CHAPTER EIGHT

Sophia's hands wouldn't stop shaking. The last thing she remembered was being escorted out of the Grand Palais into the chilly night, with her phone vibrating in her hand. The doctor's voice had been calm and distant.

Now, the smell of antiseptic clung to her clothes, sharp and suffocating. The constant beeping of the heart monitor rang in her ears, reminding her of how fragile his condition was. Declan lay there, pale and motionless, his forehead wrapped in white gauze.

She had looked at him for a long time, memorising the features of his still face before turning to the doctor.

"Doctor," she pleaded. "Please keep him alive until I return."

"Without a donor and the payment, I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do." The doctor's voice was both calm and cold.

Her throat tightened. She did not know where to go or who to call. Tessa had rejected her in front of the whole world. Iris had severed all ties with Declan years ago. Her so-called friends were nowhere to be found. And her own mother had stopped answering her calls because she believed Sophia was nothing but a burden.

Then she spotted Iris walking into the hospital.

"Iris, she's here," she whispered to herself. Without giving it another thought, she followed her.

At the counter, Iris stood with the confidence of someone accustomed to being obeyed as she approached a nurse. It was around eleven at night, and she had come straight to the hospital after leaving the airport.

"How may I help you, ma'am?" the nurse asked politely.

"Uhm, I'd like to see my son," Iris replied without hesitation.

"May I have his name, please?"

"Declan Hudson." The nurse checked the register before suddenly saying, "Ma'am, visiting hours are over, but you can speak with the doctor.”

Iris nodded and followed the directions she had been given.

Sophia remained at a distance. Iris didn't answered her calls, and years ago, she had cut off all contact with them.

Why was she here now?

Iris stepped into the doctor's office, where she was offered a seat.

"How is my son doing? How is his health? Is he alright?" she asked immediately.

"I was informed by the nurse that you're..."

"Can't you answer my questions?!" Iris shouted, her emotions torn between anger and worry.

The doctor clasped his hands together, maintaining his professional tone.

"Your son sustained a serious head injury. The impact caused swelling in the temporal lobe, the area of the brain responsible for processing memory. As a result, he is showing signs of retrograde amnesia. He might not remember anything that happened before the accident. In some cases, these memories gradually return over time... while in others, they never come back. But for now, his condition is stable.”

Iris clenched her fist. "What about the payment?"

"That's already been settled," the doctor replied.

"Thank you so much, Doctor." Iris let out a relieved sigh.

And truthfully, she prayed he would never remember Sophia at all. That way, she could rebuild his life the way she wanted.

For six years, Sophia had taken Declan away from her, leading him down a path Iris had sworn never to forgive. But blood was thicker than water, and the moment she heard about the accident that morning, she had booked the next flight to Los Angeles.

That was how much she loved Declan. It was unfortunate that her son had chosen another woman over her. She had thought he would eventually return to her, but Declan never did.

When Iris stepped into the corridor, Sophia was waiting.

"Aunt Iris, please wait!"

Iris stopped, her eyes cold and unreadable.

"I thought you had cut off all ties with us," Sophia said, a mocking smile spreading across her lips. "What changed?"

"You haven't changed at all," Iris muttered, moving closer.

Sophia folded her arms, her smile still in place. "Is this because I didn't thank you? For ruining your son? Because, honestly, if you hadn't abandoned him back then, perhaps he wouldn't be here today."

"Don't you have any shame? First, you caused a scene at the Grand Palais, and now you're standing here talking nonsense."

Iris narrowed her eyes, the bright corridor lights reflecting the faint glimmer in them. Two male nurses walked past them.

Then she moved closer to Sophia again, making her almost stumble backwards in fear.

"I bet you did not know what the doctor told me about him," Iris chuckled bitterly. "And for your information, I didn't pay for his treatment. Perhaps someone else did, because I know you can't afford it."

"What did the doctor say?" Sophia asked.

"Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough. Stay at the hospital and wait for updates. You'll need them," she replied before walking away, leaving Sophia standing there with her thoughts.

Sophia's fists tightened at her sides.

On Richard's Island, far from all the chaos...

Tessa kissed the twins' cheeks before leaving the room. The moment she was gone, Eliana opened her eyes.

"Ethan," she whispered.

"Close your eyes," Ethan groaned.

"I can't," she replied. "I'm worried about Mommy. She looks sad..."

Ethan sighed and sat up, rubbing his face as the blanket slipped down to his waist. Eliana did the same.

"You're right. I've never seen her like that before, especially when she saw that strange woman."

Eliana bit her lip.

"I think we should talk to her tomorrow," she suggested, and he nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Tessa sat in her bedroom, waiting for Richard. She was dressed in a robe, its soft fabric resting against her bare skin.

A minute later, Richard walked in. She immediately went over to him, wrapping her arms around him as though he were her safe haven.

And he truly was.

Richard rested his chin on her head, his arms gently circling her waist.

"Thank you for everything, Richard," she said affectionately.

"Anything for you. No matter what happens, I'll always be by your side, Tessa."

She pulled away slightly to look into his gaze, her arms still wrapped around his neck. Then she leaned in and kissed him passionately.

"I love you so much, Richard," she whispered, emotions shining in her eyes.

"You know I feel the same way. Forever, darling," he replied, his deep voice settling into her heart, while the sincerity in her eyes made his heart race.

Their gazes held for a moment before he finally looked away.

"The twins..."

"They're asleep, don't worry," she assured him.

"You should get some rest too." He lifted her into his arms, she laughed softly, but the longing in his eyes quickly silenced her laughter.

His eyes blazed with uncontrollable desire, the kind that slowly broke down her defenses until she could no longer resist him.

"What do you want, Richard?" she asked, biting her lower lip.

"I want you... and you... and you."

With that, his lips met hers in a desperate kiss.

Their tongues battled for dominance as his hand loosened the belt of her robe, allowing it to slip from her shoulders. He finally broke the kiss, his lips brushing against her ear as his warm, unsteady breath touched her skin.

"Wifey," he whispered, his voice dropping with possessiveness. "I'm going to make love to you until you forget you were ever married to Declan. The only name you'll ever remember is mine.”