Charles staggered as Luna crumpled, then copsed to the floor himself.

"Charles!"

Evelyn''s eyes went wide with shock. Instinct took over-she lunged to catch him as he fell.

Her hands came away slick and hot, stained with blood-so much, and so bright, the color seared itself into her memory.

For a heartbeat, the world stopped spinning.

All Evelyn could see was Charles throwing himself in front of her, taking the bullet, shielding her without thinking twice.

At the exact second the sniper fired, Francis vaulted up from the terrace below. In

a blur, he grabbed Charlie, pulled her tight, and mped his hands gently over her ears.

Charlie wriggled in Francis''s arms, craning her neck to see. Across the chaos, she caught a glimpse of Charles-blood blooming across his chest.

She let out a shriek and broke free, running to him. "Daddy!"

Charles slumped in Evelyn''s arms, his face ghostly pale.

Once he knew mother and daughter were safe, thest bit of strength bled out of him. His mind started to fog over.

But he forced his eyes open when he heard their voices.

He found Evelyn''s face-her eyes red, not from tears, but from fear and worry.

Charles saw it all, even the feelings she never let anyone else see. The sight made his own eyes sting.

He turned his gaze to Charlie.

Just that one word-Daddy-meant the world.

His Charlie, finally calling him Daddy again.

Relief and pride flickered on his face. With what little strength he had left, he reached up and wiped away Charlie''s tears, his words barely a whisper. "Charlie... sweetheart... don''t cry... Daddy''s... alright..."

The words trailed off, broken.

He wanted to say more, to reassure her, but his body was slipping away.

His vision grew dim. The world faded to ck.

"Charles!” Evelyn''s voice shook and cracked. Her hands trembled, clutching at him.

Charlie''s tiny hands pressed over Evelyn''s, both of them trying desperately to stop the bleeding.

Charlie''s cries of "Daddy!" cut right through Evelyn.

She hugged Charles close with one

arm, pulling Charlie into a tight

embrace with the other her voic quivering, "Don''t cry, Charlie. Daddy''s going to be okay. He has to be okay..."  s

She wasn''t sure who she was trying to convince Charlie, or herself.

"Hurry! Get him to the hospital!"

Andrew touched down on the roof with Francis''s medical team, his expression grim as he hurried over.

Together, they lifted Charles onto a stretcher and rushed him to the waiting helicopter.

Evelyn stood, scooping Charlie into her arms, and followed Francis out of the Cipoletti estate.

By the time they arrived at the hospital, the surgery was already underway.

Charlie, shaken and exhausted, cried herself to sleep on the ride over.

Back at Francis''s manor, Evelyn carried Charlie to bed and tucked her in gently.

Then, as if pulled by invisible strings, she found herself walking down the hall to the operating room.

Francis was waiting, silent and tense.

Evelyn hovered by the door, hollow and numb eyes fixed on the ring

red light above the operating room."

s

Her hands were scrubbed raw, but she still felt the searing heat of Charles''s blood.

Time crawled by, each minute stretching on forever.

She had no idea how much time passed. It felt like a lifetime.

Finally, the doors opened.

Evelyn tried to step forward, but her feet wouldn''t move.

She just stared at Andrew, desperate to ask about Charles, but not a single word woulde.

Francis found his voice first. "How is Charles?"

Andrew''s gaze flicked to both of them His eyes were rimmed with red His voice shook i did

verything I could. Charles, he..."fn6678 Updates are released by fι?dnοvel/fn6678

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He faltered, emotion breaking through. "Ms. Evelyn, go in. You should see him—

onest time."

The words hit Evelyn like a thunderp. She staggered, the world spinning.

Her mind went nk, a single thought echoing through her skull-Charles is dying!