Chapter 91

A deafening silence filled the hospital room, broken only by the rhythmic beeping of the machines monitoring Noah's fragile heartbeat. The third day had arrived, yet he remained still, his tiny form swallowed by the pristine white hospital bed. The sight was unbearable—his little body covered in bandages, his skin pale, his breath shallow. His family had not left his side. Not once.

Emma sat closest to him, her hands never letting go of his tiny fingers, her head bowed as silent prayers escaped her lips. Her once-proud and powerful aura had crumbled into sheer desperation. She looked nothing like the Queen of Business—the richest, most powerful woman in the world. Right now, she was simply a mother, broken and pleading for her baby to return to her.

"Noah, my love…" she whispered, her voice raw. "Mama is here… Please, wake up…"

Sophia stood behind her mother, her hand resting gently on Emma's shoulder. The elegant CEO had dark circles under her red-rimmed eyes, her composure shattered. Olivia sat beside Noah's bed, gently stroking his hair, murmuring soft words of comfort, even though he couldn't hear them. Isabella, usually the strongest among them, clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms, her military discipline the only thing stopping her from breaking down.

Emily had barely left her spot by the machines, her analytical mind overwhelmed with fear. Charlotte clutched one of Noah's blankets, pressing it against her chest as if it would bring him back to them. Mia sat silently, her fingers tracing comforting patterns over Noah's bandaged arm, her heart aching. Lily, the youngest of them, rested her forehead against his hand, whispering every formula, every theory she had ever learned—hoping that knowledge would somehow reach him, would somehow keep him safe.

Their father stood at the door, silent. Guilt weighed on him like a crushing force. He was a man who had built an empire with his mind, who had created groundbreaking technology—yet he was powerless now. His eyes remained fixed on his son, regret filling every inch of his soul.

The air was thick with grief, but then—

A twitch.

Emma's breath hitched as she felt the smallest movement in her grasp. Her head snapped up, her eyes wide. "Noah…?"

Another twitch—his fingers trembled slightly in hers. Then, his eyelids fluttered.

Gasps filled the room as everyone froze, their eyes locked onto his fragile form.

And then, finally—

His lashes lifted, revealing hazy, unfocused blue eyes.

Tears streamed down Emma's face, her hands flying to cup his cheeks. "My baby! My baby is awake!" she sobbed, pressing kisses all over his face.

Noah blinked slowly, confusion clouding his gaze. His throat felt raw, his body sore. Everything was blurry, but through the haze, he saw her.

"Mama…?"

The word was barely a whisper, yet it shattered every restraint his family had left.

Sophia let out a choked sob, Olivia covered her mouth as tears spilled down her cheeks, Isabella turned away, trying and failing to control her emotions. Emily clung to Charlotte, their bodies shaking, while Mia and Lily openly wept.

Their father exhaled sharply, his body tensing in disbelief before he stepped closer, his hands trembling as he reached out but stopped, afraid to touch him, afraid to break this fragile moment.

Emma didn't hold back. She pulled Noah into her embrace, mindful of his injuries but unable to stop herself from holding him as close as possible. "My baby… my love… you came back to us…" she sobbed.

Noah felt warmth. So much warmth. He was still weak, his body heavy, but he could feel them—his mother, his sisters, the overwhelming presence of love surrounding him.

The doctor rushed into the room, alerted by the commotion. He checked Noah's vitals, his brows furrowing before he let out a relieved sigh. "He's stable," he announced. "His condition is still fragile, but he woke up. That's the best sign we could hope for."

Emma clutched Noah even tighter, pressing her forehead against his. "You scared us, baby. You scared us so much…"

Noah's lips trembled. His mind was still foggy, but he could feel her trembling. He could feel the tears that dripped onto his skin. His fingers curled slightly around her hand, trying to offer comfort even in his weakened state.

His sisters gathered around him, their voices soft, calling his name. He turned his head slightly, his eyes scanning their faces. He had been so lost in darkness, so afraid—but now, they were here. They had come for him.

And for the first time since the kidnapping, tears welled up in his eyes.

"I… I was scared…" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Emma's heart broke all over again. "Oh, my love… you're safe now. You're safe."

Noah clung to her, small sobs escaping his lips as his body trembled. His sisters wrapped their arms around him, surrounding him in warmth, in love, in a promise that they would never let anything happen to him again.

Their father, silent for so long, finally spoke. "You're home, Noah," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You're home."

As Noah's sobs quieted and exhaustion overtook him once more, he realized something.

He was safe.

He was loved.

And no matter what happened, they would always come for him.

Always.