Chapter 247

Chapter 247

The three of them hadn't seen each other in ages, so the conversation flowed easily. Before long, the topic drifted to Kian.

Olivia took a sip of her coffee, her expression pure gossip.

"So, what do you guys think? Does Kian really love Chloe or not?"

She leaned back in her chair, thinking it over.

"For the past five years, his career's been on fire, but Chloe seems to be the only woman in his life. He won't marry her, but he won't break up with her either. They're just… stuck. What's that about?"

Zoe glanced cautiously at Elena. Seeing her completely unbothered, she relaxed and joined in.

"I've heard the same thing. Kian's stayed single all these years. No other women around except Chloe. She keeps calling herself Mrs. Lancaster, but he's never publicly acknowledged it. I really don't get those two."

The two of them went back and forth, their gossip picking up steam. Elena sat to the side, completely indifferent.

She took a small sip of her coffee, her tone casual.

"Who knows? Maybe he's just focused on work. No time for romance."

All she wanted now was to stay close to Nora, live a quiet life, and build her studio. That was enough.

Suddenly, Elena's phone started vibrating violently. The caller ID showed Linda, the nanny.

A bad feeling stirred in her chest. She quickly answered. "Linda, what's wrong?"

On the other end, Linda's voice came through frantic and tearful.

"Ms. Reed, something's happened! Nora collapsed at preschool! I've already called an ambulance—we're on our way to the hospital!"

"What?"

Elena's face went deathly pale. The coffee cup slipped from her hand and crashed onto the table, spilling everywhere.

Her whole body trembled. Her mind went blank. Her only thought: get to the hospital. See Nora.

Olivia and Zoe shot to their feet, steadying her. "Don't panic! We'll go with you!"

Elena didn't bother cleaning up. She grabbed her bag and bolted.

The three of them raced to the hospital and burst into the emergency room.

Following a nurse to the room, they found the attending doctor already waiting outside, his expression heavy.

The sight made Elena's anxiety spike. Her voice shook. "Doctor, how is my daughter? Why did she collapse?"

The doctor sighed, his tone grave.

"Ma'am, please stay calm."

"You delivered at our hospital before. I remember this child. She was premature, correct?"

Elena's face drained of color as she nodded.

Olivia and Zoe held her steady.

The doctor continued. "Her body was already fragile. Combined with a long-term underlying infection, she's developed acute aplastic anemia. The situation is serious."

"The most effective treatment is a hematopoietic stem cell transplant—specifically, cord blood. It has the highest match rate and the best chance of success."

"If we wait too long and her condition worsens, the consequences could be catastrophic."

The words "caused by premature birth" hit Elena like a sledgehammer.

For years, she'd been so careful with Nora, always worried the early delivery would catch up with her.

Elena's legs gave out. Her vision darkened. She nearly collapsed.

Olivia caught her arm, steadying her, eyes red. "Elena, it's okay! Don't worry—the doctor said there's a way!"

Elena looked at the doctor.

"Is there no other option?"

The doctor shook his head.

"The safest option is cord blood from a sibling. The match rate is highest, and it's the safest choice for Nora."

Elena's head buzzed. Everything felt chaotic.

She forced herself to stay upright and followed the doctor into the room. She just needed to see her daughter.

On the bed, Nora was awake. Her face was ghostly pale, lips cracked, her whole body so weak she could barely lift a hand.

But when she saw Elena, she still managed a small smile. Her voice was barely a whisper, but she tried to lighten the mood.

"Mommy, you're here. I'm okay. Just a little tired. I'll sleep it off. Don't worry."

Seeing her daughter force a smile tore Elena apart. Tears welled in her eyes.

She swallowed the pain and forced her lips into a curve.

"Mommy's here, Nora. Don't be scared. I'll stay with you. I'll make you better."

Elena held her tightly, one thought pounding in her mind:

No matter the cost, she would save Nora.

Outside the room, Zoe watched the mother and daughter embrace. She couldn't hold it in anymore. She turned and buried her face in Olivia's shoulder, tears streaming down.

"Olivia, look at Elena. She's been through so much."

"She's suffered so much, and just when things were getting better, this happens. How is she supposed to handle this?"

Olivia patted her back, her own eyes reddening.

"Don't cry. Now's not the time. Elena needs us. We have to be there for her and help her get through this."

Elena soothed Nora until she drifted into a deep sleep. Then she tiptoed out of the room, pulled out her phone, and with trembling hands, dialed Dr. White.

Dr. White had been looking after her and Nora for years.

Whenever he was on leave, he'd visit Astoria. Occasionally, he'd mention Arthur's condition. He was one of the few people she still trusted.

The call connected. Elena couldn't hold it together anymore. Through tears, she explained Nora's condition and the doctor's recommendation, her voice laced with despair.

"Dr. White, is there really no other way besides cord blood?"

A long silence followed. Dr. White's voice came through, helpless and regretful.

"Elena, I know this is incredibly hard. But with current medical technology, this is the only reliable option."

"The best way is for you and Mr. Lancaster to have another child. Use the newborn's cord blood to save Nora. Otherwise, Nora won't last long."

That sentence shattered her completely.

Kian. The name she'd deliberately avoided for five years. Now, he was her daughter's only hope.

She hung up and sank into a chair in the hallway, her body ice-cold, her heart drowning in despair and helplessness.

To ease her anxiety, she mindlessly scrolled through short videos on her phone.

But the algorithm seemed to mock her.

Every video was about late-stage aplastic anemia symptoms. The horrifying images made her tremble, tears streaming uncontrollably.

She couldn't wait. Nora couldn't wait. Nora was so young. She couldn't let anything happen to her.

Olivia and Zoe approached, their hearts aching at the sight of her.

Olivia crouched down, gripping her hand, her voice soft. "Elena, don't panic. We'll figure this out together. There's always a way."

Elena looked up, her eyes filled with determination. She wiped her tears, her voice steady.

"I've made up my mind. I'm going back."