lelanidebbiee

After a fleeting one-night affair with a stranger, the wealthy and beautiful Lani  Carlisle finds herself the target of public scorn. The situation worsens when her father drove her out of the house. Driven by the pressure, Lani becomes a workaholic and hires a personal assistant to care for her kids. But everything changes when her daughter becomes deeply attached to him, even wishing he were her father.

As Lani unexpectedly falls for him, she faces judgment from both her family and society. Will she accept her fate, or fight for the love she desires?

Find out in "Unbreakable Ties"

Unbreakable Ties

The hospital room was eerily quiet except for the steady beeping of the heart monitor. Elias lay unconscious on the hospital bed, an oxygen mask over his face, IVs attached to his arm. His normally strong and steady presence was replaced by stillness—too still.

Lily's small hand trembled as she reached out and gently placed it on Elias's arm.

"Daddy," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Lani, Olivia, Leo, and Luca stood by the door, watching in silent grief. None of them knew what to say. The man who had stubbornly refused to show weakness, who had teased and protected them, now lay there, fighting for his life.

Lily sniffled, wiping her eyes fiercely before looking up at Lani. "Can I talk to him alone?"

Lani hesitated, then nodded. "We'll be right outside."

Leo gently squeezed Lily's shoulder before stepping out with the others.

The door clicked shut, leaving Lily alone with Elias.

Lily climbed onto the chair beside Elias's bed, careful not to disturb the wires and tubes. She wrapped both hands around his fingers, squeezing them tightly.

"You promised," she whispered. "You said you wouldn't leave us."

She bit her lip, her little body shaking with the effort to stay strong.

"You said you heard me before. If you can hear me now… please wake up."

Her voice cracked, but she refused to cry.

"Luca won't say it, but he's scared too. And Mommy… she loves you. I know she does. Even Leo loves you! He's not even your real kid, and he loves you. We all do."

"So you can't go. You just can't."

Lily buried her face against his arm, her tiny body curled into him.

And then, for just a second—so faint she almost missed it—she felt the slightest movement.

Lily gasped. "Mommy!" she screamed.

The door burst open, and Lani ran in, her eyes wide. "What happened?"

"His hand moved!" Lily cried, pointing at his fingers.

Lani rushed to Elias's side, gripping his hand. "Elias? Can you hear me?"

And then, for the first time in days, Elias's deep brown eyes slowly opened.

Lily let out a sob of pure relief. "Daddy!"

Elias's lips parted, his voice hoarse and barely audible.

Tears spilled down Lily's cheeks as she launched herself onto him, hugging his arm. "You're awake!"

Lani choked on a laugh, her own tears falling freely as she gently cupped his face. "You scared the hell out of us."

A weak, lopsided smirk tugged at his lips. "Didn't mean to."

At that moment, Olivia, Leo, and Luca rushed in, stopping dead when they saw Elias awake.

Leo let out a loud, relieved exhale. "Damn, man, don't do that again."

Elias chuckled weakly. "No promises."

Luca, who had been silent the whole time, finally stepped forward, his fists clenched. "Idiot," he muttered. "You took too long."

Elias looked at him and smirked. "Sorry, kid."

Luca hesitated before mumbling, "I'm glad you're okay."

Lani brushed a hand over Elias's hair, her heart aching with love and relief.

"You're staying," she whispered, voice trembling.

Elias, despite the exhaustion weighing on him, reached up and placed his hand over hers.

Lily grinned through her tears. "See? I told you you couldn't leave us."

Elias chuckled softly, looking at the people surrounding him—the people who had fought for him when he couldn't fight for himself.

For the first time in his life, he truly felt like he belonged.

Chapter 49: The Wait for a Miracle