Chapter 161 CHAPTER 161

Chapter 161 CHAPTER 161
CHAPTER 161
THIRD PERSON'S POV

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the city as Kieran's car navigated the familiar route home. He had gone to his office after dropping Elysia at home as he got some urgent work, and now he was returning, his mind already at the lake house, already with Elysia and Hope.

The trial had been consuming, the threats a constant shadow, but today he had felt a pull to be home, to be with his family.

The radio played softly in the background, a familiar melody that seemed to mock the tension in his chest. He had been thinking about Elysia, about the weight she was carrying, the fear she was trying to hide.

He had seen it in her eyes the night before, the way she had clung to him, the way her body had trembled in his arms.

He had promised to protect her. To protect their family. And he intended to keep that promise.

The road ahead was clear, the traffic light, the sky a pale autumn blue. He allowed himself a moment of peace, a brief respite from the chaos that had consumed their lives.

He never saw the truck coming.

It slammed into the driver's side of his car with a force that seemed to shake the very earth. Glass shattered, metal screamed, and the world spun into a blur of pain and darkness.

The impact was catastrophic. The truck had come out of nowhere, its driver a faceless blur behind the wheel. Kieran's car was pushed across the road, crumpling against a lamppost with a sickening crunch.

The last thing he heard was the screech of twisting metal. The last thing he felt was the searing pain in his head, his chest, his limbs. Then everything went black.

Elysia was in the living room, her laptop open, reviewing her notes. The afternoon sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm golden glow across the room.

Hope was playing on the floor nearby, her voice a soft murmur as she talked to her dolls. Sophie was curled at her feet, her tail occasionally thumping against the floor.

It was a scene of domestic peace, a stark contrast to the storm that was about to break.

Her phone buzzed. She glanced at it, her heart tightening. It was a message from an unknown number. She opened it, her blood running cold.

You should have backed off when you had the chance. Now you'll pay the price.

Her hands trembled as she read the words. Kane. It had to be Kane. He was sending her a warning, a threat. The words echoed in her mind, a chilling reminder of the danger that lurked in the shadows.

Before she could respond, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was William.

Her heart raced as she answered. "Will? What's wrong?"

William's voice was strained, his words tumbling out in a rush. "Sia, there's been an accident. Kieran, his car…a truck hit him. They're taking him to the hospital now. I'm on my way. You need to come. Now."

Elysia's world stopped.

The phone slipped from her hand, clattering to the floor. Her vision blurred, the edges of her sight going dark. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't think. All she could see was Kieran's face, hear his voice, feel his arms around her.

"Mama?" Hope's voice cut through the haze. She had heard the noise, her face a mask of confusion and fear. "Mama, what's wrong?"

Elysia blinked, forcing herself to focus. She couldn't fall apart. Not now. Not in front of Hope. She knelt down, pulling her daughter into her arms.

"Sweetheart, we need to go to the hospital. Papa's been in an accident. We need to be with him."

Hope's eyes widened, her voice trembling. "Is Papa going to be okay?"

Elysia's heart shattered. She didn't know. She couldn't promise. But she had to be strong. "I don't know, sweetheart. But we're going to be with him. We're going to be there for him."

The drive to the hospital was a blur. Elysia's hands were trembling on the steering wheel, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. Hope sat in the back seat, her small hand reaching forward to touch her mother's shoulder.

"It's okay, Mama!" Hope said, her voice soft. "Papa's strong. He's going to be okay."

Elysia nodded, unable to speak. She focused on the road, on getting to the hospital, on being there for Kieran.

The hospital was in chaos. The emergency room was crowded, the air thick with tension. Elysia rushed through the doors, Hope in her arms, her eyes scanning the waiting room.

William was there, his face pale, his jaw tight. He rushed to her, pulling her into a hug.

"Sia, they're operating on him now. He's in surgery. They're doing everything they can."

Elysia's legs buckled, but William caught her, steadying her. "He's going to be okay. He's strong. You know how strong he is."

She nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "What happened? How bad is it?"

William's face was grim. "A truck hit his car. The driver fled the scene. It looks like it was deliberate. Sia, I think Kane did this. I think this was him."

Elysia's blood ran cold. The message. The threat. It had been a warning. And now Kieran was paying the price.

Her parents arrived moments later, their faces etched with worry. Thomas pulled her into a hug, his voice gruff with emotion. "We're here, sweetheart. We're all here."

Elizabeth took Hope into her arms, her voice gentle. "Come here, sweetheart. Let's sit down. Let's wait together."

Sarah appeared beside them, her face pale, her hand resting holding Samuel as he was in her arms, his eyes wide with confusion. "Elysia, we're here for you. Whatever you need."

Elysia nodded, her throat tight. She couldn't speak. She could only wait.

The hours stretched, each minute an eternity. Nurses rushed in and out of the operating room, their faces tense, their voices urgent. Each time the doors swung open, Elysia's heart leaped, hoping for news, dreading what she might hear.

At one point, a nurse emerged, her face drawn, her voice sharp with urgency. "We need more blood. He's lost a lot. We're doing everything we can."

Elysia's knees felt weak, and William noticed it as he pulled her to sit beside him. "He's strong. He's going to make it."

Another nurse rushed past, her arms full of supplies. "The head wound is severe. We need to control the swelling. Prepare for possible complications."

Elizabeth's face was pale, her voice barely a whisper. "Head wound? What does that mean?"

No one answered. The nurse was already gone, swallowed by the chaos of the operating room.

Thomas paced the waiting room, his hands clenched at his sides. William stood by the window, his jaw tight, his eyes fixed on the parking lot below.

Elizabeth sat with Hope in her arms, her voice a soft murmur of reassurance. Sarah held Samuel, her face pale, her eyes fixed on the doors.

Elysia sat apart, her hands clasped in her lap, her gaze fixed on the doors that led to the operating room. She couldn't think, couldn't breathe. All she could do was wait.

The minutes stretched into hours. The sun set, the room growing dark. The fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting harsh shadows on the pale faces of the waiting family.

Finally, the doors swung open. A doctor emerged, his face tired, his eyes weary. His scrubs were stained with blood, his expression one of careful neutrality.

Elysia rose, her heart pounding. "Dr. Martin!" She said, her voice trembling. "How is he?"

The doctor met her gaze, his voice measured. "He's stable. We've stopped the bleeding and repaired the damage. But he lost a lot of blood, and he has a severe head injury. He's in a coma, Miss Castello. We don't know when he'll wake up."

The words echoed in her mind, hollow and meaningless. Coma. Head injury. Don't know when he'll wake up.

Her vision blurred. The room tilted. She opened her mouth to speak, to ask the questions that burned in her throat. But the world went dark, her knees buckling as her body gave out.

William caught her before she could fall, his arms steadying her. "Sia! Sia, can you hear me?"

But Elysia was gone, swallowed by the darkness.