Chapter 222

EVE

I followed Julie to an upscale building on the Upper East Side, staying far enough back to avoid detection. When Logan emerged from his Lexus, my skin crawled. Julie rushed to him, their embrace intimate and practiced.

The memory hit me hard—Logan cornering me during my college internship at the station, his hands "accidentally" brushing against me, suggesting private meetings for "career advancement."

Now watching him kiss Julie deeply before disappearing into the building together, I realized why she seemed so confident. If Logan thought her baby was his, he'd do anything to protect them both.

I snapped several photos, my hands steady despite my racing thoughts.

The sharp rap on my window made me jump. Sean stood beside my car, expression dark.

"Get out," he said, voice dangerously low.

"Sean—"

"Now, Eve."

I grabbed my purse and stepped out. He immediately pulled me against him, arms wrapping tight around me.

"Noah's already sick, and you decide to play detective?" His whisper was harsh against my hair. "What the hell were you thinking?"

His body was rigid with anger, but his racing heart betrayed his fear.

"I need to find who's behind this," I said. "Noah won't be safe until I do."

Sean gripped my shoulders, eyes boring into mine. "And what happens to him if something happens to you? These people poisoned our son. You think they'd hesitate to hurt you?"

For a moment, I glimpsed the Sean from before – before prison hardened him.

"Is Noah okay?" My voice cracked.

"He's asking for you." Sean guided me toward his car. "From now on, you don't go anywhere alone. Not until this is over."

He stopped me before I could get in, fingers gently lifting my chin. "When this is done, I'll make them pay for every tear Noah has shed. But right now, he needs us both alive and present."

The drive to the clinic was silent. Sean's knuckles white on the steering wheel. Before we arrived, he finally spoke.

"Eve."

Just my name. Nothing more. But it made my heart race.

"When I'm done handling some things, I'll come back for you and Noah. Don't disappear again."

His voice brooked no argument, but I heard the worry underneath.

"Be careful," I managed as he dropped me off. "Whoever's behind this has resources."

A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "So do I."

I found Noah connected to monitors, his small body swallowed by the hospital bed. Even asleep, his brows furrowed in pain. I brushed his hair back, remembering him as a newborn – red-faced and screaming with life.

My phone buzzed with Grace's FaceTime call. I stepped into the hallway to answer.

"Mommy!" Her face filled the screen, gap-toothed smile making my heart ache. "You forgot to call me again! Do you love my brother more now?"

"Grace Carter Winters," I scolded gently. "I could never love anyone more than I love you."

"Then why aren't you calling me?" She pouted dramatically. "I miss you sooooo much."

My throat tightened. "I miss you too, baby."

"When are you coming home?"

I hesitated. "Your brother is sick, Gracie."

Her eyes widened. "Noah's sick? With a tummy ache?"

"No, sweetie. He has leukemia. It's a blood disease."

"Is it super bad?" Her voice went tiny. "Will he die?"

"No," I said firmly. "Daddy and I are finding special medicine to help him."

"What medicine?"

"He needs bone marrow from someone whose blood matches his."

Grace's face brightened. "Use mine! I'm his sister!"

Tears sprang to my eyes. "It's not that simple. Not everyone matches, even sisters and brothers."

"But we're super duper close!" Grace insisted. "I'm his big sister! My blood will totally work!"

I blinked back tears. "We're testing lots of people."

"Test me too," she demanded. "Promise?"

"I promise, sweetie."

After hanging up, I went looking for Dr. Cole. As I approached his office, a platinum men's ring rolled from under the door. I picked it up just as Ashley stepped out, straightening her blouse.

"Eve," she said, quickly composed. "How's Noah today?"

I held up the ring. "I think Dr. Cole dropped this."

Ashley took it without embarrassment. "It's his. Thanks." She pocketed it. "Don't look shocked. Cole and I aren't actually related by blood."

"I didn't—"

"His father married my mother when we were teenagers," she explained. "People always assume we're hiding something."

Ashley handed me a business card. "If you need someone to talk to about what you're going through, my practice specializes in trauma and family crisis."

After she left, I returned to Noah's room, holding his tiny hand in mine until exhaustion pulled me under.

I woke to Grace calling again.

"Mommy! I figured it out!" Her voice bubbled with excitement. "White blood cells make the marrow stuff! You need to get mine for Noah!"

"Where did you learn about white blood cells?"

"I googled it! If Noah needs bone marrow, he can have mine! We're super close siblings!"

My heart broke at her determination. "The doctors have to test to see if yours would work."

"Mine WILL work," she insisted with unwavering eight-year-old confidence. "I know it! I'm his SISTER!"

After hanging up, I sat in the hallway, tears streaming down my face. The weight of everything crashed over me.

"Why are you sitting here crying alone?"

Sean stood in the hallway, suit jacket gone, tie loosened. His expression softened seeing my tears.

"Grace called," I whispered. "She wants to donate her bone marrow. She's so certain she can save him."

Sean sat beside me, shoulder touching mine. "I've stabilized SkyEve for now. Called in favors, secured emergency funding."

"Is it enough?"

"It buys us time." His eyes moved toward Noah's room. "But finding a bone marrow match is all that matters now."

We watched our son sleep, machines beeping their reassurance that he fought on.

"I'll find him a match," I promised, stroking Noah's hair. "Whatever it takes."

During the drive home, Sean explained about Ashley and Cole.

"No blood relation whatsoever," he said.

"Ashley mentioned Cole might be getting engaged."

Sean nodded. "To a woman his father selected. Basically a business merger. Cole says she's being paid to report his every move back to daddy."

Back at the penthouse, while Sean showered, I checked his phone. What I found made my blood run cold.

A text from the bone marrow coordinator: "Mr. Winters, we've found a perfect bone marrow match for Noah. 10/10 HLA markers. It's Lucas James. Unfortunately, he's refusing to donate. Says he won't discuss it further."

Lucas. Sean's college roommate.

I dialed his number immediately.

"Eve," Lucas answered, voice ice cold. "It's late."

"I need your help," I said, swallowing my pride.

"Fascinating. Sean said the same thing this afternoon. Actually came to my office."

My heart sank. "He asked you to donate?"

"He did more than ask. Your husband practically begged." Lucas's tone dripped satisfaction. "Never thought I'd see the day."

"Lucas, please. Noah is dying."

"And why should I care? He's nothing to me."

"What do you want?" I asked desperately. "Money? SkyEve shares? Name your price."

Lucas laughed softly. "Still thinking everything has a price tag."

"Then what? Tell me."

His voice dropped lower. "I want you to divorce Sean. Then marry me instead."

My breath caught. "What?"