Chapter 232

Chapter 232
SEAN

The hospital light cast shadows across Noah's small face. Dr. Cole checked his charts and nodded.

"The second round of immunotherapy has stabilized his condition," Dr. Cole said. "This would be the optimal time for a bone marrow transplant."

Eve squeezed my hand. I could feel her tension beneath her calm exterior.

"We should wait for a complete match," I said firmly.

"Mr. Winters, partial matches can be successful too," Cole argued. "Each week we delay increases the risks."

"I want the best for my son."

Eve moved closer. "Sean, maybe we should consider—"

"How's he doing?"

Lucas stood in the doorway, leaning slightly to his right. Though it had been nearly three weeks since the yacht explosion, his left arm remained in a medical sling. The healing burns along his neck were still visible, though the angry redness had faded somewhat. He'd lost weight during his hospital stay, his normally immaculate suit hanging slightly loose on his frame.

"Stable," I answered, surprised he'd made the effort to come here. "Should you be walking around? Your doctor said you needed at least another week of bed rest."

Lucas ignored my question, moving closer to the glass. His eyes focused intently on Noah. Something in his expression changed—softened. I'd known him long enough to recognize when memories were hitting him hard. Was he thinking about the child he almost had with Rebecca? The one they lost?

"I can donate bone marrow," Lucas said suddenly.

I stared at him. "What?"

"I said I can give him my bone marrow," Lucas repeated, turning to face me. His movement was careful, measured—clearly still in pain. "Not for free though. I have one condition."

My jaw clenched. Of course he wanted something. Lucas never did anything without getting something in return. I braced myself for some outrageous demand.

"Name it," I said coldly.

Lucas looked at Noah again, then back at me. "I want to be his godfather."

I blinked, caught off guard. "His... godfather?"

"Yeah." Lucas shrugged with his good shoulder, wincing slightly at even that small movement. "Someone needs to make sure he doesn't grow up as uptight as you."

Relief washed through me. I'd expected him to demand something impossible, but this—this was something I could live with.

"Deal," I said, extending my hand.

Lucas shook it firmly, our eyes meeting in silent understanding.

Later, as we walked slowly down the hallway—Lucas's pace still hampered by his injuries—I remembered something important.

"Eve received Rebecca's wedding invitation yesterday," I told him.

Lucas stumbled slightly before catching himself against the wall. "Yeah, I know."

"Are you going?"

"If time permits," he said too casually. I could tell he was working hard to keep his voice neutral. "Switzerland is nice this time of year."

I studied him as he stared straight ahead. His shoulders were tense, his jaw tight. I'd never seen Lucas so affected by anything. The playboy I'd known for years was gone.

"You still care about her," I said.

Lucas didn't answer right away. When he did, his voice was barely audible. "I just want her to be happy. To live without regrets or fear. She deserves that much."

I nodded, respecting his honesty. Despite everything between us, I understood that feeling all too well.

One week later, Noah came through surgery with flying colors. His tiny body had accepted Lucas's bone marrow with minimal rejection. The doctors were optimistic about his recovery.

Eve and I headed to Lucas's hospital room to thank him, but when we arrived, a nurse was changing the sheets.

"Where's Mr. James?" Eve asked.

The nurse looked up. "He checked out early this morning."

"Without saying goodbye?" Eve frowned.

I checked my watch and suddenly got it. "Today is Rebecca's wedding. He must have gone to Switzerland."

Eve's expression softened. "I hope he finds what he's looking for."

"Me too," I said, surprising myself with how much I meant it.

We returned to Noah's room where Dr. Cole was examining him. He smiled when he saw us.

"Your son is recovering remarkably well," he announced. "The surgery was a complete success."

Eve clutched my hand, tears filling her eyes. "Thank you, doctor. For everything."

As Cole left, Eve turned to me, her face suddenly serious. "Lucas and I are square now. Time to handle what's between us."

Early the next morning, we stood in New York City Hall. Eve wore a simple white suit that made her look stunning. I'd chosen a dark gray suit, freshly tailored. Morning light streamed through the windows as we signed the documents making us officially husband and wife—again.

As Eve signed her name, I leaned down and kissed her forehead. The clerk smiled.

"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Winters."

Eve squeezed my hand. "No turning back now."

"Never wanted to," I responded, meaning every word.

We hadn't planned any announcement, wanting to keep our remarriage private. But when we checked our phones later that day, they were blowing up with notifications.

"Sean," Eve called from the living room. "You need to see this."

I walked over to find her staring at her phone. On the screen was a post from SkyEve Group's official Instagram:

"SkyEve Group congratulates Mr. and Mrs. Winters on their marriage! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness! @Sunny_Carter"

Attached was a photo of our marriage certificate and another of us walking hand in hand, our backs to the camera.

"Did you tell them to do this?" Eve asked, eyebrows raised.

"No," I said, genuinely surprised. "But the photo isn't bad."

Eve scrolled through the comments. "Everyone's going crazy congratulating us."

Her phone pinged with another notification. Stevens Group had reposted the announcement with their own comment: "Wasn't our daughter already married to Mr. Winters?"

SkyEve Group had promptly replied: "They briefly separated but have now reconciled and remarried."

Eve's eyes widened. "They're connecting me to Sunny Carter. The secret's out."

I watched the social media frenzy unfold. #WintersWedding was trending.

"Are you mad?" I asked.

Eve thought for a moment, then laughed. "No. It feels right, actually. No more hiding."

She settled back on the sofa, and Potato immediately jumped onto her lap, purring loudly. I moved closer and scratched his orange head tenderly.

"The PR department deserves champagne for this," I decided. "And a bonus."

My phone buzzed with a WhatsApp message from Nathan:

"When did you get divorced? Why wasn't I told about this?"

I typed back: "It was a misunderstanding. Never want to hear that word again."

Nathan's response came quickly: "Guess I need to buy a second wedding gift then."

Meanwhile, Eve was on FaceTime with Natalie, who seemed even more excited than we were.

"So you actually got remarried?" Natalie practically screamed through the screen.

Eve laughed. "It's complicated. I'll tell you everything at our weekend get-together."

After Eve ended her call, I took her hand and slipped her diamond ring back onto her finger. The one she'd worn before everything fell apart.

"No taking it off again," I said firmly. "Mrs. Winters."

That evening, we cuddled on the sofa watching "Atonement." It was our favorite film, though Eve always cried at the ending. When Robbie and Cecilia's love story reached its tragic conclusion, tears slid down Eve's cheeks.

I gently wiped them away. "You've seen this movie a hundred times. You know how it ends."

"That's why it's sad," she whispered. "They deserved better."

I pulled her closer. "So did we. But unlike them, we got our second chance."