Chapter 99: Shadows of the Past and Unbreakable Love

The warmth of Mama's embrace surrounded me, her gentle hum still lingering in the air as I clung to her. The fear from my nightmare had not completely faded, but her soothing presence kept me from falling into its darkness again. Her hands stroked my hair softly, and every whisper of comfort wrapped around my heart like a protective shield.

Papa sat close, his hand resting on my back. Even though I couldn't see his face, I could feel the guilt in the way his fingers trembled. He was blaming himself again. My sisters were still in the room, their worried eyes never leaving me. They had all been awake, keeping watch, as if they were afraid I would disappear if they dared to rest.

"Mama… don't go," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

She held me even tighter. "I'm right here, my love. I will never leave you."

I felt Papa's hand tighten on my back. "Neither will I," he added, his voice filled with pain and determination.

Eventually, exhaustion took over, and I drifted back into sleep, still nestled in Mama's arms.

When I woke up again, the morning light streamed through the curtains. I blinked groggily, feeling the warmth still wrapped around me. Mama's arms had never left me. She looked tired—her eyes heavy with exhaustion—but she smiled the moment she saw me awake.

"Good morning, my baby," she whispered, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.

Papa was still beside us, and my sisters had gathered around, each of them looking at me expectantly.

"Are you feeling better, little one?" Olivia asked, her usual radiant smile laced with worry.

I nodded weakly, trying to sit up, but the moment I moved, pain shot through my body, making me wince. Mama immediately tightened her hold, stopping me from moving any further.

"Noah, don't push yourself," Papa said firmly. "You need to rest."

Sophia gently adjusted my pillows. "Just relax, sweetheart. We'll take care of everything."

Emily, always the logical one, frowned. "Your injuries are still healing. You shouldn't be moving so much."

I let out a small sigh, knowing they wouldn't let me do anything on my own for a while. But the warmth of their love was comforting. Even though I was weak and hurting, I wasn't alone. I was surrounded by people who would do anything for me.

The day passed with my sisters taking turns sitting with me. Olivia told me stories about her movie sets, Charlotte promised to design new comfortable clothes for me, and Mia sang softly, her voice filling the room with warmth. Even Emily, who usually preferred her inventions over anything else, stayed by my side, muttering about creating a security device that would make sure nothing ever happened to me again.

But amidst all the love, I could sense the lingering fear in their hearts. They were still afraid. They were still haunted by the thought of losing me.

In the afternoon, Isabella stepped out to take a call. When she returned, her expression was serious. She exchanged glances with Mama and Papa, who immediately understood the unspoken message.

"They've been captured," Isabella confirmed, her voice low but firm. "But we still don't know who was behind it."

Mama's grip on me tightened. "Then we don't stop until we do."

Papa's jaw clenched, his anger barely contained. "Whoever it is… they will pay."

I didn't fully understand everything, but I knew one thing—my family would never let anything happen to me again.

That night, when it was time for bed, I found myself hesitating. Even though I was home, safe in Mama's arms, the fear of being taken away still lingered deep inside me. My hands clutched her shirt tightly as I buried my face against her.

"Can I sleep here again?" I asked in a small voice.

Mama pulled me closer. "Of course, my love. You always sleep with us."

Papa reached over, stroking my hair. "We're not going anywhere."

I nodded, feeling the tension in my body ease as I settled between them. The warmth of their love surrounded me, pushing away the cold fear that had gripped my heart for so long. I was safe. I was loved.

As my eyes grew heavy, I mumbled the words that had been sitting in my heart for so long.

"Mama, Papa… I love you."

The room fell silent for a moment, and then I felt Mama's arms tighten around me as she pressed a trembling kiss to my forehead.

"Oh, my baby… I love you more than anything," she whispered, tears falling freely.

Papa swallowed hard, his voice thick with emotion. "I love you too, son. More than you'll ever know."

As I drifted into sleep, wrapped in their embrace, I knew one thing for sure—no matter what happened, no matter what shadows still lurked in the past, I would never be alone again.