Chapter 418
โThe motherโs condition is extremely dangerous. Weโll do everything we canโฆโ The doctorโs words hung in the air, heavy with uncertainty.
Danielโs knees buckled, and Maisie struggled to keep her brother from collapsing, though she was just as scared herself.
Before all this happened, theyโd been so happy, eagerly waiting for the new life to join their family. They never imagined things would turn out like this.
Theyโd called in the best doctors, used every top-notch medical resourceโฆ โWas a miracle really too much to ask?โ Daniel thought.
โDaniel, Danielโฆโ Maisie called out over and over, her voice shaky and lost, desperately clinging to Daniel for support.
โPlease, let Daniel think of somethingโฆ anything!โ Maisie thought, panic rising in her chest.
But Daniel was falling apart, his mind a total mess. He couldnโt even remember that Kimsey had the power to heal.
Just then, Amelia rushed in, carrying Kimsey in her arms. โDaniel, donโt panic! Let me try!โ
โAmy, Edithโฆ sheโs not doing wellโฆโ Maisie choked out, her voice trembling with grief.
But in that instant, Daniel snapped back to reality.
โWait, thatโs right! Kimsey is here!โ Daniel thought, hope flickering in his eyes.
โWhat the doctors canโt do, Kimsey can!โ Daniel clung to that thought desperately.
โDoctor, please wait outside. I need to talk to my wife for a moment,โ Daniel said urgently, practically dragging Amelia with him as he headed straight for the operating room.
โMr. Zuckerberg, this isnโt permittedโฆโ the doctor protested, trying to block his way.
โPermitted or not, I donโt care! I have to go in!โ Daniel shot back, desperation clear in his voice.
The doctors and nurses, thinking heโd lost it, tried even harder to restrain him. โMr. Zuckerberg, please, calm downโฆโ
โDaniel, please! Donโt get in the way of the doctors saving her!โ Maisie cried, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded with him.
The scene was chaotic, but there was no more time for Edith.
โWeโre done. No more resuscitation, alright?โ Daniel snatched the pen from the nurse and quickly signed the papers.
The doctors were floored.
Are they out of their minds? Thereโs still hope for the mother. How can they just give up now? the doctors thought in disbelief.
Maisie was so stunned she forgot to cry. โThis is insaneโฆ absolutely insaneโฆโ
Amelia shouted, โMais, stop them!โ
โAmy, are you crazy too?โ Maisie blurted out, her voice shaking.
โTrust Daniel!โ Amelia called out.
Amelia gave Maisie a firm, confident nod, her eyes full of determination.
Maisie was totally lost, but seeing how calm Amy was, she figured maybe she should just go along with it.
Maisie hurriedly called over the Zuckerberg familyโs bodyguards, and together they formed a wall in front of the operating room doors. โWhatever happens, the Zuckerberg family will take the heat for it!โ
The doctors could only sigh and shake their heads, some even whispering about calling the copsโฆ The whole hallway was a mess of chaos and confusion.
With everyone questioning and blaming her, Maisie could only grit her teeth and tough it out.
Among the onlookers, a familiar figure was lurking in the crowdโJoanna.
Her face was filled with fury.
โUnbelievable. Theyโre really giving up on her? Daniel, after all this, you still let Edith downโฆโ Joanna thought, her fists clenched in frustration.
Joanna clenched her fists in anger, about to do something drastic, when suddenly the doors to the operating room swung open.
Daniel pushed Edith out on a hospital bed, with Amelia right behind him, carrying Kimsey in her arms.
Edith was already awake, murmuring softly to Daniel.
โWhatโฆ what theโฆโ The doctors were in total disbelief.
Edith had been bleeding out and completely unconscious just moments ago. But now, not only was she awake, but she actually looked healthy, almost glowing.
โDoctor, the bleedingโs stopped. Weโre requesting a transfer,โ Daniel said firmly.
The doctors were shocked.
โDaniel?โ Maisie rushed over, eyes wide. โEdith, are you alright?โ
โIโm totally fine!โ Edith beamed at Maisie.
Sheโd just given birth, and now she was glowing with motherly warmth, looking softer and gentler than ever.
โMr. Zuckerberg, you need to fill out the paperwork before you can transferโฆโ the doctor stammered, still trying to process what was happening.
โWeโre transferring to Project Azureveil. Weโll take care of the transfer ourselves. Just tell us what we need to sign,โ Amelia cut in, her voice firm and unwavering.
Edith spoke up, โIโm fine. Iโm good with transferring to another hospital to rest up.โ
Maisie was still totally dazed, not really processing what had just happened. Even after they got home, she was still in a fog.
โDaniel, didnโt you say we were transferring to another hospital? Why are we back home?โ Maisie blinked, confused.
โHomeโs the best place to rest up. I wanted to come back,โ Edith replied with a gentle smile.
โSoโฆ you guys really tricked the doctors?โ Maisie stared at them, wide-eyed.
Edith just nodded.
โI swear, everyoneโs lost itโฆ totally lost itโฆโ Maisie thought, rubbing her forehead in disbelief.
โAlright, Edith needs to rest. Go on, let her have some peace. And tell the kitchen to whip up some recovery meals,โ Daniel said, gently shooing Maisie out of the room.
Ameliaโs job here was done, so she picked up Kimsey and got ready to leave.
But Daniel reached out and grabbed her arm. โAmy, wait a sec.โ
โYes?โ Amelia turned back, a little confused.
โThanks for everything todayโฆโ Daniel said, his voice thick with emotion.
His eyes were rimmed red with lingering fear. โIf you hadnโt brought Kimsey, Edith wouldnโt have made itโฆโ
โDaniel, you really shouldโve called me earlier,โ Amelia said, still a little freaked out herself.
