جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 90

Ethan’s lips moved, barely audible, but enough to make my chest tighten.“Selina… Selina…”I froze, leaning closer to him on the living room couch. His eyes were closed, his forehead burning against my palm. His breathing was uneven, shallow, like he was fighting something inside himself.“Ethan…” I whispered, my heart thudding. “You’re burning up. You need help.”I didn’t know what else to do. Panic clawed at me, but I forced myself to think. He needed a hospital. Now.I lifted him gently, careful of his weight, and draped him across my arms. Ember toddled along, her small hands gripping my dress.“Selina… what’s happening?” she asked, voice tight.“Shh, sweetie. Everything’s okay. I got you,” I murmured.I hurried out to the car, my mind racing. Between Elton, Ethan’s fever, Ingrid’s disappearance, and everything else, it felt like the world was collapsing around me.At the hospital, the nurses were efficient, moving Ethan onto a gurney. I followed close, unable to stop my hands fro

The ride home from the hospital felt longer than the entire week I’d spent lying in that damn bed.Everyone kept telling me I needed rest. The doctors, the nurses, even the driver who kept glancing at me through the rearview mirror like I might pass out any second.They all thought I still couldn’t remember anything. Good. Let them think that.My fingers rested loosely on my lap, but inside, everything was tight—my chest, my jaw, my skull. Every memory from that night was still sharp, still fresh, still carved into the back of my mind like a knife buried too deep to pull out.Selina. Her face. Her voice. The way she cried when she begged me to come back. I promised her. And then I disappeared on her.The memory slammed into me, and for a moment, I leaned my head back, staring at the ceiling of the car as if it would give me a damn break. It didn’t. It only made the guilt dig deeper.When we finally reached the house, the staff lined up like a welcome display—synthetic smiles, fake pro

Seattle looked the same, but it didn’t feel like home anymore. Not after everything I learned. Not after seeing Delilah Moretti’s face—my mother’s face—mirrored perfectly in mine.Aunt Elizabeth poured tea into my cup with practiced calm, but her hands trembled. She’d always been composed, unshakable even in her anger, but right now, she looked… fragile.“So,” she said quietly, sitting across from me. “You’re really going back. For good.”I forced a small smile. “Auntie… I found them. My real family. My mother. My brother.” My throat tightened. “After all these years.”She stared at me for a long second before nodding, eyes glistening. “I’m happy for you,” she whispered. “I really am. But it still hurts.” Her voice cracked just a bit. “You’re my little girl, Eli. You always will be.”Hearing my old name, the name she raised me with, stabbed right through my chest.I stood and sat beside her, taking her hand. “You didn’t lose me,” I whispered. “You never will. I’ll come back. I’ll visi

For a moment, neither of us moved. I couldn’t blink. He couldn’t look away. Then I turned back to my desk, pretending to focus on a sheet of paper that had completely lost its meaning.“No,” I said softly.Ethan stilled.“No?” he repeated.I swallowed hard, keeping my eyes glued to the desk.“I’m not getting involved.”He exhaled, shaky. “Selina… please. Listen to me—”“No.”This time, stronger and sharper. His steps approached, slow and hesitant as if getting nearer might break me. Or him.“I know you’re scared,” he said, voice a low murmur behind me. “I know Ingrid dragged you into something you didn’t ask for. But Ember… Selina, she needs you.”“I’m not her mother,” I shot back, finally facing him. “This is a family matter. Your family matter. I’m not stepping into it.”His jaw tightened. “This isn’t about me. It’s about a child who’s been hurt. A child who trusts you.”“And that’s exactly why I shouldn’t be in the middle of this,” I insisted. “You should be protecting her. Not ask

The phone was already vibrating before I unlocked my office door the next morning. I hadn’t even taken two steps inside when the screen flashed Ethan.My stomach sank.After what happened yesterday, after Elton’s sudden appearance, after the investigator’s cryptic message saying he needed more time, I wasn’t ready for another blow. But Ethan didn’t call unless something was truly wrong.I answered immediately.“Selina.” His voice was ragged, breathless, like he had been running. “Where are you?”“At the office. Why? What’s—”“It’s Ember.”Every muscle in my body went cold.“W-what about her? Ethan, what happened?”“She fainted.” His voice cracked so slightly I wouldn’t have caught it if I didn’t know him so well. “We’re at Saint Aurelia General. She’s barely responding. They’re running tests.”My hand clamped over my mouth, unable to stop the tremor. Not Ember. Not that sweet, warm-eyed little girl who clung to her stuffed bunny like it was her beating heart.“I’m on my way,” I choked