Chapter 109
The nurses arrived quickly, trying to calm Laura as Morgan stepped back a few paces, visibly shaken. He ran his hands through his hair, struggling to think clearly amid her despair.
"Laura, please, you need to calm down. You’re not helping anyone like this," he said, his voice firm yet filled with emotion. He hesitated before stepping closer again. "I promise I’ll find Miran. But you need to trust me right now—you need to rest."
Laura paused for a moment, her swollen, tear-filled eyes meeting Morgan's. There was a flicker of hope there, but it was overshadowed by immense pain. "What if it’s too late? What if he...?" Her voice cracked, unable to finish the sentence.
Morgan knelt by her bedside, gently taking her hand. "I won’t let that happen. He’s out there, and I’ll bring him back, no matter what it takes. But I need you to trust me, Laura. Do you trust me?"
She hesitated, panic still evident on her face, but Morgan’s sincerity seemed to reach her. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing mind. "I trust you," she whispered, though her voice was tinged with fear.
The nurses seized the moment to adjust the equipment and administer a mild sedative while Morgan stayed by Laura’s side, keeping his gaze locked with hers, serving as her anchor.
As Laura began to relax, one of the nurses approached Morgan and spoke in a low tone: "She needs rest. For now, it’s best to let her sleep. We’ll take care of her."
Morgan stood up slowly, his eyes lingering on Laura as she finally succumbed to exhaustion and the effects of the sedative. Leaving the room, he felt the weight of her words and the urgency of his mission pressing down on him.
In the hallway, he pulled out his phone and quickly dialing a number. As soon as the call connected, he said firmly, "I need you, Matteo. It’s about Miran. Meet me now."
"Who’s Miran?" Matteo asked again, his voice filled with suspicion and frustration.
"He’s my son."
On the other end of the line, Matteo gasped, completely caught off guard. "What are you talking about?" he demanded, his tone now laced with incredulity.
"Miran isn’t Nick’s son," Morgan confessed, his voice firmer this time. "He’s my son, Matteo. He always has been. And I need you to find him. Urgently."
"I’ll gather everyone," Matteo replied without hesitation. "Don’t worry, Morgan. We’ll find Miran. He’s your son, and that means we won’t hold back."
\---
Morgan took a deep breath before stepping into the waiting room, feeling the weight of the revelation and the responsibility on his shoulders. As he entered, all eyes turned to him—Nona, Daniel, Owen, and Fabian. The room fell silent, filled with anticipation.
He approached them slowly, his expression weary but resolute. "I told her everything," he said firmly. "She was completely shaken. She had to be sedated."
Nona covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes brimming with tears. "My God," she whispered, a mix of shock and relief in her voice. "For my granddaughter’s happiness. But what do we do now, Morgan?"
Before he could respond, Fabian rose abruptly, tension radiating from him. "You need to find Nick," he said sharply. "He’s the key to this, Morgan. We can’t waste any more time."
"Fabian’s right," Daniel agreed, his expression grave. "We can’t sit here while that psychopath has my nephew."
"I’m coming with you," Owen chimed in, his voice calm but firm. He locked eyes with Morgan. "Given the situation, you’ll need all the help you can get."
Fabian crossed his arms, his eyes fixed on Morgan. "Keep us updated on everything, Morgan. We can’t afford any mistakes now."
Morgan nodded, his gaze sweeping across each of them. "I promise. We’ll bring Miran back. And this time, I won’t fail him."
The room fell into a brief silence, the weight of the situation settling over everyone. Nona stood slowly, wiping her tears as she placed a firm hand on Morgan’s shoulder. "Bring my great-grandson home, Morgan. Do whatever it takes."
He nodded once more, feeling the gravity of her words. It was time to act. No more doubts, no more delays.
\---
Loren felt the exhaustion weighing heavily on her shoulders as she finally arrived home. The hospital had drained her, both physically and emotionally. As she walked through the yard, her eyes narrowed at the sight of a confident-looking blonde woman observing the surroundings curiously.
"Who are you?" Loren asked bluntly, lowering her sunglasses to scrutinize the stranger.
The woman smiled, seemingly unbothered by Loren’s cold reception. "Hi, I’m Mandy. I’m Juan’s fiancée and Matias’s niece."
"I see," Loren replied curtly, her eyes scanning Mandy from head to toe. "And what are you doing here?"
Before Mandy could answer, the back door opened, and Matias entered with Juan close behind. Juan’s face lit up at the sight of Mandy, and he walked straight to her, giving her a quick, affectionate kiss.
"My love," Juan said, while Loren crossed her arms, her expression darkening at the sight.
Matias immediately noticed the shift in Loren’s demeanor and stepped in. "Ma’am, my niece came here to help around the house. I thought it might be useful since you mentioned needing assistance. I’m not sure if you remember."
Loren raised an eyebrow, her gaze resting on Matias for a moment before responding. "I needed a nanny, but my daughter is in the hospital. If you want to stay, be useful and support the household."
"Yes, ma’am, of course," Mandy quickly replied, trying to sound helpful.
"Good," Loren said, turning to head inside. "Excuse me. I need to rest."
Without waiting for a response, Loren climbed the stairs and entered her room, shutting the door behind her. She collapsed onto the bed, exhaustion finally taking over. Yet, even as she closed her eyes, Mandy’s face and Juan’s smile lingered in her mind, sparking an irritation she couldn’t quite explain.
\---
The night had fully enveloped the house in silence when Loren opened her eyes, feeling slightly disoriented. She picked up her phone from the bedside table and saw that it was already 11 PM. Time had slipped away without her noticing.
With a worried expression, she checked her notifications, hoping for a message from Morgan. Nothing. No missed calls, no texts. A slight pang of unease crept into her chest, but she brushed it off, attributing the silence to the chaotic day.
Loren got up slowly, her body still heavy with accumulated fatigue. She walked into the bathroom, turned on the light, and let the shower run for a few seconds before stepping in.
The warm water was an immediate relief, washing away not just the physical exhaustion, but some of the emotions weighing on her. As the water cascaded down her face, Loren closed her eyes, trying to piece together her scattered thoughts.
After a few minutes, she turned off the shower, wrapped herself in a towel, and headed back to her bedroom. As she got dressed, her eyes flickered to the phone on the bed again. Something told her that this night wouldn’t end peacefully.