After a long night, Kiki’s fever finally broke.

Mika had sent her parents home. In the hospital room, only she and Kiki remained.

She reached out and caressed Kiki’s small face, then pressed a kiss to his cheek. Her eyes were filled with heartache and regret.

’If only she hadn’t fallen in love with Tristan Grayson back then. If only she hadn’t married him, how much better would things be...’

’Then her Kiki could have had a whole and happy family.’

Tristan Grayson had been waiting in the main hall. Only after he saw Joseph Summers and the others leave did he get up to find Mika.

He stopped at the door to the hospital room. Suddenly, his heart was filled with fear and panic. He snatched back his outstretched hand and turned to lean against the wall...

’Tristan, Tristan, what’s wrong with you? This isn’t like you at all. Why are you afraid? Why are you filled with such complex, conflicted, and agonizing emotions?’

He didn’t know how long he leaned against the wall before he could steady his nerves. When he finally pushed the door open, he saw the woman slumped over the edge of the bed, fast asleep.

He gently closed the door, walked over, and carefully lifted the woman. He then laid her down on the nearby sofa.

He stared at her, dazed, for several seconds before slowly looking away. He turned and walked to the hospital bed to look at Kiki, who was sleeping soundly. The corners of his lips curled up involuntarily. Back at the Grayson estate, he had never really taken a good look at the boy. Now, looking at him so closely, he realized how handsome Kiki was. His little nose and mouth were the spitting image of that woman’s. Just looking at him made you want to cover him in kisses...

And so, thinking this, Tristan did just that. He bent down and planted a kiss on Kiki’s cheek.

Perhaps because he hadn’t shaved in two days, the stubble from his kiss made Kiki start crying.

Ever since Kiki was born, Mika had become especially sensitive to the sound of a child crying. The moment she heard Kiki’s cry, she snapped awake. Seeing a dark figure standing before Kiki’s bed, she didn’t think twice. She shot up from the sofa and shoved the man hard. "What are you doing?!"

The man had no time to react to the shove. By the time he regained his footing, Mika was already holding Kiki in her arms, trying to soothe him.

Seeing Mika’s reaction, Tristan’s expression turned incredibly grim, but he still explained in a low voice, "I just wanted to see the child."

Hearing his words, Mika froze for a moment. Then, her gaze turned wary as she looked at Tristan. "Tristan, don’t tell me you regret giving Kiki back."

"You’re overthinking things. He’s my son. I have a right to see him."

"Well, you’ve seen him now. You can go," Mika said coldly. She held Kiki and turned her back on Tristan, refusing to look at him or let him see their son.

—At that moment, Tristan was filled with more than just heartache; he was furious.

’This woman is truly heartless. Can’t I even take a single look?’

"He’s my son. He’s sick. As his father, I have the right to be here with him," he said in a dark tone. With that, he turned, walked back to the sofa, and sat down. The hands resting on his lap, however, were clenched into tight fists.

Mika gave a sarcastic laugh and said coldly, "Suit yourself."

Her words made Tristan’s expression soften slightly, and his clenched fists slowly relaxed. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Neither of them said another word, and the atmosphere in the room grew heavy and oppressive...

Mika sat on the bed, holding Kiki. Perhaps he was hungry, because he started to nuzzle against her chest...