Struck by the news as if by lightning, Ste felt her knees buckle.


    Matthew caught her, steadying her with reassuring words.


    “Don’t be afraid.


    We don’t know all the details yet.


    Try not to imagine the worst.


    ”


    He then instructed the driver, “Please take Clint to my grandparents’ home first.


    ”


    Once Clint was safely dropped off, Fernando sped toward the hospital with Ste and Matthew.


    On the way, Ste’s mind was a turbulent whirl.


    Upon arriving, she dashed through the hospital corridors to the operating room where only Cordell and Kristian were waiting.


    Kristian sat in despair, his head buried in his arms next to a bag of chocte bars he had bought for Be.


    Ovee with guilt, he muttered, “It’s all my fault.


    If I hadn’t gone shopping for her, this would never have happened.


    ”


    He looked so tormented that he pped himself.


    Although Ste had never been particrly fond of Kristian, seeing him in such pain moved her.


    She approached and consoled him, “Don’t me yourself.


    Be is still fighting.


    Let’s pray she makes it through.


    ”


    Kristian looked up at her, his eyes red with grief, and whispered, “If anything happens to Be, life will lose all meaning for me.


    ”


    He covered his face and cried openly, the sound of his sorrow echoing through the corridor.


    Ste’s own eyes reddened as she fixed her gaze on the operating room door, her mind racing with regrets.


    She wished she had told Be about their rtionship the moment she received the test results.


    Why did she always worry so much?


    The thought that she might never get to call Be “Mom” tormented her.


    Her heart skipped a beat at the possibility.


    Ste pondered deeply, the haunting memory of the traffic ident reying in her mind.


    She couldn’t shake the feeling that such a catastrophic coincidence was anything but random.


    How could this have happened?


    The first person who came to mind was Elizabeth.


    The image of Elizabeth’s deranged expression the day Be argued with her remained vividly etched in Ste’s memory.


    Quietly, Ste whispered her suspicions to Matthew.


    Her eyes, red from crying, hardened as she clenched her fists.


    “If it really was Elizabeth who orchestrated this, I won’t let her get away with it.


    If anything happens to Be, I will make sure Elizabeth pays for her deeds for the rest of her life.


    ”


    Feeling Ste tremble, Matthew wrapped his arms around her, his voice steady and reassuring.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    “I’ll look into it.


    If it was her, she’ll face the consequences.


    ”


    Ste pressed her lips together, holding back tears, and buried her head against Matthew’s shoulder.


    Matthew gently stroked her back, murmuring, “It’ll be okay.


    Everything will be okay.


    ”


    Ste remained silent, her tears falling quietly.