Chapter 180
A newborn’s cry split the silence, sharp and piercing, echoing down the sterile hospital hallway.
Ablett glanced toward the delivery room.
Caleb was already rushing forward, arms full of newborn supplies as the nurse emerged, cradling a tiny, rosy–cheeked baby girl. Without hesitation, Caleb reached out and gently took the infant from the nurse’s arms.
“How’s the mother?” Ablett’s calm voice sounded behind her.
“Don’t worry, Director–General, the nurse replied quickly. “The cardiology team has everything under control.”
Ablett nodded, his expression composed, then turned his attention to Caleb.
Caleb stood frozen, pale with anxiety as the baby wailed in her arms. She looked up at Ablett, eyes wide and desperate, as if she’d just spotted a lifeline. “D–Director–General, I–I’ve never held a baby this small before…”
Her voice trembled, on the edge of tears, her nerves fraying more than the baby’s.
Ablett reached out with his long, steady hands, and Caleb gratefully handed him the squirming infant. With her arms suddenly empty, she collapsed into a nearby chair, gasping for breath as the adrenaline drained from her body.
When she looked up again, Ablett was cradling the baby with a gentleness that seemed at odds with his usual reserve. Miraculously, the little girl had drifted off to sleep, her delicate features peaceful against his chest.
Caleb felt her heart pounding as she watched them, unable to stop herself from thinking–whoever ended up marrying the Director–General would be the luckiest woman alive.
Ten hours later, Blanche was wheeled out of surgery.
“The operation went smoothly,” the doctor told him.
Ablett shook the doctor’s hand with his usual composure; the doctor, clearly flattered, returned the gesture with more enthusiasm than expected.
Blanche was moved to her room. The baby lay in a crib beside her, sleeping. soundly. Caleb watched the maternity nurse gently bathe and dress the tiny girl, then bent down to sniff her freshly washed, sweet–smelling feet with a grin.
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21:53
Ablett’s gaze lingered on Blanche’s calm, pale face before he quietly excused himself and returned to his office, slipping seamlessly back into his work.
Meanwhile, Fernando and Eddy had resolved their dispute and left the police. station together.
As soon as Fernando stepped outside, his phone rang. He answered, then turned to Terrell, his voice trembling with excitement. “You have a baby sister!”
He called Blanche next, concern threading through his words. “How are your feeling?”
Blanche’s voice was cool, almost distant. “I’m fine.”
“That’s good. Terrell and I will come visit you in a while,” Fernando promised. With Eddy watching his every move, he knew he had to keep a low profile for now. “In the meantime, I’ll ask the Director–General to look after you.
“Director–General is very kind,” Blanche replied.
“He seems cold, all business, but underneath it all he really does care. I’ve known him longer than you have–I know what he’s like.”
“Mm,” Blanche murmured. She was grateful to Fernando, but even more so to Ablett. It was only thanks to the foundation’s resources that both she and her daughter had made it through.
As the days passed and her daughter grew, far away at the Novandria Social Care Foundation, another child named Healy was growing up too.
One afternoon, a group of children cornered Healy in the playground. “Go away, nobody wants you here!” one of them shouted, shoving Healy to the ground.
Healy landed hard, pain shooting through her backside, eyes stinging with tears she refused to shed.
“My brother’s not some unwanted stray!” Lara rushed over to stand protectively in front of Healy. “You’re the ones nobody wants–at least my brother has someone who cares about him!”
“Our dad’s coming to get us any day now!” one of the other kids snapped.
“Brother?” an older child sneered. “You’re not even related–you don’t have the same. mother. How can you call him your brother?”
“You must still be dreaming,” another taunted. “Everyone knows your mom stole her husband from his mom–what a shameless homewrecker!”
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