Chapter 4

The instant her words fell, the air seemed to freeze.

The temperature around Aaron dropped fast. A violent storm churned in his dark eyes, as if he wanted to swallow her whole.

But Hestia met his gaze without a shred of fear. If anything, she pushed the divorce papers a little closer, as though that still wasn't enough.

Just then, Clio, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly sucked in a painful breath.

Her face went white. One hand clutched her chest, her body trembling uncontrollably as her breathing turned shallow and uneven. "Aaron... I... my chest hurts so bad..."

"Clio!" Aaron's expression changed instantly. In a second, all his fury at Hestia was forgotten, and he lunged forward to catch Clio before she collapsed.

Holding her in his arms, he spoke in a voice full of panic and fear. "Clio, what's wrong? Don't scare me!"

"Hestia... she... why would she say that..." Leaning weakly against him, Clio burst into tears, sobbing so hard she could barely get the words out. "I just... I just liked that dress... I didn't know... I didn't know it was Mrs. Sharp's keepsake..."

She cried as if she had been deeply wronged.

That sight burned away the last thread of reason Aaron had left.

He jerked his head up and fixed Hestia with an icy stare. His voice was so cold it could have cut glass. "Hestia, are you happy now? Were you not going to stop until you pushed her over the edge?"

Hestia watched the absurd scene in front of her and felt an invisible hand clamp around her heart. Even breathing hurt.

Before she could say a word, a young voice full of anger beat her to it.

"Mom! Why are you being so mean to Ms. Webb?"

At some point, Gilbert had gotten out of the car. Now he stood in the doorway, his little face flushed red, his eyes burning with anger. He ran to Clio's side and spread his arms in front of her like a tiny bodyguard. Then he shouted at Hestia, "Ms. Webb is sick, and you're still yelling at her! You're awful! I hate you!"

That one sentence hit like the sharpest knife, driving straight into the softest part of Hestia's heart.

The pain was instant. Merciless.

She looked at the son she had nearly died bringing into this world, the child she had loved and cared for every day for five years, and now he was glaring at her with open hatred while defending another woman.

So this was what it felt like when a heart finally died.

It wasn't the ripping agony she had imagined. It was numbness. A deep, creeping cold that spread from the inside out, as if her soul had been ripped away, leaving behind nothing but an empty shell.

"You ungrateful little brat! What did you just say?" Dione was shaking with rage, pointing at Gilbert as she shouted. "Do you have any idea how much your mother has suffered for you? You were born weak, and she stayed by your side day and night, taking care of you! She was raised like a princess and never had to lift a finger, but for you, she learned how to cook, how to plan meals, and how to take care of your health. And now you're saying this to her for an outsider? Do you even have a conscience?"

Gilbert froze for a second, then stubbornly lifted his chin. "I don't care! Ms. Webb is better than Mom! She never yells at me, and she plays with me!"

Dione was so furious she could barely speak.

Aaron had no attention left for any of it. He swept Clio into his arms and said anxiously, "Clio, we're going to the hospital. You're going to be okay."

As he carried her past Hestia, he stopped for half a second. His voice was thick with warning and disgust. "Hestia, if anything happens to Clio, I will never let this go."

Then, without another glance, he carried Clio away and hurried off with Gilbert beside him.

Hestia stood there and watched the three of them leave.

They looked exactly like a family of three.

And she, from beginning to end, had been the outsider.

The dress in her hands suddenly felt unbearably heavy.

"Hestia." Dione looked at her, worry written all over her face.

Hestia shook her head. There wasn't a trace of expression on her face, and her voice was frighteningly calm. "I'm fine. Let's go."

The heart that had beat for Aaron for ten years finally stopped in that moment.

In the hospital hallway, Aaron ran all the way to the ER with Clio in his arms while Gilbert hurried after him.

When the lights above the treatment room came on, Aaron paced anxiously outside the door. Gilbert sat quietly on a bench nearby, his little face full of worry.

Not far away, a young mother was scolding her mischievous son.

"Look at that big brother over there. See how good he is? He even knows how to stay with his dad and protect his mom." She pointed toward Gilbert, then turned back to her son. "And look at that man. When his wife didn't feel well, he carried her straight to the hospital. That's what a man should do, put his wife and child first. When you grow up, you should learn from that, okay?"

Those words drifted into Gilbert's ears and stirred something strange in his little heart.

Aaron was protecting Clio. So was he.

They had done the right thing.

Then why did something feel off?

That lady had said Aaron was protecting his 'wife.'

But Clio wasn't Mom.

He couldn't figure it out, so he stopped trying.

Not long after, the ER doors opened, and the doctor stepped out. "The patient just got emotionally overwhelmed and has a little low blood sugar. It's nothing serious. She just needs some rest."

Aaron finally let out a breath.

A nurse soon wheeled Clio out. Her face was still pale, but her eyes were clear again.

"Aaron, Gilbert, I'm sorry for making you worry." She gave them a weak smile.

Gilbert immediately rushed over and grabbed her hand, looking up at her with complete seriousness. "Ms. Webb, you don't have to say sorry! From now on, Dad and I will both protect you! Will you be my mommy forever?"

A flash of satisfaction flickered through Clio's eyes, so fast it was almost impossible to catch. She reached out and gently stroked Gilbert's hair, her voice still soft and weak. "Silly boy, how could I be your mommy?"

The three of them returned to the Harvey Estate.

Aaron helped Clio sit down on the couch, then fussed over her, bringing her water and wrapping a blanket around her shoulders with meticulous care.

Gilbert ran back to his room. A moment later, he came hurrying out again with a drawing in his hand.

"Ms. Webb, this is for you! Don't be sad anymore!" He handed the picture to Clio.

There were three people in the drawing: a tall man, a woman in a wheelchair, and a little boy. The three of them were holding hands beneath a bright sun.

"This is me, this is Dad, and this is Ms. Webb." Gilbert pointed at each figure, then looked at her expectantly. "Do you like it?"

"I do. I love it." Clio smiled gently as she took the drawing and placed it carefully on the coffee table. "This is the best gift I've ever received. I'll treasure it."

Only then did Gilbert smile in satisfaction.