CHAPTER 161: SO SCARED

"Brother, I’m already fine. Don’t worry."

Lily’s small fingers twitched slightly beneath Gray’s hand. Even with the IV in her arm and the color drained from her cheeks, she gave his hand a tiny squeeze to say that she was really fine.

Gray’s chest tightened at it.

Still, he didn’t move. He just stayed there with his forehead against the bed, one hand curled around hers, the other trembling faintly in his lap. He didn’t want her to see him like this.

He didn’t want her to know how scared he had been. So he could only hide his face. The fear was still clinging to him, buried in the back of his throat and burning behind his eyes.

Selina walked over to the opposite side of the bed and gently placed a damp towel on Lily’s forehead. Her touch was careful, and her vice remained quiet and soothing as she looked down at Lily.

"The nurse said Lily should rest for a while," Selina murmured. "They gave her fluids and something for the pain."

Gray just nodded. After a second, he took a deep breath and raised his head.

"Do you know what happened? She was fine this morning," he said softly, as if still trying to believe it. "She even texted me by lunchtime."

"I think it started right after she got home. She told me she bought ice cream outside her school. She said it was from a small shop that just opened near the gate." Selina sighed as she told Gray what Lily shared with her.

Gray’s head lifted slightly.

"She bought ice cream?"

"She said it looked really good and wanted to try it," Selina explained. "But not long after, her stomach started hurting a little bit, only for it to worsen when she got home. I only happened to be there because I stopped by to give her some cookies that she likes."

Gray swallowed thickly, his jaw tightening again.

"Thank God you were there."

Selina nodded. "She was already curled up when I arrived. She was also groaning in pain so I took her straight here."

"I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I thought it would just go away..." Lily gave a weak smile at him.

Gray looked at her gently.

"You don’t have to apologize. Just promise me you’ll tell me next time. No matter what, okay?"

She nodded sleepily, her eyes trying to close off. Her small fingers curled faintly against his palm. After a moment, Lily finally drifted off to sleep. That was the only time that Gray would calm down.

Lily must have felt relieved now that she was able to sleep.

"I should’ve warned her about trying new places alone..." Gray exhaled shakily.

"You couldn’t have known," Selina said quietly. "Don’t blame yourself."

Still, the guilt lingered in his mind.

Gray stood slowly and adjusted the blanket around Lily, tucking her in with careful hands. He looked at her for a long moment, her small frame resting quietly on the bed, before he turned to Selina.

"Thank you," he said, his voice soft but sincere. It was the words he had been meaning to say earlier, but had no chance.

"Thank you for being there. For getting her here."

Selina offered a tired smile, but her lips trembled slightly. She looked down at Lily for a moment before she spoke.

"I was scared," she admitted softly. "I was so scared that I didn’t know what to do at first. When I found her curled up like that, crying and holding her stomach—I just... I panicked."

Her voice wavered.

Gray turned his head slowly, his brows knitting together.

"It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a kid like that. She looked like she was really in pain, Gray. I tried asking her questions, but she could barely speak. I didn’t even think—I just grabbed my bag and pulled her into the car."

She let out a shaky breath, brushing her hair behind her ear with a trembling hand. "I must’ve driven like a maniac. I didn’t even know if I parked properly when we got here."

Only now, as she said that, did Gray take a closer look at her.

Selina was still in her casual home clothes, which looked neat. However, when he glanced down, his eyes caught something else.

Her shoes didn’t match.

Gray stared at it for a second, his chest twisting.

She must’ve left in such a hurry, she didn’t even realize what she was wearing.

He didn’t know why, but that small detail hit him harder than everything else.

Without a word, Gray stepped closer.

Selina blinked at him in surprise, caught off guard by the sudden movement. But before she could say anything, Gray wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a tight hug.

She stiffened for half a second, then slowly relaxed against him. Her arms came up to hold onto the back of his coat, her forehead resting lightly on his shoulder.

"Thank you," Gray murmured again. His voice was rougher this time, "Really... thank you."

Selina didn’t answer right away. But she held onto him quietly, her eyes tearing even more.

For a moment, Tears started to pool in her eyes.

"I was really scared," she whispered. Her voice cracked.

"I didn’t know what to do, Gray. I really didn’t."

He felt her fingers tighten against his back.

"She wouldn’t stop crying, and her hands were so cold, and she kept saying her tummy hurt—and I just..." Her breath trembled. "I panicked. I’ve never felt that afraid in my life."

Her words tumbled out one after another, soft and shaky.

Gray didn’t say anything. He just kept his arms around her, warm and steady. Suddenly, Selina burst into tears. She sobbed, not even trying to hide it.

Selina pressed her forehead deeper against his shoulder, and her whole body trembled.

And for some reason, the tightness in Gray’s chest finally loosened. Instead, he found it funny that Selina was crying like that.

"It’s fine, Selina. It’s fi—" However, before he could continue his words, the door suddenly opened.

"Gray?"