Chapter 447
“`
– For each row, replace every instance of “Chapter 447” with “Chapter N” (where N is that row’s chapter number). Do not alter any other text, HTML attributes, or formatting.
Chapter 447:
“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Carmen hissed, keeping her voice low so she wouldn’t wake Aaden. Her eyes blazed with fury. “Why did you call me your wife p>
Justin looked down at her, his face a mask of exhausted resignation.
“Carmen, she is the head charge nurse of the PICU,” Justin said calmly. “Her only job right now is keeping the family calm. If I tell her that the woman crying over my son’s bed is just a hired PR girlfriend, how long do you think it will take for the New York Post to get that leak? ‘Senator Collins brings fake escort to dying son’s bedside.’ It would destroy my career, and it would destroy Aaden’s privacy p>
Carmen’s jaw clamped shut. The cold, ruthless logic of Washington politics paralyzed her argument. She hated it, but she knew he was right.
Suddenly, a small hand reached out from under the blankets.
Aaden’s weak fingers grabbed the edge of Carmen’s sleeve, while his other hand weakly tugged at Justin’s suit jacket.
“Dad… Auntie Carmen,” Aaden whimpered, his eyes wide and shiny with unshed tears. “Please don’t fight. My chest hurts when you fight p>
Carmen’s anger instantly evaporated. The sound of the child’s distress shattered her heart.
She immediately dropped to her knees beside the bed and grabbed Aaden’s hand in both of hers. “I’m so sorry, sweetie. We aren’t fighting. We’re just talking about the doctors p>
S𝗵𝘢r𝘦 𝘺𝗈𝘂𝘳 𝘧a𝘃𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘁е𝘴 𝖿𝗋о𝘮
Justin knelt down on the opposite side of the bed. He reached across Aaden’s small chest.
His large, warm hand completely covered Carmen’s trembling fingers.
Carmen flinched, her instinct screaming to pull away. But Justin’s hazel eyes locked onto hers, silently commanding her to stay still for the boy.
Under the dim amber glow of the hospital wall lamp, their hands remained stacked together over Aaden’s chest. The physical contact was agonizingly intimate. It felt like a real family.
Aaden let out a long, shaky sigh. A small smile touched his lips. The heavy sedatives pulled him back under, and his eyes fluttered shut.
Carmen waited exactly ten seconds. Then she violently yanked her hand out from under Justin’s.
She stood up and walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the dark city, her arms wrapped tightly around her own waist.
Justin stood up. He walked up behind her, stopping just inches from her back. She could feel the heat radiating off his chest.
“Carmen,” Justin murmured, his voice dropping into a hypnotic, persuasive cadence. “I know you want to run. But Aaden needs you. He thinks of you as a mother p>
Justin paused, letting the word sink in. “I am begging you. For his sake. Reinstate our public relationship contract. Just until he is fully recovered p>
The reflection in the hospital window was a nightmare.
Carmen stared at the glass. She saw her own pale, exhausted face. And right behind her, looming like a dark shadow, was Justin Collins.