Evelyn’s POV
I looked straight at Calvin,"The children may not understand, but shouldn’t you? I love my children deeply, but I also love myself."
Children’s thoughts were never difficult to decipher, but my heart ached knowing Rhys had used his own body as a bargaining chip to bring us together.
"Calvin, I won’t return to a man who doesn’t know how to love, who doesn’t understand what love truly ans."
As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt the weight of his jacket settling across my shoulders. I looked up, unexpectedly eting his intense gaze. In those depths, I glimpsed a flicker of emotion that vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"You’re right," he said, his voice softer. "I panicked, Evelyn. But I will work to earn your trust again, to deserve having you back in my life."
I sighed inwardly. Was he even listening to what I was saying?
I’d rushed here in my pajamas without thinking about the cold. His jacket still carried his warmth and scent, that familiar combination of earth and pine that had once made my heart race. I stepped back, avoiding further contact.
"No need, thank you," I said, returning his jacket and moving to the other side of the hallway.
Calvin had clearly rushed here as well. Instead of his usual impeccable suits, he wore casual clothes hastily pulled from his closet. His dark hair was uncombed, tousled strands falling across his forehead above those piercing eyes that seed to see right through .
In the silent corridor, his low voice was rough with concern. "Keep it on. We already have one child with a cold."
I shot him a warning glance. "Mind what you say in public."
Calvin fell silent, looking slightly confused by my reaction. After checking his watch, he said, "I’ll have my driver take you ho. I’ll stay here with him."
I insisted on waiting until Rhys’s fever broke, but Calvin looked pointedly at the exhaustion I knew must be visible. "Listen to . Alexis will worry if she wakes up and can’t find you."
Listen to him? Like I was so obedient mate who followed his commands?
I shuddered visibly. "God, you sound so condescending."
Calvin’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
The doctors had said Rhys would need to stay for several days at minimum. After his IV finished, he’d still need breakfast and monitoring.
I sat with my son a while longer, watching his peaceful sleeping face. Eventually, I decided to go ho to pack so fresh clothes for him and bring back proper food.
"Rhys will be fine," Calvin reassured , his voice gentler than I was accustod to hearing.
I responded with a noncommittal sound.
Calvin walked to the elevator. The hallway’s dim lighting softened his sharp features, making him look almost vulnerable. As the elevator arrived, he seed about to say sothing more, but I stepped inside quickly, denying him the opportunity.
As the doors closed, I caught a glimpse of him still standing there, unmoving.
Our relationship had beco cold and distant, interacting only when necessary for the children. Ironically, this was exactly the kind of arrangent Calvin had once seed to prefer. So why did he suddenly look so lost?
After going ho to change into proper clothes, I packed fresh outfits for Rhys and had the chef prepare suitable breakfast options.
As I approached his hospital room, I heard voices from inside—Calvin and Rhys talking.
I paused outside the door, not wanting to interrupt.
"Why would you do this to yourself, Rhys?" Calvin’s voice was gentle but serious.
There was a pause before my son’s small voice replied, "Because last ti I had a high fever, Mom ca back. You and Mom were together again, even if it was just for a little while."
My heart constricted painfully at his words.
"I thought," Rhys continued hesitantly, "maybe if I got sick again, you and Mom might get back together for real this ti."
I pressed my hand against my mouth, fighting back tears. My sweet, misguided boy.
"Rhys," Calvin’s voice was surprisingly tender, "you can’t put your health at risk like this, not for anyone—not even for and your mother. What happened in the past was my fault. I failed to cherish your mother the way she deserved."
I found myself frozen, unable to move away from the door.
"If your mother and I ever reconcile," he continued, "it will be because I’ve earned her forgiveness through my actions, not because you or anyone else sacrificed for my mistakes. Do you understand?"
I took a deep breath, composing myself before finally entering the room.
Rhys looked so small and fragile in that hospital bed. Despite his weakness, his eyes brightened noticeably when he saw .
I could tell from the flush on his cheeks that he still had a fever.
I placed the breakfast container on the small bedside table and opened it, releasing the steam from the beef broth I’d had specially prepared.
"Would you like to feed you, sweetheart?" I asked, smoothing his hair back from his forehead.
Rhys’s eyes lit up. "Thanks, Mom."
I carefully blew on each spoonful to cool it before bringing it to his lips. From the corner of my eye, I caught Calvin watching us, his expression unreadable as always. In the Bloodbane Pack, heirs were taught self-reliance from an early age—coddling wasn’t part of their upbringing philosophy.
I’d placed an identical breakfast in front of Calvin. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing, silently eating.
After finishing his al, Rhys quickly drifted back to sleep, the dication and his body’s fight against the fever taking their toll.
The executive suite included a separate office where Calvin could work without disturbing Rhys. While he worked, I settled on the sofa in the sitting area to video call Alexis. My daughter imdiately demanded to co see her brother, threatening tears when I hesitated. Rowan, who had stayed ho from school, also insisted on visiting.
Finally relenting, I arranged for the housekeeper to bring them, with additional security guards for protection.
When they arrived, I was reviewing data from our laboratory’s latest project. After taking them to see their sleeping brother briefly, I settled them in the sitting area where the housekeeper had brought a selection of quiet toys and activities.
Rowan was helping Alexis with her drawing while I analyzed research results, occasionally glancing up to check on them.
I could hear Calvin’s low voice from the not-quite-closed office door as he conducted a conference call. Alexis, having just completed what appeared to be a family portrait, noticed the door to her father’s office. She looked at , then at her brother who was absorbed in his own drawing, before picking up her artwork and padding toward Calvin’s door on her small legs.
She pushed it open without hesitation, her face bright with excitent.
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