When she rushed into the room, Edithโs blood pressure was down to just fifty. Any later and thereโd have been no saving her.
โI was so freaked out. My mind was a messโฆ I totally forgotโฆโ Daniel said, knocking himself on the head, clearly regretting it.
Edith got out of bed, taking Danielโs hand in one and Ameliaโs in the other. โIโm really fine now, so quit blaming yourselves, alright?โ
โEdithโฆโ Daniel murmured.
โEdithโฆโ Amelia said softly.
Edith gave a warm smile. โKimseyโs our little blessing! Someday, my child will be the one protecting him, too.โ
Suddenly, the whole room went dead silent!
โOur sonโs still at the hospital!โ Danielโs face drained of color as he dashed out the door.
Edith just gaped, totally stunned.
โOkay, I was in critical condition, so forgetting about our son makes senseโฆ but Daniel actually forgot too? Seriously?โ Edith thought, at a complete loss for words.
โItโs really fine. The babyโs being looked after in the hospital room,โ Amelia said, half amused and half exasperated as she tried to reassure Edith.
For years afterward, their son Lyric Zuckerberg never let Daniel live down the time Daniel left him behind at the hospital.
That night, Amelia was video chatting with Landon, telling him all about what happened. Landon was cracking up. โEven the mighty Mr. Zuckerberg can lose his cool sometimesโฆโ
โDaniel was totally scared out of his wits todayโฆโ Amelia said.
Then she started telling Landon about how close Edith came to danger during childbirth.
Landonโs brows knit together. โThis is already the third time Kimseyโs used his abilities on someone outside the familyโฆโ
โYeah, I know. It was such an emergency, I didnโt even have time to check with you,โ Amelia said. โBut Edith totally understood. Even without me saying a word, she was on board right away.โ
Landon just grunted in response.
If heโd been there himself, he wouldโve made the same call.
There was no way they could just stand by and let Edith die, leaving Daniel and their newborn all alone.
โHoney, when are you coming back?โ Landon asked.
โOh? Do you miss me already?โ Amelia teased.
But Landon nodded seriously. โYes, I miss youโฆโ
Amelia was caught off guard.
โOur sonโs already grown up, and now Landonโs suddenly getting all sentimental?โ Amelia thought.
โHoney, bring our boy home with you. I only feel at ease when youโre both here,โ Landon said, his voice gentle and full of longing.
โAlright!โ Amelia replied.
She didnโt hesitate at all. โIโll come back tomorrow,โ Amelia promised.
To keep the secret safe, Edith acted totally normal whenever she was in her own room, but the moment she stepped outside, sheโd pretend to be weak and sickly.
They made sure everyone believed sheโd lost a ton of blood during childbirth and was still physically fragile because of it.
Even Maisie was totally fooled.
But news that Daniel had given up on trying to save Edith during childbirth quickly became the talk of Lunovaโs social scene.
Daniel was getting dragged everywhere he went, with people whispering and pointing fingersโcalling him a cold-hearted bastard.
When Tyler heard about it, he was livid and came demanding answers from Daniel. โI trusted you with my daughter. How could you treat her like that? She gave birth to your son, and you just gave up on her? Daniel, do you even have a heart?โ
Tyler, usually timid as a mouse, was boldly standing his ground against his son-in-law for the very first time.
Daniel had no way to explain, so he just said, โThe doctors there couldnโt do anything for her, so we had to transfer her right awayโฆ Edithโs fine now. Youโre welcome to come see her at home.โ
โOh, is that so? She made it through on her own, against all odds. Does that disappoint you?โ Tyler shot back with a cold sneer.
Daniel was at a total loss, but then Joanna, who hadnโt shown her face in ages, walked in. โDad, Danielโs actually not a bad guy. Donโt be too harsh on him. I talked to Edith, and she said she got the best care after the transferโฆโ
โThere was no transfer! I looked into it. He just brought Edith straight home and didnโt care what happened to her. If she hadnโt had some guardian angel watching over her, she never wouldโve made it out alive,โ Tyler snapped, his voice shaking with anger.
Joanna was dumbfounded, shooting Daniel a sideways glance.
Daniel was just as floored. Tyler, whoโd never amounted to much, actually managed to get to the bottom of this.
โWell, thatโs it. This bad rep is stuck with me for life,โ Daniel thought, resigned.
โLet them talk. Whatever,โ he told himself, not even bothering to defend himself anymore.
Tyler went off on Daniel for ages before Joanna finally talked him down and led him away.
Daniel breathed a sigh of relief and told Joanna, โIโll make sure Edithโs taken care of.โ
โWas it that revival power?โ Joanna asked, her voice low and steady.
Her question made Danielโs face go ghostly white.
Joannaโs heart sank. Sheโd hit the nail on the head.
That day at the hospital, Amelia had rushed into the OR with Kimsey in her arms, and right after that, Edith was suddenly fine. There was no other explanation. It had to be that revival technique Monroe talked about.
โUnbelievableโฆ This world is wild. Monroc actually called it,โ Joanna thought, her mind spinning.
โIf the Mystic Sect hadnโt collapsed, maybe Mrs. Montgomery couldโve been revived too,โ Joanna thought, her mind racing.
โWhat revival technique? Iโve never heard of it,โ Daniel said, trying to sound calm as he flat-out denied it.
Joanna nodded. โYouโre right! If there really was such a thing, youโd have used it on Catherine first. I was just saying. Donโt worry about it.โ
Daniel stared at Joanna, his mind racing with dark thoughts. For a split second, he even considered silencing her for good.