Chapter 281 Zane’s Son

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    [Honey, don’t worry. Everything’s fine. The surgery went well, but he’ll need some time to recover.]

    Kaia quickly replied: [Good to hear. Find an empty room and get some rest.]

    Just as she finished, Lucien’s call came through. His deep, reassuring voice instantly soothed Kaia.

    “It’s already two o’clock. Why aren’t you asleep? Don’t you have work tomorrow?”

    Kaia shook her head, even though he couldn’t see her.

    “I’ll ask for leave in the morning. I can’t sleep without you here.

    “Allen doesn’t seem to be in great shape either. You can message Dnter to check on him. I told him to keep an eye on Allen earlier, so if he wakes up, he’ll feel more at ease.”

    Lucien smiled, his voice warm through the phone. “I got it. You really should sleep, honey. Don’t hang up, though. I’ll stay on the line until you fall asleep.”

    Kaia had never tried this whole phone–sleep thing before. It felt strange butforting.

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    “Okay.”

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    She turned on the speaker and ced the phone on the

    nightstand, her voice soft. “Honey, I’m going to sleep now. You should rest too. Good night.”

    “Nighty–night,” Lucien replied.

    Fifteen minutester, Lucien heard Kaia’s soft, steady breathing.

    She was fast asleep.

    However, he didn’t hang up. Rubbing his temples, Lucien slumped back in the chair, eyes shut.

    The doctor had said Zane would need time to recover after the surgery and might not wake up for a while. They wouldn’t even consider reducing the sedatives for another week.

    Lucien was usually aloof, distant, keeping his emotions tightly bin /bcheck–except when it came to Kaia.

    But Zane was different.

    He was his only remaining brother, his second brother having passed away. Of course, Lucien hoped Zane would pull through.

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    Chapter 281 Zane’s Son

    He had told Joanne, not quite politely, to head home.

    There was no point in dragging out an argument at the hospital.

    Besides, Alden wasn’t even around to be with Zane.

    XXXXX

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    At five in the morning, Allen woke up.

    His first words were filled with concern. “How’s Zane?”

    Dn, a light sleeper who had just managed to catch a brief nap outside, quickly responded, “Sir Graves, Mr. Zane Graves‘ surgery was a sess. Don’t worry. It’s only five o’clock, and Mr. Lucien Graves asked me to tell you to get some more rest.”

    Hearing that, Allen felt a wave of relief wash over him. He sank back into his pillows, feeling much better.

    *****

    Despite Kaia’s orders to the servants to keep things quiet, the media got wind of the situation.

    Before long, news of Zane’s critical condition hit the financial headlines. Although Lucien quickly had it taken down, the damage had already been done–it had reached the right eyes.

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    “Mom, do we really have to go?” Harold Evans whined, clearly reluctant.

    Ste Evans, ever the pragmatic one, gave him a sharp look. “Silly boy, if you don’t go now, do you n on showing up after they’ve split the inheritance?”

    “Fine then,” Harold muttered, clearly resigned.

    After breakfast, Kaia made her way to the hospital.

    As the elevator doors opened, a well–dressed woman in high heels, with a young man in tow, rushed out in a hurry.

    Kaia lost her bnce and twisted her ankle.

    “Ouch!” she winced, frowning as she steadied herself. “We’re all getting off. What’s the big rush?”

    The woman shot her a haughty nce. “Well, who told you not to stand firm? You twisted your own ankle. Are you trying to y the victim?”

    “Come on, Mom. Knock it off. Let’s go find Daddy!” the young man urged, pulling his mother awayb. /b

    Kaia paused for a moment,posing herself before heading to the ward.

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    Chapter 281 Zane’s Son

    As soon as she reached Zane’s roomb, /bshe saw them again.

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    Ste and Harold’s sudden appearance left everyone in the ward in stunned silence.

    Joanne turned around, her frown deepening. “Who are you? Did you get the wrong room?”

    Without missing a beat, Ste rushed to Zane’s bedside, her tears flowing freely as she put on an act. “Zane, how could you get so sick? What will Harold and I do without you?”

    Joanne’s face went ashen. “Who… who are you?b” /b

    Ste waved her son over with an exaggerated gesture. “Harold,e here and see your dad. Your dad has always doted on you.”

    Everyone’s eyes turned to Harold.

    He wasn’t as striking as the Graves family members, but he was decent–looking, taking more after his tearful mother. On closer inspection, his features bore a faint resemnce to Zane’s.

    The sudden appearance of this supposed grandson caught Allen off guard. Supported by Dn, he slowly sat down, his confusion mounting.

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    “What’s going on here?” he asked, his voice steady but edged with uncertainty.

    The Graves family stood in stunned silence. The only one who could provide an answer was still lying unconscious in the hospital bed.

    Ste wiped away her tears, her voice trembling with feigned

    sorrow.

    “Sir Graves, I’ve been with Zane for over twenty years. I raised our son on my own, getting him through college.

    “Things were finally getting better… but then I saw online that Zane was on his deathbed…”

    Allen’s temples throbbed in frustration. “Nonsense! Who said my son is dying?”

    Joanne, who had long suspected her husband of infidelity, felt humiliated as Ste appeared with her son. The boldness of the woman’s intrusion stung like a p in the face.

    Lucien watched the scene unfold calmly, his body positioned to shield Kaia from the drama.

    It was only then that Ste realized the woman she and her son had argued with earlier was part of the Graves family.

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    But she didn’t have time to make amends with Kaia, as Joanne’s hand shot out,nding a sharp p across her face.

    “Shameless! Where did youe from? You think you can just walk into the Graves family and im kinship?” Joanne spat.

    Ste, unfazed by the p, blinked back a few tears. “I can take your p, but you can’t deny Harold’s identity.”

    With trembling hands, she pulled out a piece of paper—the paternity test result. “Look, Harold is definitely Zane’s son!”

    Joanne stared at the document, her face hardening in disbelief.

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