Chapter 446
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Chapter 446:
She stumbled back half a step, her hands shaking as she frantically wiped the tears from her cheeks. She refused to look him in the eye.
Justin let his arms drop to his sides. He didn’t push. He didn’t crowd her. He simply looked at her with an expression of deep, exhausting gratitude.
“Go inside,” Justin said, his voice a low, soothing rumble. “He was asking for you before the sedatives kicked in p>
Carmen didn’t argue. She turned and pushed open the heavy, soundproof door of the VIP suite.
The room looked more like a luxury hotel than a hospital, but the massive array of medical equipment ruined the illusion.
Aaden lay in the center of the massive bed, his tiny body swallowed by the stark white sheets. A clear oxygen cannula was wrapped around his pale face. A thick IV line was taped securely to the fragile, translucent skin of his left hand.
Carmen’s breath hitched. A sharp, physical pain sliced directly through her uterus.
She walked to the edge of the bed. Her legs felt like lead. She slowly reached out, her trembling fingers gently brushing the sweaty, dark hair away from Aaden’s forehead. His skin was clammy and cold.
Aaden’s thick eyelashes fluttered. He slowly opened his eyes. The dark, obsidian irises were dull and glazed from the drugs.
He blinked, focusing on her face.
Yo𝘶𝘳 𝘥a𝘪𝗹𝘺 𝗱𝗈ѕе о𝗳 𝗇o𝘷el𝗌 𝘰𝘯 𝗴𝖺𝗅ո𝘰𝘷е𝗹𝘴.c𝘰𝘮
“Auntie Carmen,” Aaden whispered. His voice was so weak it barely made a sound. “You came p>
A hot tear spilled over Carmen’s lower lash. She leaned over the metal bedrail, pressing her cheek gently against Aaden’s small, uninjured hand.
“I’m right here, baby,” Carmen choked out, her voice thick with emotion. “I’m not going anywhere p>
The heavy door clicked open.
A senior nurse in dark blue scrubs walked into the room, pushing a rolling vital-signs monitor. She checked the digital readouts, her eyes scanning the room. She saw Carmen leaning over the bed, radiating pure, desperate maternal grief. She saw Justin standing silently near the door, watching them.
“Senator Collins,” the nurse said, her tone hushed and deeply respectful. She turned to Carmen. “Ma’am. His blood oxygen levels are perfectly stable now. The worst is over. You don’t need to worry p>
Before Carmen could even exhale a breath of relief, Justin moved.
He crossed the room in two strides and stopped right beside Carmen. He reached out and placed his large, heavy hand firmly onto her shoulder. His fingers squeezed her collarbone with a subtle, warning pressure.
“Thank you,” Justin said to the nurse, his voice smooth and perfectly composed. “We appreciate everything you’ve done. Please, let my wife and me have a moment alone with him p>
The title wife hit Carmen like a physical slap across the face.
Her spine snapped straight. Her entire body went rigid. She spun around, her mouth opening to immediately correct the horrific, calculated lie.
The nurse offered a sympathetic smile, adjusted the IV drip, and quietly walked out of the room.
The second the door clicked shut, Carmen violently twisted her shoulder, throwing Justin’s hand off her body.