At the Childrenâs Ward of the hospital.
Theo led Ellinor into the room, where Baber was sat on the bed, munching on an apple that Veronica had peeled for him.
Seeing Ellinor enter, Marissa and Putnamâs worried expressions softened.
âEllinor, youâre awake!â
âWeâre glad youâre okay!â
Ellinor simply nodded towards the elderly couple before releasing Theoâs hand and quickly walking over to Baberâs bedside. Seeing her son alive and well, tears streamed down her face.
Heâs okay! Baber is actually okay.
Upon catching sight of Ellinor, Baber immediately lost his appetite for the apple. He let go of the apple and threw his arms around Ellinor, âMommy, I thought I would never see you againâ¦â
Ellinor held Baber, âMommy is here now! Mommy will never let you out of her sight again!â
Everyone in the room couldnât help but tear up at the sight.
Theo, with a worried frown, looked deeply moved, his eyes slightly red.
Turning to Veronica, he asked, âWhy are you here? Werenât you supposed to stay home with the other three?â
Veronica, wiping her tears, replied, âDonât worry, Theo. Weâve got a full crew at home watching over them. Iâve even asked Moran to come over and help out. I was just so worried about Baber, so I came over with Grandma and Grandpa. Iâll head back home soon.â
Theo simply nodded, âTake Grandma and Grandpa home with you when you go. Weâll handle things here.â
Hearing this, Marissa quickly said, âTheo, weâre fine! Even if we go home, we wonât be able to sleep.
We might as well stay here and be with Baber! Besides, Ellinor needs rest too. Let us share some of the burden. Weâll be fine!â
Theo responded, âYou need to take care of yourselves. If anything were to happen to you now, it would be too much for us. Baber is going to be okay; he just has some minor injuries and shock. He should be able to leave the hospital by tomorrow morning.â
Considering their grandsonâs words, Marissa nodded, âAlright then, weâll head home with Veronica.
Theo, you must take good care of Ellinor. Sheâs been through a lot waiting for you.â
Theo replied, âYou have my word.â
After spending a few more minutes with them, Theo arranged for someone to take Veronica, Marissa, and Putnam home.
Once they had left, the room became much quieter.
Ellinor sat by the bed, feeding Baber porridge. Looking at the injuries on his face and body, she felt a mixture of anger and determination.
Patricia had better hope she would not find her!
If so, she would make sure to get back every bit of whatâs owed, a thousand times over!
Baber, only five years old, how could anyone do this to him?
âMommy, Iâm full; I canât eat anymore!â Baber politely shook his head, rejecting the last spoonful of porridge Ellinor was trying to feed him.
Ellinor nodded, ate a bit of the porridge herself, and put down the bowl. She then caressed Baberâs face and said, âIf youâre full, then you donât have to eat anymore. Are you tired? Want to sleep a little?â
Baber shook his head again, his eyes full of fear, âNot tired. Baber doesnât want to sleep.â
Ellinorâs heart ached. She knew her child better than anyone else. She could see the tiredness in his eyes, but he stubbornly insisted that he wasnât tired. His little hand clutched tightly onto her clothes, as if he was afraid they would be separated again.
Because she understood, it hurt all the more, âAlright, if youâre not tired, then Mommy will stay up and chat with you for a while, okay?â