[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-26032258F3A3-532":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},532,18,"Chapter 18: The Bloodline That Failed","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The hospital room descended into a deathly silence.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine Miller asked in a soft, trembling voice, \"Do you honestly think I should go back?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Greta Spencer remained silent on the other end. After a long, agonizing pause, she whispered a singular, hollow \"I'm sorry,\" and hung up with a frantic click.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine inhaled sharply, struggling to suppress the tidal wave of emotions cresting in her chest. She had naively believed those nightmare-filled years were buried deep in the past, but the mere mention of a name had brought the horrors rushing back, cold and suffocating. Her hands began to shake, and a thin, icy sheen of sweat broke out across her back.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Auntie Elaine! Are you okay?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The crisp, bright voice of a young girl snapped her back to reality. Charleigh Flores moved to pounce on her, but Arthur Bennett caught her by the collar, dragging her back. \"Don't bother her, Charleigh. Your auntie hasn't recovered yet.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I'm fine,\" Elaine murmured, reaching out to save the flustered girl. Her gaze softened as she looked into Charleigh's worried face.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Charleigh sniffled, rubbing her eyes. \"You scared me to death! I'm so glad you're okay!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I know,\" Elaine said, running a hand through Charleigh's soft, unruly hair. \"Thank you, Charleigh.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Charleigh clung to Elaine's arm, refusing to leave the room. She stayed until midnight, eventually succumbing to exhaustion, her head nodding off until she was fast asleep. Arthur had no choice but to carry her out. He returned shortly after, carrying a container of hot porridge he’d picked up from a local bistro.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Thank you, I appreciate it.\" Elaine took a spoonful, her eyes drifting toward the window. The night air was crisp, the moon hanging like a ghost in the vast, indifferent sky.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Somewhere far away, in the place she once called home, were her children looking at this same moon?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arthur didn't interrupt her thoughts. He simply watched her, his expression unreadable.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After a long while, Elaine spoke up, her voice barely a whisper. \"I have a daughter, too.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arthur’s posture stiffened.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine offered a sad, fleeting smile. \"I only saw her twice. Back then, she was just a tiny thing in my arms. She must be three or four years old by now, right?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She looked down at her hands. \"It’s all a blur. Once I gave birth to her, she was never really mine to keep. Her health was always fragile, so they kept her hidden away from the world.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Seeing Charleigh reminded me of her. I just hope that one day, she’ll be as healthy and full of life as she is.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arthur’s voice lowered, losing its edge. \"You can think of Charleigh as your own.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine let out a dry, incredulous laugh. \"Does your sister know you're handing out her daughter like that?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arthur remained perfectly serious. \"She dumped Charleigh on me, so I have full authority. What's she going to do about it?\" He took a step closer, his eyes locked on hers. \"Not only can you claim Charleigh as your daughter, but you're welcome to claim me as your partner while you're at it.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine spat out the mouthful of porridge she had just taken. \"Cough! Cough!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arthur scrambled for napkins, dabbing at her chin with a look of helpless exasperation. \"What’s the rush? Eat slowly.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine spent the next few minutes struggling for air, staring at Arthur with wide, disbelieving eyes. When she was still the golden girl of the Miller family, she’d had a parade of suitors at her feet. But that was seven years ago. After a marriage that had ground her spirit into dust, the idea of being courted again left her feeling nothing but panic and confusion.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arthur held her gaze, his expression steady and frank.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine retreated, stammering, \"You... you just love my cooking, don't you? Don't worry, I’ll keep cooking for you! You don't need to sacrifice yourself over something so trivial!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arthur fell silent. He tucked the blankets around her, his voice clipped. \"You’d better get some rest. You’re clearly delirious.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">For the next few days, Elaine acted like a frightened quail, tucking her head and pretending the conversation never happened. Arthur didn't push; he simply showed up every day to supervise her medicine.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A sense of normalcy began to settle in. The days grew peaceful, and the silence was a welcome balm.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">That was, until the phone rang again. It was Greta.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">This time, her voice was brittle with dread. \"Zeke has been diagnosed with leukemia. Marcellus... he wasn't a match.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A pause stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I didn't want to drag you back into this,\" Greta whispered, \"but he is your son, Elaine.\"\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272928755]