Chapter 18%
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Nick was in the middle of wiping Jayden’s body down when the boy murmured in his sleep. It was the middle of the night and the room was quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of the monitors.
Nick’s hand froze mid–motion. He looked up and saw a single tear trailing down from the corner of Jayden’s closed eyes.
“Don’t leave me. I’m sorry. I don’t want to leave. Please come back, Mommy.”
Jayden’s hand reached out, clutching Nick’s tightly. His small voice, fragile and heartbroken, continued:8
“Mom where are you? You don’t want me anymore? I’m sorry, Mom I’ll be good.”
His voice cracked as he began to sob in his sleep. Soft, pitiful whimpers that stabbed Nick right in the heart?
Nick scooped him up into his arms, holding him gently, his voice low and warm. “It’s okay, son. Your mom will come back for you. I promise“}
Jayden’s body relaxed as if he heard him. His breathing steadied and he fell back into a deep, dreamless sleep.
But that wasn’t the end of it. Night after night, Jayden would cry for his mother in his sleep, calling out for Aria, tears soaking his pillow. And still, he wouldn’t wake up.
At first, Nick tried to be patient, thinking Jayden just needed more time to rest. But as the days dragged on with no improvement, worry began to gnaw at him
He eventually called for the doctor and insisted on a full medical check–up.
When the results came in, the doctor pulled Nick aside and spoke hesitantly.
“Physically there’s nothing wrong with your son. There’s no major concern in terms of health. However, the reason he hasn’t regained consciousness appears to be psychological. It’s as if he’s refusing to wake up. Like there’s something in reality he doesn’t want to face.” The doctor looked at him seriously. “Has he shown unusual behavior?“!!
Nick frowned, thinking back on the past few nights. He told the doctor about Jayden crying out for his mother every night, begging her not to leave
The doctor pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and nodded grimly. “That would explain it. Your son may be subconsciously avoiding waking up because he’s afraid his mother won’t be there when he opens his eyes.”
Nick had already suspected as much. Despite all his tantrums and shouting, Jayden loved Aria–Nick could see it, even if Jayden himself couldn’t. He depended on her. Needed her.
Honestly, Nick couldn’t blame him. Even he had come to rely on Aria far more than he’d ever admitted. Somewhere along the way, he’d started to develop feelings for her–deep, undeniable feelings that scared him. Feelings he refused to acknowledge because in his heart. he believed he still loved Gianna. To fall for another woman felt like betrayal.
But love didn’t follow logic.
Over the last five years, those feelings for Aria had only grown. It explained why he felt nothing for Valentina, even though she looked so much like Gianna Every time she touched him, he felt nothing but revulsion. But with Aria… he welcomed her touch, Craved i
The doctor offered a suggestion. “Maybe it’s time to bring Aria back. She may be the key to waking Jayden up.”
Nick hesitated.!
Since the day she left, he hadn’t heard from her. She’d disappeared from his life completely. No texts. No calls. Not even a single update on social media. It was like she had vanished into thin air.X.
He had already tned reaching out more than once–something completely out of character for him. The Nick Ambrose people knew would never lower himself like that for anyone. If word got out that he was chasing after a woman, he’d become a laughingstock.
The doctor must’ve noticed his reluctance, because he sighed and added gently. “I don’t know what happened between you and his mother. But I do know that your son’s life is at stake. Please don’t let your pride cost a child his chance to live.”
of the eyes.
Nick turned his gaze to Jayden, staring at the boy’s face–so much like his own. The same furrowed brow. The same shape o He felt his resolve begin to crumble !!
In the end, after a long moment of silence, he pulled out his phone and dialed Aria’s number.
1:19 PM & d
