Chapter 85: Between Life and Death

The calm in the hospital was only a façade. The white lights and the murmur of hurried footsteps couldn’t hide the tension weighing in the air. Vincent stood beside Elena’s gurney as the medical team rushed her into surgery. His face, marked by years of struggle and responsibility, now reflected a panic he rarely allowed others to see.

Elena was conscious, but barely. The gunshot she had suffered caused severe internal bleeding, and while the doctors worked quickly, every second was crucial. Her trembling hand searched for Vincent’s, and when it found his, she squeezed it with the little strength she had left.

“Vincent…” she murmured, her voice barely audible.

“I’m here, love. Don’t worry, you’ll pull through,” he replied, leaning closer to her, his tone resolute, though his eyes couldn’t hide the fear.

Elena tried to smile, but the pain etched on her face was evident.

“If… if something happens to me… promise me you’ll take care of our daughters… and yourself.”

Vincent shook his head, his lips pressed tightly together.

“Nothing is going to happen to you, Elena. This is not a goodbye.”

The doctors gently moved him aside as they pushed Elena into the operating room. Vincent watched her disappear behind the double doors, which closed with a click that echoed in his heart like thunder.

Anthony and Samuel arrived shortly after. Anthony’s face, full of concern, tensed when he saw Vincent’s state.

“How’s Elena?” Anthony asked, standing by his side.

“She’s in surgery… it’s bad,” Vincent replied without looking at him. His eyes remained fixed on the operating room doors.

Samuel, always the calmest of the three, stepped forward.

“Vincent, do you want me to call someone else? The girls?”

“No. Sophia and Clara shouldn’t know anything about this,” he responded quickly. Then, after a moment of silence, he added, “Not until we know everything is under control.”

Anthony nodded, though he didn’t entirely agree.

“They’ll understand if we tell them, Vincent. She’s their mother…”

“And they’re my daughters. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect them from this, understood?” The firmness in Vincent’s voice left no room for argument.

Hours passed endlessly. Every minute that ticked by felt like a blow to the chest. Vincent paced back and forth in the waiting room, while Anthony and Samuel tried to keep him calm.

Finally, a doctor emerged from the operating room, his expression grave. Vincent was the first to approach, almost lunging at him.

“How is she?”

“The surgery is ongoing. We managed to stabilize her momentarily, but the bullet damaged an artery, and there were complications with her blood pressure. She’s fighting, but I can’t guarantee anything yet.”

The doctor’s words fell like a heavy weight on Vincent. His jaw tightened as Anthony placed a hand on his shoulder for support.

“She’s strong, Vincent. If anyone can pull through, it’s Elena.”

Vincent nodded, but his gaze was distant. All he could do was wait, a task he had always hated, especially when he couldn’t do anything to change the course of events.

Meanwhile, at home, Sophia and Clara sat in the living room, unaware of what was happening. Vincent and Anthony’s prolonged absence had begun to unsettle them, but neither dared to voice their thoughts aloud.

“Do you think Dad is okay?” Clara finally asked, breaking the silence.

“He must be busy with something important,” Sophia replied, trying to sound calm, though her tone betrayed her concern. “You know how he is, always caught up in work or helping someone.”

Clara didn’t respond, but the doubt in her eyes said everything Sophia needed to know.

Back at the hospital, the lights in the operating room remained on, a sign that Elena’s battle wasn’t over. Vincent, sitting with his head in his hands, replayed every moment he had spent with her—from the day he met her to that terrible instant when he saw her fall wounded.

He couldn’t lose her. Not now, not after getting her back.

Suddenly, the doctor returned. His expression was calmer, though still tense.

“The surgery is over. We managed to stop the bleeding, but her condition remains critical. The next few days will be decisive.”

Vincent closed his eyes, letting out a shaky sigh. It wasn’t the news he had hoped for, but at least all wasn’t lost.

“Can I see her?”

“Only for a few minutes.”

Vincent entered the room where Elena lay connected to several monitors. Her face was pale, and her body seemed fragile under the white sheets, but she was still breathing.

He approached slowly, carefully taking her hand.

