Chapter 137

It felt like time had stopped and doubled in on itself. Luca sat with his elbows on his knees, head in his hands. His knuckles were white. His breathing was shallow. The walls were starting to get to him, but he hadn’t moved in over an hour.

Neither had Roman, posted at the door like a guard. Keira was in a chair beside him, hands clasped so tightly that her knuckles cracked every time she shifted. Blair sat quietly nearby, staring at the tiled floor, her expression unreadable. Antonio and Bella sat together talking softly.

Someone coughed down the hall. Footsteps.

Then the door opened.

A doctor in a white coat stepped gently into the room, her ID badge tucked against her chest.

“Mr. De Santis?”

They all looked up at once.

Luca stood abruptly, his body jerking to attention, and so did Antonio.

“I’m Dr. Smith,” the woman said. “Cardiology.” She said to them both.

Everyone in the room held his or her breath.

“Your father pulled through.”

Luca exhaled. Hard. Shoulders slumped for the first time in four hours.

Dr. Smith continued, “He’s stable–for now. But the next forty–eight hours are critical. The artery we cleared today was dangerously close to full blockage. He was in the early stages of cardiogenic shock by the time we got him into surgery.”

“Is he awake?” Antonio asked from beside him.

“He’s sedated, but holding.” The doctor gave a tight but gentle smile. “He’ll need bed rest for at least a week, very limited activity after that. But if he gets through the next two days without complications, I’m optimistic. But if your father is still working, I would suggest retirement.”

Luca swallowed against his pulse rising in his throat. “Thank you,” he managed.

Dr. Smith gave a nod and stepped out.

If he never had to live through another twelve like he had just experienced, he would thank God every day.

His father was alive. Barely. But alive.

Everyone remained still. No tears. No celebration. Because they still needed an update on Sutton and the baby.

The minutes passed again in indistinct clumps. Roman said something quietly to Keira and Blair. Antonio sat beside Bella and pressed his forehead to her shoulder wordlessly. Luca paced the room, waiting.

Then, another knock at the door.

A second doctor entered… this one younger, in blue scrubs, a clipboard held in close to his chest.

“Mr. De Santis?”

Luca spun around. He was dizzy for a second before catching himself. When had he last eaten? Not that it mattered now.

“I’m sorry,” the doctor began, his voice gentle, almost apologetic. “You’re going through more in one day than most do in a year, but… I have updates.

Luca braced himself.

Behind him, Keira tensed, her hands finally unclasping in her lap. Blair leaned forward, elbows on her knees.

“The baby is doing well,” the doctor said first. “He’s still on ventilator support, which is expected for a twenty–eight–weeker. The lungs aren’t fully developed yet, but all signs point to strength. His numbers are stable. He’s feeding through a tube and already responding to minor stimuli.”

Luca shut his eyes briefly.

“He’s small,” the doctor continued. “We would have liked him to

A

little

Luca tried to picture him… his son, but the image wouldn’t come. All

er, but he’s a fighter.”

I seen was a tiny body wrapped in a blanket as they rushed him by.

The doctor smiled softly. “Have you thought of a name?”

Luca looked up.

His eyes shifted to Keira, and Blair and Roman as if waiting.

They exchanged glances and, after just a moment together, shook their heads.

Not yet, not without her.

Luca turned back to the doctor. “No. Not until Sutton chooses it with

”

The doctor nodded. “I thought as much.” Then he flipped the page on the clipboard.

“And Sutton?”

“I was just getting to her.”

Luca’s spine straightened. Please just let her be okay.

“She was lucky,” the doctor began.

Luca’s knees went weak just hearing those words.

“She has a hairline pelvic fracture but no displacement, could’ve been far worse. Initial imaging suggests a bruised kidney on her right side, likely from the fall or impact. Some swelling around the liver, but no active internal bleeding. Her C–section incision looks good. The scar will be deep, but it’s healing.”

Keira exhaled sharply, as if she’d been holding her breath.

“She’ll need bed rest. At a minimum, a week, most likely two. No standing without assistance. No stairs. And minimal stress. No lifting of anything.”

“No problem. I’ll make sure of it.”

The doctor looked at them. “She’s conscious on and off. Pain managed. You’ll be able to see her soon. But not all at once. Only one or two people at a time. Might be a good idea to leave her to rest until morning.”

Something in Luca crumpled internally, his body sagged forward ever so slightly, like his bones had stopped pretending to hold themselves upright.

Keira saw it first.

She stood and moved beside him, one hand slipping under his arm to steady him. He didn’t push her away.

“She’s okay?” he asked one more time, voice scraped thin..

“She’s okay,” the doctor repeated. “Your little family just weathered a storm, Mr. De Santis–but the

roof’s still standing.”

2/3

Then, the doctor gave him a quiet nod and exited.

Silence settled for a moment in the waiting room as they came to terms with the news.

Keira kept her hand on his arm. She didn’t say anything right away, didn’t crack one of her sharp, sarcastic jabs. She just looked up at him, for the first time, it wasn’t with disgust. He hoped she realized he didn’t just care about her sister. He loved her. It wasn’t about the baby or guilt or duty. He was s man with his heart in pieces because the woman he loved could have been lost to him forever.

Keira looked at her sister and then said to him. “You should be the one to see her first and maybe stay with her if they let you.”

Blair agreed. “Yes, give us your keys and we will pick up some clothes for you.”

There was no way he was leaving her, and he

was glad they had picked u

on

that.

Turning to Antonio, “I’m going to sit with Sutton. Are you able to be there for Dad?”

Antonio gave him a look. “I wouldn’t expect anything else, Bella and I will

Il take care of Dad. You are needed elsewhere. We will keep you updated.”

Luca handed his keys to Roman and headed out to be with Sutton.

Hours later, Luca stood inside her recovery room.

No tie. Shirt rumpled. Sleeves rolled past his elbows, hands tucked into his pockets.

Sutton’s hair was a mess across the pillow.

Her eyes fluttered open mid–breath, slow and drowsy.

“Hey,” he said, keeping his voice soft.

She gave him a weak smile, but behind it, her eyes asked a question she couldn’t form yet.

But finally, her mouth barely moved. “Baby?” Tears welled up in her eyes.

He sat beside her and took her hand, pressing his forehead gently to her fingers.

“He is okay. I promise you.”

“He?”

“Yes, he… He has no name, and I need you to be okay so we can get on that.”

She didn’t answer, just slipped back into sleep.

Luca hoped he had set her mind at rest. Their son was alive.