Chapter 425

+25 Bonus

425 –A Mother’s Fear

Madeline:

It had been a few days, and we had returned to the cabin. I had visited Baxter a few times and finally decided to take the children because they had been crying nonstop.

It was getting difficult, so Lord Jonah insisted that, as their grandfather, he would take them to see their father.

When we arrived, my children stood silently beside Baxter’s bed and stared at him, watching their father in

a coma.

I asked the hospital to return my daughter’s sweater after the DNA test confirmed that the blood was Gina’s. They said it was evidence of what had happened to her. There was no case, yet they refused to give me back the last thing my daughter had worn. I was devastated.

The past few days had worn me down. As soon as the sun went down, I gathered my children and tucked them into their rooms, trying to hide them from danger.

Living like this was exhausting. During the day, Lord Jonah and I searched for food, but we barely found enough.

The food at the cabin had spoiled. I cleaned the place because I did not know what else to do.

My children would wake up, sit on the couch, and stare at the walls. I hated it. They were supposed to have a normal life.

When night came, I locked the doors and put the children to bed. Lord Jonah boarded up the windows so no one could get in or out.

We were afraid. While he slept beside Baxter’s mother, who was no longer fully aware of things, I stayed in the living room holding a knife.

If someone tried to enter, I would have to fight back.

That night was worse because of the heavy rain. I almost fell asleep a few times but forced myself to stay awake.

Then I heard my daughter cry from her room. I jumped to my feet in a panic and accidentally stabbed my thigh with the knife I was holding.

I’grunted and pressed my hand against the wound, pulling the knife out. I must have dozed off while holding it and moved suddenly when I woke up.

I grabbed a sweater from nearby, wrapped it tightly around my thigh, and tied it before going into the room.

“Elara, what is wrong? It’s okay. It was just a dream,” I insisted, sitting on the bed as she cried in her sleep. When I tried to hug her, I felt the heat of her skin.

“Oh God, you have a high fever, Elara,” I whispered, touching her forehead and cheeks.

I knew this had started after we visited the hospital. She had been weak since then. After seeing her father,

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425–A Mother’s Fea

+25 Bonus

she had grown quict.

I carried her in my arms and took her out of the room so Bodhi could keep sleeping. When I laid her on the couch, I noticed she was growing weaker.

“No, Elara, stay with me. Please. I will take you to the hospital, okay?” I said, rushing into the bedroom to grab her sweater and shoes.

When I came back, she was shivering on the couch. I covered her with the sweater and helped her put on her shoes. Then I pulled on my jeans and a sweater. I knocked on Lord Jonah’s bedroom door.

He answered from inside, and I spoke quickly.

“Please listen to me. Elara has a high fever. I have to take her to the hospital p>

Lord Jonah opened the door and hurried out, adjusting his nightclothes as he went to Elara.

He sat beside her, checked her temperature, and looked up at me. The fear on his face showed how worried he was.

“You said you would take her to the hospital, but you are not allowed into any territory hospital at this hour, ” he said, reminding me of the rules.

“I cannot leave her like this. She is in a very bad state,” I said, unable to say more. I knew I could not call Yuvonne either. She was under house arrest, and her phone lines had been cut.

“Then how will you go? Let me come with you,” Lord Jonah said, standing as if to get ready.

“No. Stay here with Bodhi. I cannot take him out in the rain at night,” I said, meeting his eyes. Fear showed on both our faces.

“How will you manage?” he asked quietly.

“I will fight if I have to,” I replied, swallowing hard as I imagined what might be outside.

“Madeline, do you know what you will do once you leave this house? You have nowhere to go,” he said, placing a hand on my shoulder.

I looked back at Elara.

“I will find a way,” I said, lifting her into my arms. I placed a plastic cover over our heads. “Please take care of Bodhi, and do not open the door for anyone p>

He watched me with worry as I stepped out of the cabin into the dark. For a few seconds, I stayed on the porch, making sure he had locked the door.

Then I looked up at the sky. The clouds were red, and the rain fell hard. The world lit up only when lightning flashed.

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428 Like A Broken Record

Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.