bChapter /bb235 /b

    Sebastian was in no mood to deal with him and barely managed a distracted response.

    The ER doors kept swinging open and shut. Sebastian sat right outside, with Brian standing beside him, lookingpletely helpless.

    After taking a moment topose himself, Sebastian drew a deep breath and gestured to the empty seat beside him. Then, turning to Brian, he said gently. “It’s okay, son. Maxine will be fine. Let’s just rest here for now.”

    Brian remained silent, trembling in his seat.Brian Mason

    Only then did Sebastian notice that Brian’s padded jacket was soaked through, his hair sticking wetly to his head.

    He abruptly reached out and yanked open Brian’s jacket, feeling the damp inneryer underneath. His voice sharp with concern, he demanded, “Your clothes are soaked. Why didn’t you say something?”

    Brian remained silent. ‘How could I ask for anything when Mom got so badly hurt because of me?‘ he thought.

    Seeing the faint apprehension on Brian’s face, Sebastian sighed helplessly, his tone softening in a rare moment of gentleness. “Your mom bwent /bthrough all that trouble to protect you so you wouldn’t get hurt. If you keep hiding your difort now and end up getting sick, wouldn’t that defeat the whole purpose?”

    Hearing this, Brian finally broke down in tears.

    Sebastian reached out to feel Brian’s forehead. Just as he’d suspected, he was running a fever. He’d been hiding his difort all along, so no one else had noticed.

    Sebastian quickly peeled off Brian’s soaked jacket, then shrugged out of his own coat and draped it over Brian’s shoulders before gging down a passing nurse for help.

    The nurse gasped when she saw Brian’s paleplexion. She immediately grabbed a thermometer to check his temperature, then hurried to fetch a clean hospital gown for him to change into.

    Compared to Maxine, Brian was in much better shape. As a healthy teenager, he was just a little shaken and had caught ba /bchill. The doctors said that after a day of observation in the ward, he’d be cleared to go home.

    As for Maxine, her ankle injury was just the tip of the iceberg. The most serious issue was that she nearly developed hypothermia in those harsh conditions. She spent three full days in the ER before being transferred to a regr ward.

    Her ankle was encased in a thick cast, with doctors strictly instructing her to rest and stay off her feet for the next six months.

    Maxiney quietly in the hospital bed while Sebastian kept a constant vigil at her side, gently moistening her dryb, /bcracked lips with a cotton swab from

    time to time.

    Brian wouldn’t leave the ward. Even when he had homework, he did it right by his mother’s bedside.

    Maxine felt as if she were trapped in a long, endless dream, one where she saw both Micah and herself.

    It was an overcast day. Maxine, her eyes brimming with tears, gazed up bat /bMicah. He smiled gently and patted her head. “There, thereb, /bsweethea

    will be back.”

    Maxine looked at her younger self and murmured to herself, “Don’t let him go. If he leaves, he’ll nevere back.”

    baddy /b

    But little Maxine couldn’t hear her, and could only watch helplessly as Micah walked out. So Maxine followed close behind, pleading bdesperately/b, b“/bDaddy,

    you must hold on! When I grow up and get into a top university, I’ll appeal your case! I’ve already found the person who framed you!b” /b

    bShe /bcould only watch helplessly as Micah stepped toward the swirling mist ahead.

    b1/2 /b

    b08:55 /bbSat/bb, /bb28 /bbJun /bW

    “Daddyb!/b” Maxine cried out.

    bMaxine /btried to brun /bafter him, but it was as if an invisible force held her back, rendering herpletely immobile.

    ‘I can’t just let you go like this!‘ Maxine thought desperately.

    Just as he was about to dissolve into the mist, Micah suddenly whirled around, looked tenderly at Maxine, and murmured, “bGo /bback nowb, /bbMaxine/bb./bb” /b

    Tears streaming down her face, Maxine was stunned by what she just heard and blurted out, “What?”

    Micah gave her ba /bgentle smile, the golden light of the setting sun illuminating his profile. He said softly, “Go back inow/i, Maxinei. /iYou don’t belong here. There are people out there waiting for you.”