2. Save Her

“No, we won't lose him.” Killian held her shoulders, his hard expression melting into a tender gaze. “Always be positive, Sophia.”

“But, I am positive.” The lady stared at him with wide eyes sparkling with tears. “Levi's everything I’ve got.”

“I know.” Killian sighed. “He’ll be fine.”

While the couple were locked in a warm embrace, the man coaxing the lady with every reassuring word, Kiara looked around her, feeling lost. 

She must have followed the wrong person. 

She must have mistaken this man for her husband. 

He probably shared the same resemblance with Killian, but-

Who was she kidding?

He was her husband. The same man whom she hadn't set eyes on for a whole month now. The man whom she'd been desperately calling on the phone.

“You need to transfer him from this hospital,” he said to the lady. “Levi can't spend another night here.”

They were so intimate and close that none of them noticed her presence. 

“Why, Killian?”

“Why, Killian?”

Coincidentally, Kiara's question was the same as the lady’s. She couldn't digest this sudden information. 

This must be a play to prank her. 

There had never been a single gossip about him being seen with another lady before. This sudden turn of events was as bizarre as it looked. 

Killian turned around and the look on his face confirmed her suspicion. Shock flashed in his eyes and he quickly let go of the lady. 

He just blinked at her as if she was an alien object he'd never set eyes on before. 

Never had she seen Killian looking so speechless.

“Kiara.” His shock only lasted for a second. Retaining his stoic expression, his eyes narrowed. “This...” He cleared his throat. “What are you doing here?”

Was that what he was supposed to ask her? 

Didn't she deserve to know what was going on?

Well, what more explanation did she need when the expression on his face had spilled it all? 

No way!

“Yay, you’ve come!” The excited voice of a child cut through the tense silence. 

Her heart dropping to her stomach, Kiara cut her gaze from Killian only for her eyes to land on a little boy who had just come out of the ward.

The boy was about the same age as her daughter, if not a little bit older.

“Levi, didn't I ask you to stay in bed?” The lady picked him up and chided softly. 

“I heard his voice, Mommy! I couldn't wait to see him!” Eyes sparkling like a thousand stars, the boy reached out to hold Killian. 

“Be a good boy.” Killian ruffled his hair, smiling. “Take him inside, Sophia. I'll join you soon.”

The lady nodded obediently and took the boy inside. Strange how she didn't glance at Kiara once. Even weirder was the fact that she didn't appear shocked. 

Did she already know about her? 

Every movement, every smile, and every affectionate gesture was as if Kiara was being stabbed in the heart. 

She did not realize she was crying until a drop of tear fell from her chin onto her nape… Until the tears were too much that they blurred her vision.

After the lady left with the boy, Killian turned to face her. “Kiara, I don't know what you're thinking, but Levi needs me. We’ll discuss this later-”

Who was that boy to him? Did she even need to ask?

“No!” She screamed, releasing all the pent-up emotions. “Killian Reid, are you cheating on me or not!?”

Did she marry an asshole for a husband? The upright man had suddenly become a stranger standing in front of her. 

He wasn't the same Killian she knew. 

Instead of answering her question, Killian stared straight at her without blinking, his expression frosting over. “Stop asking unnecessary questions,”

*Pak*

Her slap landed before he finished speaking. Was her question unnecessary to him? Did he even care about her feelings!?

“Look, Kiara.” Rubbing his cheek, Killian’s face darkened. “Don’t make a scene here. Levi's sick…”

And fighting him here could affect the mental health of the boy. Lily, his own daughter was also sick for speaking out loud! 

Did he care to check on her!? Did he ever care to know how she was suffering through it all? 

“Lily's always sick!” Kiara wiped her tears, her shoulders trembling. “You never cared about her, did you?”

Killian’s fists clenched as if merely mentioning her daughter's name sent his blood boiling. “Don't bring Lily into this-”

“Mrs. Reid, where have you been!?” A loud voice, frantic and anxious interrupted him. “Ah! Thank goodness you're also here, Mr. Reid!” 

The same nurse Kiara had bumped into. She paused in front of them and held her knees, panting heavily to catch her breath.

“Please come! You have to be quick.” The nurse gasped for breath. “The doctor needs your attention immediately!”

And the nurse was gone again. Kiara found herself rushing after her, her apprehension intensifying with each step.

Ever since the nurse came looking like that, everything told her something was wrong. 

Why did she even leave the ward? She shouldn't have left her daughter for a split second. 

Before they arrived, they bumped into some nurses wheeling her daughter out on a stretcher, straight to the Intensive Care Unit.

Kiara only caught a glimpse of her daughter, her face paler, her breathing labored. That was enough to send her head buzzing, and she swayed from dizziness.

Strong arms caught her from falling. Killian was right beside her.

She couldn't read his expression. His eyes were fixed on the door to the ICU as he held her.

The Doctor didn't wait to explain what was going on. He had hurried straight into the ICU, while a nurse told them to wait outside.

Kiara waited with bated breath, her heart sinking with each second that passed by.

Some minutes later, the Doctor reappeared. Anxious, Kiara pushed Killian aside and hurried to him. “Doc—”

“We're so sorry, Mrs. Reid. We did everything we could…” The Doctor removed his glasses, wiping his sweat with the back of his hand. “But, your daughter’s condition has worsened. She needs an open-heart surgery to survive, and there’s only one highly experienced specialist who can perform the complex operation.”