Semua Bab The Price of His Betrayal : Bab 171 - Bab 180

The house, once filled with silence and tension, now carried a softer warmth. Morning sunlight slipped through the tall glass windows, washing the living room in gold. Teddy had gone out for his usual errands, and little Zoe’s laughter echoed through the air like a song. He dashed around the living room, clutching a toy car in one hand and a stuffed bear in the other, his tiny footsteps pattering across the polished floor. The waiter stood quietly to the side, keeping watch to make sure the boy didn’t hurt himself during his playful sprints.Crystal sat nearby, her eyes following Zoe’s every move, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she watched him jump and spin with endless energy. At the dining table, Adrian adjusted the cuffs of his suit, his briefcase resting beside him, while sipping on his morning coffee. Crystal nibbled at her toast absentmindedly, her attention still half on Zoe’s laughter.The environment was lighter than it had been in days, the heaviness of yesterday’s arg

It was an hour gone already, Caleb was done with the test. The air in the hospital corridor felt heavy, everyone waiting, hearts suspended between hope and fear. When the doctor finally stepped out, there was a small but visible smile tugging at his lips.“Good news,” he began, his tone calm but warm. “Your child will be discharged soon. Caleb’s blood was the perfect match. He’ll be up and strong in no time.”The words hit like sunlight breaking through storm clouds.Crystal’s hand flew to her mouth as her eyes widened. “Oh my God… thank you so much, doctor!” she exclaimed, jumping up as tears blurred her vision. “You really tried your best, thank you, thank you so much!”The doctor chuckled softly, nodding. “It was all in time. The transfusion went smoothly, and your son is responding faster than we expected.” He glanced briefly toward Zoey’s room, where the faint beeping of the monitors sounded steadier now. “He’s already showing good signs of recovery.”Jenny let out a long sigh

Crystal stood frozen for a long moment after the doctor walked away, the two sheets trembling in her hand. Her mind raced faster than she could breathe. Each second felt like thunder pounding through her veins.Her eyes were fixed ahead, on him. Caleb.Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she took one step, then another, toward where he sat. Her fingers gripped the paper so tightly it began to crumple.Caleb felt her coming even before he saw her. He didn’t move at first. He knew it, he could no longer run from the truth. Sooner or later, it was meant to come out. And maybe… this was how fate decided it would.He stood up slowly, steadying himself, his face calm but his heart burning.“What’s going on?” he asked softly, watching her eyes flash with disbelief. “I don’t understand… you asked me a question earlier, and now you’re staring at me like you’ve seen a ghost or something. What exactly is going on?”Crystal let out a breath that came out as a half-laugh, half-sob. Her voice trembl

That same moment Adrian pushed the door open, the air inside the hospital hallway felt heavier than before. His voice broke the thick silence.“What’s going on here?” he asked sharply, his brows furrowed as his eyes darted between Crystal, who stood trembling with anger, and Caleb, who looked pale and lost. Rosie stayed close to Caleb, her gaze uneasy.Adrian stepped forward, confusion and irritation rising in his tone. “Crystal, why exactly are you speaking to Caleb in this tone? What’s this about?”Crystal turned to him, her face flushed, her hands shaking. “You don’t understand anything, Adrian,” she said, her voice trembling between pain and fury. “I’ve been trying to make you see things clearly for some time now, but you always push everything aside!”Adrian’s eyes widened, his frustration finally spilling over. “Oh, no, no, Crystal!” he snapped, gesturing toward her with disbelief. “You’re not doing this again. Not here. Not after everything that’s happened. I can’t believe you’

The question sliced through the room, leaving only silence behind. Every eye turned to Caleb. Even Crystal’s head tilted slightly, her breath catching as if she too wanted to hear why but she didn't care. Caleb inhaled shakily. His lips parted, but for a moment no words came. Then, with a trembling voice, soft but clear enough for the courtroom to hear, he said:> “Because he’s the only light I have left.” The judge blinked once, his brows slightly furrowed as Caleb was not answering his question. Caleb continued, his voice breaking but steady with truth.> “I didn’t run because I wanted to, Your Honor. I was broken. I lost everything, my name, my family, my reason to live. And when I woke up again, I wasn’t Christian Blake anymore. I was someone new. Someone… trying to be better.”He paused, swallowing hard, his eyes glistening. Rosie’s tears fell quietly in the back.> “Maybe I don’t deserve forgiveness. Maybe I don’t even deserve to be called his father. But every time I see him,