?
Her heart suddenly ached—sour and bitter, making her tremble slightly.
After two seconds of silence, Alia shook her head resolutely and said firmly, "No. You were the one who wanted to start over. I agreed, so I won’t go back on my word—unless you do sothing to hurt again."
Hearing this, the man finally relaxed and hung his head in exhaustion. "I rembered. I rembered everything... Unfortunately, none of it is good." His last words were tinged with self-mockery.
Hope and Aunt Harper rushed in, followed by the two brothers charging in.
"Daddy!"
"Daddy, are you okay?"
The children were all worried as Aunt Harper handed the dicine and water to Alia.
"Take your dication and rest earlier. Whatever needs to be said, can wait until tomorrow."
Before she finished speaking, Alia had already poured out the pills and placed them into his mouth, handing him the water cup with her other hand.
Christopher accepted the water and swallowed the pills, still a bit dazed.
"Noah, Ethan, Hope, it’s late now—go to bed. Daddy isn’t feeling well, so Mommy has to take care of him tonight. You three need to be good, okay?"
Originally, Alia had planned to stay the night with Hope.
But now, seeing him like this—his brow furrowed, his complexion pale—she couldn’t set her mind at ease, so she stopped overthinking.
"Alright, goodnight Mommy and Daddy!" The little ones reluctantly left the study, turning back every few steps.
Alia looked at the silent man. "Let push you back to the bedroom to rest."
He nodded.
Once they were in the bedroom, Alia and Aunt Harper helped him from the wheelchair, shifting him onto the bed.
Aunt Harper, seeing her mistress there, tactfully stepped aside when she wasn’t needed, quietly leaving the room.
Now it was just the two of them left in the room. Alia covered him with the blanket and turned to leave, only to have her wrist caught.
"What’s wrong?" She turned her head and asked softly.
Christopher lay there, with her illuminated by the light above from his angle, the glow enveloping her entirely. Her gentle features seed incomparably radiant.
Scenes of familiarity yet distant surged in his mind—all his efforts since their reunion to win her back.
She had been resolute, indifferent to his strength or gentleness, initiative or passivity, words or actions—utterly unmoved.
Yet now she’d returned, bringing their children. She was right by his side.
This mont felt so beautiful that it was almost unreal.
"It’s nothing..." he murmured softly, his grip slowly loosening.
Alia understood him, reading his thoughts from the nervous look on his face. She reassured him gently, "Don’t worry. It’s all real—it’s not a dream. I’m not going anywhere. I’m just going to check on the kids and bring you another glass of water."
He nodded.
Alia went to check on the kids. The two brothers had already gone to bed, still playfully whispering. When they spotted her entering, they grinned and called out, "Mom!"
"You have school tomorrow, so sleep now. Little ones need to eat well and sleep well to grow taller and smarter." She coaxed the pair.
Ethan laughed and said, "I don’t want to grow taller; I want to grow smarter. Let’s leave the ’tall’ part to my brother."
Noah bluntly replied, "So you know you’re all brawn and no brain?"
Ethan raged, "I’m perfectly fine like this! I can protect sister and Mom!"
"Alright, alright, why are you two growing fonder of bickering each day?" Alia tucked them in with a laugh, then playfully ordered, "Close your eyes!"
"Goodnight, Mom!" The two little ones bid her goodnight and obediently shut their eyes. Soon enough, their breathing was steady as they drifted into sleep.
Alia rose and turned off the light. Upon stepping out the door, she saw Hope standing at the entrance to the Princess Chamber, blinking her beautiful eyes at her.
"Sweetheart, what’s the matter?"
"Mom, is Dad going to be okay?"
"Yes, he’s fine now."
"Did Daddy rember us?" Hope was perceptive, understanding things even when adults didn’t spell them out.
Alia crouched down in front of her daughter, touching her small face and nodding, "Daddy rembered. He’ll keep getting better. One day, he’ll be just like before—standing tall and holding Hope in his arms."
"Okay!" The little girl nodded emphatically and then said seriously, "Mom, thank you. You’re like an angel. With you here, Daddy and I are happier than before!"
Alia was moved by these words. Her chest tightened, tears nearly streaming down her face.
She had been absent for four years, failing to be a good mom. Yet her child didn’t bla her and even expressed gratitude.
In contrast, she—an adult—was far less transparent than her children, often entangled in useless regrets, squandering so many years, nearly missing out on the lives of her kids.
Thankfully, soone forcibly pulled her back.
After putting Hope to bed, Alia showered and changed into her pajamas before bringing a water cup back to the master bedroom.
Christopher’s dication contained sedative and sleep-aid ingredients. At this point, he was breathing evenly, sound asleep.
She set the water cup down gently and sat on the sofa by the bed, staring blankly at the man’s rugged yet deeply handso features. Her thoughts played out like a carousel.
She wasn’t young anymore. Although she’d experienced major highs and lows, her life had been turbulent, her grasp on emotions was still that of a novice.
Up until now, despite countless n pursuing her, flooding around her like fish in a river, the only one to ever truly stir her heart and occupy her thoughts had always been just one person.
The man right in front of her—a devil of a man.
She wasn’t a forgiving person. After Christopher had hurt her so deeply years ago, she truly believed that, no matter how miserable her life beca, she’d never have anything to do with him again.
Yet sohow, here they were—with three children, living under the sa roof once again.
Not only that, he had reclaid her heart.
Sigh...
She couldn’t shake him off. The harder she tried, the tighter he clung.
Since that’s the case, perhaps it was ti for her to change her perspective and actively address the issues between them.
And their biggest conflict was her standoff with the Hart Family.
Previously, she thought resolving the tension with the Hart Family was Christopher’s responsibility.
But since they were a team now, Christopher’s problems were her problems too.
They were his closest relatives, ties he couldn’t sever no matter what.
If they wouldn’t lower their stance, then she would have to take the initiative to improve their contentious relationship.
Otherwise, the one to suffer the most anguish would still be the person she cared about.
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