Chapter 266: Chapter 266

Uncle Luther rushed toward Alina, pretending to be the image of a worried husband. "Where is she?" he asked, his brows furrowed in fake concern. "Dear, how is Lyla? The doctor called but didn’t say much. Tell me she’s alright."

Alina met his gaze without warmth. Her tone was polite, but her eyes were cold as steel. "She’s still unconscious. The doctors are monitoring her."

Before Luther could say another word, a familiar voice chimed in behind him, smooth, syrupy, and utterly false. "Sweetheart, what happened to Lyla?" Luigina, or Gina as everyone fondly called her, stepped closer, placing a hand dramatically over her chest. Her perfume was thick, sweet, and suffocating. "Why didn’t you call us sooner? Thank God my nurse friend informed me earlier." She gave Alina a wide-eyed look of sympathy that was so obviously fake it made Alina’s stomach twist in disgust.

For a moment, Alina said nothing. Her jaw tightened. The sight of the two of them standing together, pretending to care, pretending to worry, made her blood boil. The source of thɪs content is 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁

Then she heard a softer, familiar voice. "Sis."

Her eyes softened instantly. Ethan stood behind them, a slim fifteen-year-old boy with brown hair falling over his worried eyes. His schoolbag still hung from one shoulder. He looked scared, lost, and too young to bear the chaos of adulthood.

"Ethan," Alina breathed, her anger melting as she opened her arms. "Come here."

He didn’t hesitate. He ran into her embrace, hugging her tightly. She stroked his hair, her heart aching for him. "It’s okay," she murmured quietly. "I’m here."

When she looked back up, her eyes met Luther’s again, this time colder, sharper. "We’ll talk after Aunt Lyla wakes up," she said, her voice calm but firm, a silent warning in her tone.

Luther froze under that look, his lips parting as if to speak, but no words came out. He only nodded stiffly.

Ethan stayed close to Alina, glaring at his dad and Gina. He had never liked that woman who always wore too much perfume and smiled too much. Everyone at home adored her, but Ethan knew better. He wasn’t a child anymore, even if they treated him like one.

She used to whisper strange things to him, telling him not to bother studying, to skip homework, to fight if anyone annoyed him. "Be strong," she would say. "Never let anyone make you feel small. Winning matters more than anything."

At first, he thought she meant well. But then he realized she only wanted him to fail, to become lazy, wild, and easy to manipulate. He wasn’t stupid. He understood.

Ethan clenched his fists quietly by his side, his jaw tightening as he looked up at Alina. He was glad she was here.

Alina’s voice softened as she looked at the tired boy standing beside her in the quiet hospital corridor. "Don’t worry, Ethan," she said gently, her tone carrying a mix of strength and affection. "Your mom is going to be fine. The doctor said she just needs rest. We’ll see her soon."

Ethan nodded, his small shoulders tense beneath his school uniform. "Okay," he murmured, his voice thin, his eyes fixed on the closed door of his mother’s ward.

Alina studied him for a moment. His shoes were scuffed, his hair a little messy, his schoolbag still hanging from one shoulder. He must have come straight from school without even stopping for a breath. Her heart squeezed at the sight.

"You must be tired after school," she said softly. "Why don’t you sit on the bench for a while? You’ve been standing all this time."

He hesitated, shaking his head. "No, I’m fine. I want to stay here till she wakes up."

Alina smiled faintly, then touched his arm. "You can still wait right here, just sit, hmm? Your legs will start aching, and if your mom sees you tired, she’ll scold me."

That made him crack a small smile. "Alright," he said quietly. He finally sank onto the bench, his bag beside him.

Alina sat next to him, the silence between them soft and heavy. "So," she said after a while, "how’s school going? You still doing well in your subjects?"

Ethan fiddled with the strap of his bag. "It’s fine. I got an A in science," he said, almost shyly.

Alina’s eyes lit up. "That’s amazing, Ethan! I’m so proud of you."

He shrugged, looking down. "Math is still awful though."

Alina chuckled. "You sound just like me when I was your age. I used to hate math too. My teacher once told me, if you run away from numbers, they’ll chase you forever."

Ethan let out a small laugh, and Alina smiled, relieved to hear that sound. "You’ll get there," she said softly. "You’re smart, and you’ve got such a kind heart. Your mom will be so proud when she wakes up and sees you smiling ."

He looked at her then and his eyes softened. "Thanks, sis."

Alina reached out and brushed his hair gently, her heart full of tenderness. "Always, Ethan. I’m here for both of you."

The nurse stepped out of the ward, holding an empty tray, her expression soft. "She’s awake," she said gently. "You can meet her now."

Alina’s heart skipped, and she immediately stood, clutching her bag as if afraid her legs might give out. "Thank you," she whispered, and before the nurse could say another word, she hurried inside with Ethan close at her side.

The room smelled faintly of antiseptic and blooming lilies from a vase by the window. The soft hum of the IV machine filled the silence. Lyla lay weakly on the bed, her skin pale against the white sheets, a clear IV line trailing from her hand. Her eyes were half-open, staring emptily at the ceiling as though she were awake but lost somewhere far away.

"Aunty." Alina’s voice trembled as she rushed forward, taking Lyla’s hand gently. "Aunty, it’s me, Alina."

Ethan followed her, his small hand clutching the edge of the bed. "Mom?" he whispered, his brown eyes wide and wet.

Lyla blinked slowly, her gaze finally moving toward them. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but no words came out. Her throat tightened, her lips quivered. Then, behind them, footsteps echoed, the calm familiar steps of Luther, and beside him, Gina, pretending concern with her hand pressed dramatically against her chest.

"Lyla!" Gina gasped, voice trembling with a little too much effort. "Oh, thank goodness, you’re awake. You scared us so much."