Chapter 163
Christiana’s POV
The hospital stood ahead, its glass doors reflecting the late afternoon sun as | stepped inside, clutching the small
basket of fruit I'd brought. My heels clicked softly on the tiled floor, the antiseptic scent faint but distinct in the
air. | had debated this visit for hours, but something deep withinsaid | needed to come.
As | reached the front desk, | smiled at the nurse. “I'm here to see Sebastian,” | said, my voice soft yet steady.
The nurse glanced at her chart before nodding. “Room 304, third floor.”
“Thank you.” | nodded politely, took the elevator, and soon found myself outside his room. For a moment, |
hesitated, staring at the number on the door. What if he didn’t want to see me? What if this was crossing some
invisible line?
| shook my head. No. | chere for a reason.
Raising my hand, | knocked lightly before pushing the door open.
Sebastian was sitting up in bed, flipping through a magazine, his brow furrowed in concentration. His dark hair
was slightly messy, and his pale blue hospital gown made him look younger, more vulnerable. When his eyes
lifted to meet mine, they widened in surprise, his hand freezing mid-page turn.
“Christiana?” His voice was low, uncertain, as if he thought he might be imagining me.
stepped inside, offering him a small smile. “Hey, Sebastian. | hope I'm not intruding.”
He blinked rapidly, then shook his head, a faint blush creeping up his neck. “No, no, of course not. | just... | didn’t
expect to see you here.”
“I thought I'd check on you,” | said, placing the basket on the small table beside his bed. “And | brought you
sfruit. Hospital food isn’t exactly gourmet, is it?”
Sebastian let out a soft laugh, scratching the back of his head. “You can say that again. Thanks... this is really
thoughtful.”
| pulled up the chair next to his bed and sat down, crossing one leg over the other. “How are you feeling?”
“Better,” he said, though his voice was tentative. He glanced at me, then quickly looked away, as if unsure how
to handle my presence. “It’s... nice to have a visitor.”
| tilted my head, studying him. “Sebastian, you look like you've just seen a ghost. Relax. It's just me.”
He chuckled nervously, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of his blanket. “I'm not used to this kind of attention,
especially from someone like you.”
“What does that mean? Someone like me?” | raised an eyebrow, pretending to be offended.
Sebastian's blush deepened, and he stammered, “I just mean... you're... you know, elegant. And busy. And |-
well, I didn’t think you'd have tto visit someone like me.”
“Someone like you?” | echoed, my voice teasing but warm. “Sebastian, you're a good man who's been through a
lot. The least | can do is check on you. Besides, | care.”
His gaze snapped to mine, startled, and I could see the conflict in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtno words cout. Instead, he simply nodded, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard.
For a moment, silence hung between us, broken only by the faint beeping of the monitors. | watched as he
struggled to meet my gaze, his hands still restless.
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Chapter 163
“Sebastian,” | said gently, leaning forward, “you’re allowed to let people care about you, you know.”
He exhaled a shaky breath, finally meeting my eyes. “It’s just... hard. I'm not used to it.”
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“Well, get used to it,” | said firmly, though my smile softened the words. “You've got people who care about you,
even if you don’t see it right now.”
He gavea small, almost shy smile, his lips curving awkwardly but sincerely. “Thanks, Christiana. That means
alot.”
“Good.” | leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. “Now, tell me-are the nurses treating you well, or do | need
to have a word with someone?”
Sebastian laughed, the sound genuine this time. “They're fine, | promise. You don’t need to go all boss-mode on
them.”
“Hey, I've got to make sure,” | said with mock seriousness. “Can’t have you being mistreated.”
He shook his head, still smiling, and for the first tsince I'd entered the room, he seemed at ease.
As we talked, | couldn't help but notice how different he seemed here-more vulnerable, less guarded. It was a
side of him | hadn’t seen before, and madefeel an odd mix of protectiveness and admiration.
The conversation flowed easily after that, the initial tension melting away. By the tthe nurse cin to
check on him, Sebastian was smiling and laughing like a different man.
| stayed seated, content to linger for a little while longer. For now, the world outside could wait.
A few minutes later, the nurse cto check up on him, and there was a pause on our conversation.
The nurse left the room, leaving Sebastian andalone again. He looked more relaxed now, his face softer than
the guarded expression | was so used to seeing.
“You should visit more often,” he said, his voice quiet but sincere.
| chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “I might just take you up on that.”
Sebastian gavea small smile, the faintest pink tinting his cheeks again. “I wouldn't mind.”
My phone vibrated on the table next to me, the sound slicing through the warm moment like a cold blade. |
glanced at the screen and saw the nof my driver-bodyguard, Kevin. Odd. He never called unless something
urgent cup.
“Givea second,” | said to Sebastian, picking up the call. “Kevin? What's wrong?”
His voice cthrough, steady but with an edge of tension. “Ma’am, | just arrived at the school to pick up Ethan
and Emma as usual, but... they toldsomeone else already picked them up.”
The words hitlike a punch to the stomach. My grip tightened on the phone as my heart started to race.
“What do you mean someone else picked them up? Who?”
“They didn’t say. Just that a man cearlier claiming he needed to take them to you. | thought maybe you sent
someone else?”
“No,” | breathed, my voice cracking. Panic began to claw at my chest. My head spun as the gravity of his words
sank in. “Kevin, stay there. I'll handle this.”
| ended the call, barely aware of the way my hand trembled as | dialed Alex. He answered on the second ring.
“Christiana? Everything okay?” His calm tone usually steadied me, but now it only heightened my fear.
“Alex,” | said quickly, my words spilling out in a rush. “Did you pick up Ethan and Emma from school?”
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14:32
Thu, Dec 12
Chapter 163
There was a pause on the ling. “No. Why would I? What's going on?”
My throat tightened. “They're not there. Someone else... someone else took them!”
“Christiana, calm down,” Alex said sharply, his voice firm. “I'm on my way. We'll figure this out.”
But his words didn’t reach me. My body was already moving on autopilot, fear driving every step.
“Christiana?” Sebastian's voice cut
through the haze as | shoved Tn
phone into my bag 30tdod”
ABD brows furrowed,
concern etched deep into his face.
“What's wrong?” The content is on
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“I...” My breath hitched. | couldn't even form the words. All | could see in my mind were my children, scared,
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmconfused, in danger.
“Christiana, talk to me,” he urged, his voice softer now.
But | couldn't. | couldn't waste another second. Without answering, Lbolted for the door.
“Christiana!” Sebastian called after me, but his voice was distant, drowned out by the pounding of my heart.
| sprinted through the hospital halls,
my heels clacking loudly against the
floor, drawing on purses and
PERIRpIBRN est burned, my
breaths coming in shallow gasps as |
reached the elevator and slammed
my palm against the button
repeatedly. The content is on
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chapter there!
“Con, con!” | muttered under my breath, every second feeling like an eternity.
When the doors finally opened, |
stepped inside and pressed the
ground floor buttanywith traning
fingers Wire NE down felt
agonizingly slow, my thoughts
spiraling with every worst-case
scenaimaginable. The content is
on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
By the t| burst out of the hospital and into the parking lot, my mind was consumed with one thought: | have
to find them. | have to find my babies.
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