Chapter 189 ***

Chapter 189 ***

Maria Styles

Present Day

The moment I leave Ethan's room, I pause outside the door and close my eyes for a brief second. Seeing him lying there so peacefully after everything that has happened fills me with relief, yet my heart still refuses to settle completely. I brush away the remaining tears from my face before turning to find Joseph waiting quietly for me in the hallway.

Joseph immediately notices the question forming on my face before I even speak. He slips one hand into mine and gently squeezes it. I searched his expression for several long seconds before finally finding the courage to ask.

"How's Avery?" My voice comes out much softer than I intend, almost afraid of the answer.

Joseph gives me a reassuring nod before replying, "She's alright. The doctors examine her thoroughly. Apart from exhaustion and shock, she's stable... and the baby is perfectly fine."

A breath I don't realize I have been holding finally escapes my lips. I press my hand against my chest and whisper a quiet prayer of gratitude before looking back toward Ethan's room one last time.

"I'll go and see her," I tell Joseph.

"She'll wake up looking for Ethan before anything else." Joseph nods understandingly, knowing Avery well enough to realize that no amount of reassurance from the nurses will calm her the way hearing from us will.

Before leaving, I step back inside Ethan's room once more. He remains asleep, his breathing steady and peaceful beneath the quiet rhythm of the monitoring equipment. I move beside the bed and gently wrap my fingers around his hand again, rubbing my thumb softly across his knuckles the same way I have ever since he was a little boy.

Leaning closer, I kiss the back of his hand and smile through the lingering moisture in my eyes.

"You rest now," I whisper lovingly.

"Mom is right here, and when you wake up, your family will be waiting for you. You don't have to carry everything by yourself anymore."

I allow myself one last affectionate look before carefully placing his hand back on the blanket.

When I reach Avery's room, I gently push the door open without making a sound. Avery is asleep beneath the blankets, her face unusually pale even in the gentle light. Despite everything she has endured, one hand rests instinctively over her stomach, almost as though she continues protecting her baby even in her sleep. The sight alone makes my heart ache.

I quietly walk over and sit beside her bed. For several moments, I simply watch her. Looking at her now, I cannot help thinking that life has demanded far too much from someone with such a good heart. Very gently, I brush a loose strand of hair away from her face. My fingers lightly stroke the top of her head.

"You deserve so much happiness," I murmur, more to myself than anyone else.

"You've already suffered enough, sweetheart."

Perhaps she hears my voice.

Perhaps she simply senses someone beside her.

Either way, her eyelashes flutter before her eyes slowly begin opening. Confusion clouds her expression for a moment until she notices me sitting beside the bed. She immediately attempts to push herself upright, but I quickly place a hand behind her shoulders to help her sit comfortably against the pillows.

"Easy," I say gently. "Don't rush."

The moment she settles, panic immediately replaces the sleepiness in her eyes.

"Ethan?" she asks hurriedly. "How is he? Is he awake? Did the surgery work? Can I see him? Is he alright?"

The questions come so quickly that I almost smile despite everything.

I take both of her hands in mine before answering.

"The operation went well."

She freezes.

"The doctors are pleased with how everything turns out. He's still sleeping because of the medication, but they're optimistic. Now we're simply waiting for him to wake up."

Her entire body visibly relaxes. Fresh tears immediately fill her eyes.

"Thank God," she whispers shakily.

I gently squeeze her hands.

"He'll need time to recover, but he's strong. You know that better than anyone."

She nods repeatedly while trying unsuccessfully to stop herself from crying. I hand her a tissue from the bedside table and patiently wait until she gathers herself again. Just as I expect, the next question leaves her lips almost immediately.

"My mother?"

I look at her kindly.

"The last thing I remember..." she says quietly, searching her memory. "I was in the ambulance... after that... everything becomes blurry."

I stroke the back of her hand reassuringly.

"She's receiving treatment as well."

Avery's eyes widen.

"She’s alive? The explosion…"

I nod.

"Yes. She's resting, and the doctors are taking very good care of her. Recovery will take time, but she's in safe hands now."

The relief that washes across Avery's face is almost overwhelming.

She covers her mouth with both hands before finally breaking down into quiet sobs. I move closer without hesitation and wrap an arm around her shoulders, allowing her to cry as long as she needs. Sometimes comfort does not come through words. Sometimes simply letting someone know they are no longer carrying everything alone is enough.

After several minutes, Avery slowly lifts her head.

"It's all my fault."

I immediately shake my head.

"No."

"It is."

"No, sweetheart."

Her voice trembles.

"I panicked... and I signed the documents. Burton Foods..." She lowers her eyes miserably. "I handed everything over. Ethan trusted me with something so precious, and I lost it."

I gently cup her face, encouraging her to look at me.

"Listen to me carefully."

She hesitates before finally meeting my eyes.

"You made the best decision you could in an impossible situation. That doesn't make you weak."

"But…"

"No."

I smile gently, refusing to let her continue blaming herself.

"No company is worth more than the people we love. Businesses can be rebuilt. Contracts can be challenged. Mistakes can be corrected. What matters is that you and your baby are here."

She bites her lip.

"I still failed him."

"You didn’t."

I brush another strand of hair behind her ear.

"If Ethan were sitting here right now, do you honestly think he'd choose Burton Foods over you?"

She answers almost immediately.

"No."

"Exactly."

Silence settles between us again before I continue.

"So stop carrying guilt that doesn't belong to you."

Avery slowly nods, though I know it will take time before she truly believes my words. I gently pat her hair again before standing.

"You focus on resting now."

"What about Truman?"

I smile reassuringly.

"Leave everything else to us."

She looks uncertain.

"I mean it," I continue firmly. "Your only responsibility right now is recovering and taking care of yourself and that little one."

For the first time since I entered the room, a faint smile touched her lips.

If Truman believes he has won, then he is wrong because this time, he did not simply make an enemy of Ethan and Avery. He makes an enemy of a mother who will do everything within her power to protect her family, and I will not stop until every means available is used to make him answer for what he has done.