Chapter 265

"Both," Lyanna said with a smile, patting her on the back. "Alright, stop wandering around here. Go check if Serena's awake. By the time you're back, Eloise should be just about done with the infusion. Pacing around a hundred times isn't going to help anyone — you might as well do something useful."

Sophia lifted her head from Lyanna's shoulder and finally smiled.

She stood up and took a couple of steps toward the bedroom, then stopped and looked back at Lyanna.

Lyanna waved her off.

Sophia nodded and turned into the bedroom.

Serena had just woken up. She was lying in her crib with her bright little eyes wide open, kicking her chubby legs in the air and humming softly to herself.

Sophia leaned down and picked her up — a soft, warm little bundle pressed against her chest, tiny fingers instinctively curling around her collar.

When Sophia carried Serena back to the living room, Nicholas was standing by the window.

He was holding his phone up in front of him, the screen lit up, and a video call was already connected.

Eloise's face appeared on the screen. Her face was small and delicate, her hair tucked under a pale blue cap, but she was grinning widely at the camera, holding up her little hand in a peace sign.

Nicholas handed the phone to Sophia.

Sophia took it, and Eloise immediately said with excitement, "Mommy, the nurse said after Eloise gets this shot, she can see Mommy in a few days — is that true?"

Sophia felt tears rush to her eyes.

She blinked hard, forcing them back, and smiled. "It's true. After this shot, Eloise just needs a few more days of observation, and then you can come out and see Mommy."

On the other end of the screen, Eloise shook her little head happily, then suddenly straightened up and said with great seriousness, "Then Mommy, you wait for Eloise. Eloise will be right there."

Sophia tilted the phone closer so Serena could be in the frame, too.

Serena let out a little sound and waved her pudgy hand in the air, as if she recognized her sister.

Eloise gasped. "The baby can talk now!"

"Not yet — your sister is only two months old," Sophia said, laughing.

"Then what did she say?"

Sophia looked down at Serena, who was drooling and grinning at the screen, and translated for her with full sincerity: "She said, you've got this, big sister."

Eloise nodded firmly.

"Don't worry, Serena. I'll do my best."

After the call ended, Sophia put Serena back in her crib and went to stand by the window again.

Nicholas walked over and stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

The two of them stood there together, looking out at the building across the street.

The late winter sun had finally risen all the way, spreading a thin, pale light across everything.

Sophia suddenly tightened her grip on Nicholas's hands. "Grandma just told me that when I was little, I cried so hard getting shots that the whole floor could hear me."

Nicholas smiled slightly. "Then Eloise definitely didn't get that from you."

Sophia tilted her head and rubbed her cheek against his jaw.

"But Serena might have. Just wait — when she gets her vaccines, you're going to have a rough time."

Nicholas let out a quiet laugh and pulled her a little closer.

Outside, the sky kept getting brighter. Across the street, the window on Eloise's floor was still and quiet. Inside, the nurses were making their final preparations.

The infusion was about to begin.

Sophia closed her eyes and said something silently to herself.

You've got this, Eloise.

Mommy is here. I'm always here.

Two weeks passed in the blink of an eye, and it was finally time for Eloise to leave the isolation unit.

Sophia hung up after the hospital called to say they could come see Eloise. She stood in the living room in a daze for a long moment — and then suddenly crouched down, buried her face in her knees, and her shoulders began to shake.

Nicholas walked over and crouched beside her, gently stroking the back of her head.

It took her a while to come back to herself. When she did, her face broke into a wide, tearful smile, and she jumped into action.

She nursed Serena, then changed her into a fresh little outfit.

The pale yellow onesie Serena was wearing today had been picked out by Lyanna, who had said they needed to dress festively to bring Eloise home.

Sophia held Serena and stood in front of the mirror. Her own dress was in the same color family — they matched nicely.

Eloise loves this color too, Sophia thought. But she'd been in there for a month, and who knew how much she'd changed — whether she'd grown taller, how her size had shifted. Better to wait until they saw her, and then buy her a little dress in the same color.

Before Eloise was brought out, the doctor called them into his office.

"Eloise's recovery has been going very well."

He got straight to the point the moment they walked in.

"The stem cells from the infusion have successfully engrafted. The new cells are functioning normally in her body. Based on the current data, the transplant was a success."

Sophia was shaking with emotion.

"That's wonderful, that's so wonderful..."

More than a year. They had finally made it to this day.

"However," the doctor said, his tone shifting, "there's something I need to be clear with you about. The stem cell transplant is only the first step. The next twelve months are the most critical observation period."

Sophia held her breath.

The doctor walked them through the details carefully.

"During this time, Eloise's immune system will still be very fragile. She'll be far more susceptible to infections than a healthy child, and there's still a risk of rejection. Even a common cold could be a serious setback for her. So for the next twelve months, Eloise needs to be extremely careful. Regular check-ups, medications on schedule, avoiding crowded places, watching what she eats — none of that can be taken lightly."

Sophia nodded hard.

"One more thing," the doctor added. "If Eloise shows any signs that something is off — fever, rash, diarrhea, low energy — contact me right away. Don't wait. Even if it's the middle of the night, don't delay."

He finished, looked at them both, and smiled.

"That said, try not to worry too much. Eloise has a solid foundation, and the transplant went very smoothly. If you get through this year carefully, she'll be able to live just like any other child — go to school, run around, travel, do whatever she wants. Congratulations."

The moment the doctor finished speaking, Sophia nearly burst into tears on the spot.

A nurse knocked softly on the door. "Mr. Jackson, Mrs. Jackson. Eloise is ready to come out. You can go meet her now."

Sophia spun around and rushed out.

Nicholas shook his head with a helpless smile, gripped his cane, and followed close behind.

At last, after everyone had been waiting and watching, the doors opened.

Eloise was wheeled out in a wheelchair.

The moment Sophia saw her, the tears came.

The little girl who had gone in with chubby, round cheeks had lost enough weight that her jawline was now clearly defined, which made her already large, grape-dark eyes look even bigger.

But she'd grown taller. And her skin was a little lighter than before.

Sophia rushed forward and pulled Eloise into her arms.

"Eloise — Mommy missed you so much!"