My eyes darted to Olivia’s sleeping form on the bed. The sedative Dr. Bennett had
administered ensured she wouldn’t wake until morning, giving me time to repair what I had so
carelessly destroyed.
A soft whimper escaped her lips, drawing me to her side. Her forehead felt hot against my
palm. Fever.
“Maxwell,” I called softly to my beta waiting in the hallway. “Bring me the moonberry fever reducer from my cabinet.”
While waiting, I dampened a cloth with cool water and gently pressed it to Olivia’s forehead.
Her chestnut hair splayed across the pillow, reminding me of how beautiful she’d always been.
Maxwell returned with the medicine and a small jar. “Dr. Bennett’s rare healing salve as well,
Alpha.”
I nodded my thanks and dismissed him. The salve had a distinctive herbal scent, specially
crafted for the Stone family. I carefully applied it to the cuts on Olivia’s hands–injuries I hadn’t.
even noticed until now.
“Ethan Stone…” she murmured, her voice barely audible.
My heart leaped. “Liv, I’m here…” I whispered, using the nickname I hadn’t spoken in years.
Her response cut through me like a silver blade. “Go away!”
Even in her fevered sleep, she rejected me. I deserved nothing less.
I administered the fever reducer and continued to cool her forehead until her temperature
normalized. Only then did I return to my task, determined to finish before she woke.
The night deepened as I worked, my powerful hands surprisingly gentle as they held the
delicate pieces. Each fragment told a story of my daughter’s love–a love I’d never
acknowledged.
As dawn approached, I placed the final piece. The mug would never be perfect again; hairline cracks ran through it like scars. But it was whole, the childish inscription once again readable:
“IDAD!”
1/5
Chapter 85 Malnarch’s Mem
A surge of joy filled me at this small victory.
Ports
I traced the wobbly letters with my fingertip, my throat tight with emotion. “I’m sorry, Lily,” I whispered to the empty room. “I’m so sorry I never knew you. I will spend more time with you
in the future.”
(Olivia’s POV)
Consciousness returned slowly, my mind emerging from the deepest sleep I’d had in months. My body felt heavy, rested in a way I’d forgotten was possible. Ten hours had passed
according to the clock on the nightstand.
As awareness sharpened, I felt something warm against my hand. Turning my head, I found
Ethan asleep in a chair beside the bed, his large hand holding mine.
I withdrew my hand coldly, severing the brief connection. The movement woke him, his amber
eyes opening to meet mine.
“You’re awake,” he said, relief evident in his voice. “How do you feel?”
“Where am I?” I asked, ignoring his question as I took in the unfamiliar surroundings.
“The recovery chamber in my private quarters,” Ethan explained. “You collapsed last night. Dr.
Bennett administered a sedative to help you rest.”
I pushed myself up, noticing I was wearing clothes that weren’t mine–a soft nightgown that
smelled faintly of moonflowers. The thought of Ethan changing my clothes made my skin
crawl.
“Don’t worry,” he said, reading my expression. “The female staff attended to you.”
He reached out to touch my forehead, but I recoiled. “Don’t touch me.”
Hurt flashed across his face before his expression became carefully neutral. “Your fever broke
during the night. That’s good.”
I swung my legs over the side of the bed, testing my strength. “Where are my clothes?”
“They’ve been cleaned and pressed,” Ethan replied, gesturing to a neatly folded stack on a
nearby chair. “I had some fresh items brought for you as well.”
I ignored the new clothes, deliberately choosing my own. “Turn around,” I commanded.
Surprisingly, he complied without argument, giving me privacy to change. The simple act of putting on my own clothes restored some sense
