What a touching scene of mother-daughter affection. It was so warm, it almost felt painful to witness.

Chapter 266

The surgery concluded sooner than expected. Thea and Emmalie were both wheeled out of the operating room simultaneously.

The entire Rowland family immediately rushed to Emmalie's side. As the anesthesia wore off, Thea struggled to keep her eyes open, hearing only the family's concerned inquiries about Emmalie. Thea had no idea what had happened, but the pain was overwhelming. Even her heart ached. She felt utterly alone.

She wished she could slip back into unconsciousness. Just as her consciousness began to fade, she felt hands gripping hers.

"Thea, I'm here." Nicolas's cool tone held a unique gentleness.

On the other side, Joyce's voice was urgent and tearful. "Thea, are you in pain?"

Tears slipped down Thea's cheeks, but she managed a smile. This is nice, she thought, I'm not alone after all.

After the surgery, Thea's injuries were not fully healed. She remained in a coma for three days before regaining consciousness. Struggling to open her eyes, she felt someone holding her hand. Nicolas was slumped in a chair, his grip unwavering even in his light sleep. His jaw was slightly stubbled—a disheveled look Thea had never seen before.

A light touch on his fingertip woke Nicolas. "Thea?"

Her bright eyes confirmed her awakening. "Can you hear me?"

Joyce had been sent away. For three days, Nicolas had remained by Thea's side, rarely even closing his eyes.

"Mr. Hendrix, I had airbags. My ears and brain weren't injured," Thea said.

Her limbs and lungs ached. The pain sharpened her mind. Nicolas's intense gaze made her want to look away. "Should we call a doctor?" While waiting, she learned from Nicolas about her coma. He rarely spoke, but now he talked incessantly, fearing she might lose consciousness again. Thea frowned. "Who saved me? Emmalie?"

Her skepticism was palpable. She admitted the idea was far-fetched, but she couldn't believe Emmalie would be so kind. Her words reached Ivy outside the door.

Only after Emmalie's condition stabilized did Ivy have time to speak with Thea, who was in a coma with multiple fractures. Hearing Thea's words, Ivy threw down a gift she was holding. "That's right. It was Emmalie. You know how poorly you treat her, and why she's suffered for so long. She saved you out of kindness, and you're still ungrateful. Thea, are you really that heartless? How did I raise such an ungrateful child?"

Ivy's words were harsh, disregarding Nicolas's presence. Each word stabbed Thea's heart.

Thea had thought she'd never again feel sadness because of the Rowland family. Yet these accusations left her unsure if the pain was physical or emotional. In my mother's heart, I must be unbearable, she thought.

"Mrs. Rowland, did my explanation not suffice?" Nicolas, tall and imposing, stood before Thea, shielding her from Ivy's gaze. "This surgery was essentially a resource exchange. The benefits you received are equivalent to a bone marrow donation. Please stop morally blackmailing my wife. She owes you nothing, nor does she owe Emmalie." The value Nicolas offered far exceeded the bone marrow donation.

Ivy was momentarily speechless. She could berate Thea, but not Nicolas. She left in silence.

Before leaving, Ivy muttered, "Thank goodness our mother-daughter relationship ended early. Otherwise, with your personality, I wouldn't be surprised if you pulled my oxygen tube out while I was sick." Thea wanted to reassure her, but couldn't.

When the doctor arrived, Thea's emotions were still raw, so she cooperated with the examination.

"The patient's recovery is excellent," said Dr. Cameron Brooks, a close friend of Nicolas's and a renowned orthopedic surgeon from Key Biscayne. "I've seen many complications from bone marrow transplants. It's unheard of for a non-direct relative like Thea to experience none."

Thea was confused. "Non-direct relative? Doctor, what does that mean?"

"Thea, wasn't this a private donation? Don't you know the donor's relationship to you?" Cameron asked.

Thea knew, but Cameron's words bewildered her. In their Key Biscayne circle, the Rowland family affairs weren't secret, and Cameron quickly understood. "I heard the donor was Emmalie? Thea, didn't you ever question her background?"

Thea had. Her grandfather's diary and Emmalie's appearance suggested a truth. Among the younger generation, Thea and Duncan most resembled their late father. Max resembled Ivy. But Emmalie resembled no one in the family.

Thea hadn't just questioned it; she'd been too afraid. She feared being labeled envious.

"Is Emmalie still in the hospital? Dr. Brooks, could you get a strand of her hair?" Thea asked.

Such a request would usually be impossible, but this was Nicolas's wife.

"Do as Thea says," Nicolas stated firmly, and Cameron complied.

Waiting for the results, Thea trembled. She'd endured many injustices since Emmalie's return. Now, someone was saying it was all a lie.

So, were all those grievances a joke? Thea thought.

"Thea, don't be afraid," Nicolas said, feeling her tension. The warmth of their clasped hands offered comfort. "No matter the outcome, I'll face it with you."

Getting the hair sample was easy. Cameron also provided a blood test report. "Thea, I've double-checked this. Emmalie is absolutely not related to you by blood."

It was a thunderclap. Thea felt a strange relief. Emmalie wasn't her sister. So where is my sister? she wondered.