“I’m here, Elena. I’m not going anywhere. And neither are you, understood? You have to stay. For me, for our daughters… for everything we still have left to live.”

Elena didn’t respond, but Vincent didn’t need words. He knew she could hear him, that she was fighting with all her strength.

Minutes later, he left the room, his heart heavier than ever. Anthony and Samuel were waiting for him in the hallway.

“And now?” Samuel asked.

“Now, we wait. But if those bastards try anything else, they’ll regret not finishing me too.”

His words were a promise. No one would endanger his family again, not even if he had to face hell itself to protect them.

In Anthony’s mansion, the room was dimly lit, illuminated only by the soft glow of a desk lamp. Sophia paced back and forth with the baby in her arms, trying to calm him. Derek sat on the couch, lost in his own thoughts, while Marco checked the perimeter from a nearby window. The tension in the air was palpable.

Clara sat on the edge of her bed, staring intently at her phone as if waiting for a message that wouldn’t come. Finally, she let out an exasperated sigh and stood up.

“I’m going out,” she announced, without looking at anyone in particular.

Sophia turned quickly toward her, an incredulous expression on her face.

“What? Where do you think you’re going at this hour?”

Clara rolled her eyes, already anticipating her sister’s reaction.

“I’m just going out for a bit, Sophia. Don’t be dramatic. I need to clear my head.”

Sophia frowned, approaching her with the baby still in her arms.

“Clara, this isn’t the time to ‘clear your head.’ Dad left us in charge while he’s away. We can’t risk going out, especially now when we don’t know what’s really going on.”

Clara scoffed, crossing her arms.

“Dad is overreacting. He always acts like we’re living in some kind of spy movie. I’m not going to stay locked up here just because he thinks there’s some invisible danger lurking around.”

“And what if there is?” Sophia shot back, raising her voice slightly, though trying not to startle the baby. “Clara, you don’t know what’s at stake.”

“The only thing I know is that Alex is waiting for me, and I’m not going to stand him up again,” Clara said firmly, grabbing her bag from the back of a chair.

“Alex Morán? Are you serious?” Sophia asked in disbelief. “Clara, that guy can’t be trusted. I already told you to stay away from him.”

Clara turned on her heel to face her, a mix of defiance and frustration in her gaze.

“Dad doesn’t know anything about Alex. He just judges by appearances, as always. But Alex knows something about Mom, and I need to find out, understand?”

“What do you think will happen if Dad finds out about this?” Sophia asked, trying to keep her composure as the baby started to stir in her arms. “Clara, please think this through. You can’t trust him, especially now.”

Clara shook her head, gripping the door handle with determination.

“I’m not staying here just because you’re scared. Besides, Marco’s here. What could possibly go wrong?”

Sophia moved quickly, blocking the door with her body.

“Clara, I’m not letting you go. If anything happens to you, how do you think Dad would feel? How do you think I would feel?”

Clara hesitated for a moment, but then her expression hardened.

“You can’t control me, Sophia. I’m not a child.”

Sophia sighed, her voice trembling as she tried to reason with her.

“Clara, please, stay. Just this once.”

But Clara didn’t respond. With a determined motion, she opened the door and left, leaving Sophia standing there, feeling powerless.

“Clara!” Sophia shouted, but her sister had already disappeared down the hall.

Marco approached, alarmed by the shouting.

“What happened?”

Sophia pressed her lips together, trying to hold back tears.

“Clara left.”

Marco frowned and grabbed his jacket.

“I’m going after her. Don’t worry, Sophia. I won’t leave her alone.”

Sophia nodded, a lump forming in her throat as Marco hurried out. She closed the door and sank into a chair, holding the baby tightly.

“Please, Clara, come back safe,” she whispered, feeling the weight of the situation crushing her.

Meanwhile, Clara walked through the dark streets, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and rebellion. She knew she was breaking the rules, but she couldn’t ignore the urge to see Alex, to escape, if only for a moment, from the constant pressure she felt at home.

However, deep in her mind, a small voice warned her that she was playing with fire—and that this meeting could change everything.