Chapter 4

Yara Pov

“Mummy, when is Daddy coming?”

It was the 10th time Anne had asked me that question since she woke up.

I slowly lifted my head and looked at the clock on the wall.

10 AM.

My fingers tightened around the phone as I looked at Anne.

She hadn’t moved from the window since morning. Every little sound outside made her sit up hopefully, only for disappointment to fill her face a second later.

A quiet sigh escaped my lips.

I lowered my head and dialed Amir’s number again. The phone rang once.

Twice.

Three times…

Then… it went straight to voicemail.

My heart sank instantly.

“Mummy…”

I looked up immediately only to see that Anne had finally turned to look at me. Her little brows were furrowed, and she stared at me with an expectant face as she quietly waited for my answer.

My lips parted, but no words came out.

What excuse could I possibly give her now?

Since she woke, she hasn't cried or complained even once. She simply kept waiting while asking questions.

My throat tightened painfully. I swallowed hard and gripped my phone even tighter.

“H-He…” I forced out a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “Well… Daddy said he would come, right? Then let’s wait a little longer.”

Anne’s face immediately lit up. She nodded so hard that her little ponytail bounced.

“Mm.”

Then she turned back toward the window again, her eyes filled with hope once again.

The sight made my heart clench.

Maybe I shouldn’t have given her more hope.

Slowly, I closed my eyes.

When I opened them again, I looked at the clock.

10:30 AM.

We were already past the time for Anne’s appointment.

Confusion slowly filled my heart.

Didn’t Amir say he’d come early? Did something happen at the pack? Or…

I bit my lower lip.

No…

Please don’t be what I’m thinking. I don’t want to believe it.

Taking a shaky breath, I called his Beta, Khalid.

The phone rang once… then twice. Then only a few seconds later did someone answer.

I unconsciously held my breath.

“Beta Khalid.”

The other end became quiet for a moment before his familiar voice sounded.

“Luna.”

His voice remained calm, almost indifferent, but I had long gotten used to it.

My fingers tightened around the phone.

“Is the Alpha busy in the pack office?” I asked quietly. “Can I please speak with him?”

Silence answered me.

I frowned slightly, then I heard a quiet murmur.

“Alpha…?”

My heart suddenly skipped.

A strange feeling slowly spread through my chest.

A moment later, Beta Khalid spoke again.

“Luna… the Alpha isn’t in the pack office. You should try calling him.”

The call ended.

I slowly lowered the phone and stared blankly at the dark screen.

If Amir wasn’t at the pack office… Then where was he?

I bit my lip, then dialed his number again, but this time, it didn’t even ring. His phone was switched off.

My eyes widened.

How could he do this?

He promised us. He had looked into Anne’s eyes yesterday and told her that he would come.

He gave her hope.

Was he planning to shatter it today?

My hands slowly began to tremble as I looked toward Anne again.

She was still waiting by the window. Still believing her father would come.

My chest tightened.

How was I supposed to tell her he’d broken another promise?

Especially now when her body was already so weak.

I suddenly felt completely lost.

Amir…

I beg you… Please don’t break our daughter’s heart again.

I couldn’t even bring myself to look at Anne anymore.

Time passed quietly.

The only sound in the room was the ticking of the clock. Finally, I couldn’t wait any longer. Taking a deep breath, I walked toward Anne.

My throat hurt so much that I had to swallow before I could speak.

“Anne.”

She immediately looked up at me. The bright smile she had worn this morning had long disappeared.

I forced myself to smile.

“Hmm… baby…” My voice came out softer than I expected. “Why don’t we leave for the hospital now? Maybe Daddy is too busy to come.”

The moment I finished speaking, Anne shook her head firmly.

“No!”

Her answer came without even a second of hesitation. She looked at me with a serious little face.

“Daddy said…” she said slowly, “…wait for me.”

Then she pointed one tiny finger at me. “Mummy, be obedient. He will come.”

My heart clenched.

The trust in her eyes… The certainty in her voice…

She believed every word her father had said. She had no idea he’d already broken his promise.

I wanted to cry. I really wanted to, but I couldn’t. I had to stay strong for Anne.

I bit my lower lip before looking at the clock again.

There wasn’t any more time, and we couldn’t keep waiting. Anne’s appointment couldn’t be delayed any longer.

“Hmm… baby…”

I knelt in front of her and gently held her little hands. “Why don’t we go first?” I smiled as gently as I could. “Maybe Daddy will meet us at the hospital.”

She didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she looked back outside the window, then she looked at me. It was as if she was seriously thinking about it.

I held my breath and waited.

A few moments later, she looked outside one last time, then the light in her eyes slowly dimmed.

Her little lips pursed. But when she turned back to me… she forced out a small smile.

“Oh…” She nodded gently. “Okay, Mummy. Daddy will come and meet us at the hospital.”

My heart ached at how mature she was trying to be.

She was only a little girl, yet she was already trying so hard not to make me worry.

I sighed quietly and gently stroked her soft hair and smiled back.

“Let’s go, baby.”

She nodded obediently, then slipped her tiny hand into mine as we quietly left the house together.

***

I sat across from Healer Michael while Anne waited outside.

He flipped through her records before looking up.

“Her condition hasn’t worsened,” he said. “These past few days, she’s been much happier. Keep it that way.”

I forced a smile.

Healer Michael continued, his eyes staring gravely into mine. “Her mood is keeping her stable,” Healer Michael said seriously. “Whatever you do… don’t let her suffer another emotional shock.”

I paused, then clenched my fist and nodded hard.

“I will.”

After discussing her medication and next appointment, I thanked him and walked out.

The moment I stepped into the hallway, my eyes immediately searched for a small figure. But my brows furrowed when I couldn't find her.

“…Anne?”

I blinked.

She wasn’t there.

A strange fear rushed into my chest.

Just a moment ago, I had asked her to wait outside while I spoke with the healer, so where did she go?

My heartbeat suddenly sped up.

“Anne?”

I called again as I hurried down the hallway, but only silence answered me. I quickly looked left and right.

Nothing.

My breathing became uneven. Then a thought suddenly crossed my mind—the nurses’ station.

Anne liked talking to the nurses because they always gave her little stickers after every checkup.

Without wasting another second, I hurried in that direction.

“Anne!”

I called again while walking faster.

My heart pounded so loudly that I could hear it in my ears. Just as I reached the stairs leading to the nurses’ station, raised voices echoed down the hallway.

I slowed down immediately.

Too many voices were talking at once.

Has something happened?

My heartbeat quickened.

What if Anne was there?

Just as I thought about it, I didn’t bother wasting time and hurried towards the crowd.

The closer I got, the more my heart beat fastened. My left eyes suddenly twitched.

I walked faster and faster, then got close to the noises. I raised my head only to see people gathered around as they whispered and pointed at something.

My fingers turned cold.

I pushed through the crowd. Then…

I froze.

Anne stood alone in the middle of the crowd. Tiny and… silent. Tears streamed down her face as dozens of eyes stared at her.

My heart lurched.

Before I could reach her… Selene suddenly pointed at my daughter.

“It was her!”

She pulled Felix tightly into her arms.

“She pushed my son!”