Chapter 65: Whispers of betrayal and strength

Martha and Mathew arrived at the hospital in a rush, Henry trailing behind them with a tense expression. The cold, sterile halls of the hospital echoed with their hurried footsteps. Henry, though frail, took his time, his thoughts swirling. He leaned close to Linda as they walked, his voice low and deliberate.

"She's sniffed out the will, Linda," Henry whispered, his tone dark. "Martha knows. I suspect she's trying to make sure it never reaches Ethan. She's up to something, and after the accident... I can't shake the feeling that this might've been her doing."

Linda's heart skipped a beat, stunned by his words. The connection between Martha's sudden interest and the mysterious accident now felt far more sinister. She glanced up at Martha and Mathew, who were behaving unusually—Martha was glued to Ethan's side, her behavior over-the-top, almost performative. Mathew lingered nearby, his eyes darting nervously as though he was trying to gauge something.

Linda clenched her fists, her suspicions sharpening with every second. But with Olivia in such fragile condition and baby Eva clinging to life in the NICU, she couldn't afford to confront Martha just yet. She needed to be strong for both Olivia and Ethan, even if that meant keeping an eye on Martha's every move.

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Two agonizing hours passed, and finally, Olivia was out of surgery. She had given birth to a tiny but beautiful baby girl—Eva. The doctors rushed her to the NICU, her small body hooked up to machines that would keep her stable until she grew stronger.

Linda watched from the sidelines, her heart heavy with worry and pride. Olivia was semi-conscious, her body weak and fragile from the ordeal. As she lay in bed, she muttered one name over and over—*Ethan*. Tears rolled down her closed eyes, reflecting the anguish she couldn't fully express. Seeing her daughter like this, Linda made a silent vow—she would do anything to protect Olivia and her granddaughter, whatever the cost.

With Olivia resting, Linda couldn't wait any longer. She went straight to the doctor to check on Ethan. The doctor greeted her with a warm, reassuring smile.

"Mrs. Linda, Ethan is out of danger," the doctor said softly. "He'll have some scarring on his face due to the burns from the crash, but his brain function is normal, and we expect a full recovery."

Linda exhaled, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. "Thank you, Doctor. When can we see him?"

"Once he's stabilized, we'll move him to a private room. He's still unconscious, but his body is healing."

Relieved but still on edge, Linda returned to Olivia's room. As she entered, her heart broke all over again. Olivia had somehow wheeled herself to the glass window of the NICU, staring at tiny Eva, who was surrounded by machines. 

Olivia's tears fell freely, her body trembling. She was talking softly, almost as if she were pleading with the universe itself. 

"Why... why did you take them both from me?" Olivia sobbed, clutching the arms of her wheelchair. "Please, God... please... I need them. I need Ethan. I can't lose him... I can't lose our baby." 

Linda stood silently for a moment, watching her daughter crumble, her own tears threatening to spill over. She could hear Olivia's whispered conversation with baby Eva.

"Eva... baby, come back to Mommy. I need you. And Daddy... he'll come back, I know he will. We need him, Eva. Please be strong, baby girl. Daddy's going to be fine, and we'll all be together. I promise."

Olivia's words pierced through Linda's heart like a knife. She couldn't bear to see her daughter so broken. Rolling her wheelchair closer, Linda gently placed a hand on Olivia's shoulder.

"He's going to be okay, Olivia," Linda whispered, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her. "Both of them will be okay."

Olivia turned to face her mother, her tear-filled eyes searching for hope. "How do you know, Mom? How can you be so sure?"

Linda crouched beside Olivia, her own tears falling freely now. "Because I refuse to let anything happen to them. I will fight for them, Olivia. We both will. And I'll be here with you, every step of the way."

Olivia sniffed, wiping at her tears, and nodded. "I just... I need him, Mom. I can't do this without him."

"You won't have to," Linda assured her, her voice strong. "Ethan will come back to you, and when he does, your little family will be whole again."

But even as she spoke those words, Linda couldn't shake the feeling of impending danger. Martha's presence lingered like a dark cloud over them all, and the suspicions Henry had voiced earlier gnawed at the back of her mind.

For now, though, Linda stayed strong. She had to—for Olivia, for Eva, and for Ethan. They couldn't afford to lose this fight, not to Martha, and certainly not to fate.