Chapter 251

Serena's POV

Another day passed by without any news.

I kept refreshing the news feeds, but there wasn't a single mention of Jace Gillard's accident. Unable to contain my anxiety any longer, I sent Lucas a message: "How's Jace doing?"

The wait for his response felt endless. The silence from his end was deafening.

A few minutes later, Rachel Thorne called. I hesitated before answering.

"Serena, Lucas is too busy to respond right now, so he asked me to call you," Rachel's voice sounded exhausted through the phone.

My heart sank at this information. So Rachel had gone with Lucas and stayed with him for the past twenty-four hours?

But this wasn't the time to dwell on such thoughts. "How is Jace's condition now?" I struggled to keep my voice steady. Jace's injuries were what mattered most right now.

"He came out of surgery yesterday afternoon but hasn't regained consciousness. The doctors say there's a high probability he might end up in a vegetative state, though there's still hope. Lucas has brought in a team of specialists from Europe who just arrived in Manhattan. They're examining him now, with Lucas present. They'll be discussing the treatment plan next."

"Is it that serious?" I pressed, anxiety creeping into my voice.

"Very serious," Rachel replied bluntly. "His heart stopped twice during surgery. They barely managed to bring him back. He's still unconscious, with dangerously low blood pressure. I don't know all the details, but from what I can see..." She paused. "It's hard to say what will happen. We'll have to wait for the specialist team's diagnosis. Don't worry, I'll keep you updated on any changes in Jace's condition."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

After these brief pleasantries, I ended the call. I never imagined Jace's condition would be this critical.

Over the next two days, Rachel kept her word, sending me regular updates about Jace's condition. I wasn't sure if she was being genuinely kind or if she was trying to keep me from bothering Lucas. It didn't matter though - having immediate updates about Jace's condition was all I needed. I had no other expectations from them.

That night, as I was preparing for bed, Lucas called. It was his first direct contact with me in three days. Perhaps because he knew Rachel was keeping me informed.

"I'm taking Jace abroad," he said. "The medical facilities here are limited for his condition. He's stable enough to travel now, and we're boarding the plane soon. He'll receive more specialized treatment there."

"What do you mean by stable?" I immediately focused on the key point.

"It means he's no longer in immediate danger, but he's still completely unconscious. There's a blood clot pressing against a blood vessel in his brain. It's not only keeping him unconscious but also threatening his life. No surgeon in the world is willing to operate on it right now. The only option is to transfer him abroad where we can use more advanced medical technology to stabilize his vital signs before attempting brain surgery."

"I understand." I nodded. This meant that although he wasn't in immediate danger, his life was still hanging by a thread.

Before hanging up, I asked, "Is Rachel going with you?" I wasn't asking out of jealousy - I just wanted to know if I could continue getting updates from her without having to disturb him.

"No, she's not," Lucas replied directly.

"Oh."

"Wait for me."

I didn't respond, just ended the call.

The next evening, Lucas sent me a text letting me know they had arrived safely.

On the third morning, as I scrolled through my phone during my usual morning routine, my heart clenched at the photos posted by Rachel Thorne. There she was, embracing the twins on a private aircraft, her smile radiating what seemed like calculated warmth. While Milo maintained his characteristic reserved demeanor, it was Stella's demeanor that truly caught my attention. Those beautiful gray eyes were filled with unmistakable distress, her usual composed expression replaced by barely concealed anxiety.

My grip tightened on my phone as I studied each detail of the image. Had Lucas really entrusted the children to Rachel without any consideration for my feelings? After everything we'd been through, didn't he think I deserved to be part of this decision? The children had become such an integral part of my life; the thought of them being whisked away without my knowledge felt like a physical ache in my chest.

Over the next few days, Lucas's messages were sparse, mostly brief updates about Jace Gillard's situation that led to little progress. Meanwhile, Rachel's social media presence exploded with an almost orchestrated showcase of domestic bliss. There were photos of Milo covered in bubbles during bath time, moments at the carousel where his small face lit up with joy, and hiking adventures in upstate New York. But it was Stella's subtle reactions in these pictures that spoke volumes to me.

In every photograph, I could see the slight tension in Stella's shoulders, the way she would edge away from Rachel's embraces, the forced smile that never quite reached her eyes. Stella had always been perceptive beyond her years, and I knew her well enough to recognize her silent protests. She was the kind of child who internalized her distress, much like her father, and seeing her quiet suffering was becoming unbearable.

The breaking point came with Rachel's latest post-a photo of Milo sitting on a hospital bed with a bandaged ankle. Stella stood beside him, her small hands clutched together so tightly her knuckles had turned white. Her eyes, usually bright with intelligence and warmth, were glossy with unshed tears. Rachel's caption read: "I'm so sorry, precious one. I should have been more careful with you."

Something inside me snapped. The sight of Stella's barely contained distress, her protective stance next to her injured brother, triggered every protective instinct I had developed for these children. I immediately messaged Rachel: "How are the children doing?"

Her response came quickly, perhaps too quickly: "Nothing serious. We were hiking today, and Milo twisted his ankle. The doctor says he'll be fine with a few days' rest."

"Tell me where they are. I'm coming to get them," I replied, thinking particularly of Stella. That child had always been sensitive to emotional undercurrents, and I feared the psychological impact of this forced separation.

"Lucas entrusted them to my care. Without his permission, I won't hand them over to anyone," came her cold response.

Looking back at the steady stream of photos she had been posting, I could now see the calculated nature of it all. Was this elaborate display meant specifically for me? And Milo's injury-could it have been more than just an accident? The thought made my blood run cold, especially when I looked again at Stella's worried face in the photograph.

I immediately called Lucas: "I need to bring the children to stay with me. Especially Stella-you must have seen how she's been lately. She needs me."

"I'll be back in two days," Lucas replied, his voice carrying that familiar tone of controlled tension.

"I want to get them now!" I insisted, my voice firm with conviction. "Do you really believe they're safe with Rachel? Have you looked at Stella's eyes in those photos? That child is crying out for help without saying a word."