?<strong>Chapter 356:</strong>


    “Who said that?”


    Katherine stiffened at the sound, turning around sharply. Shawn was standing behind her, providing shade from the intense sunlight. She quickly faced forward again, attempting to disappear into the crowd.


    “Shawn! Didn’t you say you couldn’t make it?” Joelle asked.


    Shawn took a seat next to Joelle and Katherine, prompting Katherine to subtly edge towards Lacey. “I couldn’t miss my niece’s first sports day, could I?”


    “That’s wonderful! Uncle’s here too!” Aurora pped her hands joyfully. “Mr. Miller, Mr. Frye, Uncle— you all must give it your all!” Everyone stacked their hands together. “Go, team!”


    The afternoon passed with preliminary matches, leading up to a final sh between Aurora’s team and Dunn’s. Fred, teamed up with two other dads from Dunn’s ss, had advanced through the brackets.


    “Adrian, any chance you could let us win? I need to bring home a gold medal for my son, or I’ll never hear the end of it!” Adrian responded not with words but action, darting forward to score ayup and narrow the score.


    “Fred, everyone’s trying to win, right? I’ve got my own daughter to impress here.”


    Fred chuckled. “Well then, may the best man win!”


    “Agreed.”


    Right after Adrian spoke, Fred stole the ball from him. With the ball in Fred’s hands, all six yers charged towards the opposing basket. The crowd was electrified. Lacey, though trying to remain calm, couldn’t help feeling anxious for Michael.


    Each contestant was lifted by their family’s cheers, running not just for personal glory but strengthened by their loved ones’ support and encouragement. Thepetition stretched into the evening, with the oue undecided until after a tense overtime. Adrian, Michael, and Shawn took first ce.


    As they epted their medals, Aurora, clutching Joelle’s hand, dashed over, while Leah ushered Katherine and Lacey together for a group photo. Laughter filled the air as the sun dipped below the horizon. While the smell of sweat lingered, it was a small price to pay for thesting joy of this moment.


    Lacey mopped the sweat from Michael’s forehead. “You really stood out today.”


    Joelle handed Adrian a water bottle. “Aurora asked me to give this to you.”


    Shawn nudged Katherine jokingly. “Hey, where’s my towel? You’re so smelly! Stay away from me!” Katherine yelled yfully and sprinted away, with Shawn in hot pursuit. While the others made their way to the exit, Katherine and Shawn were lost in their yful chase.


    Each breeze seemed to whisper of freedom and joy. Just as they were about to leave, Aurora paused. “Mom, I forgot something in the ssroom. I need to get it!”


    “I’lle with you.”


    “No need!” Aurora said with a secretive grin, darting back towards the ssroom.


    Inside her locker, Aurora had stashed several handmade medals, her gifts to those dear to her. With the sun setting, the ssroom was dimly lit. Embracing her medals, Aurora hastened towards the light.


    Rounding a corner, she bumped into someone and tumbled to the floor. Brushing off the pain, she quickly checked her medals for damage.


    “Sorry, little one, are you alright?”


    Aurora nodded, relieved the medals were intact. “I’m fine, thank you.”


    Looking up, she saw a woman she didn’t recognize, someone unfamiliar to the kindergarten. The woman knelt down, brushing off Aurora’s clothes. “Remember not to run in the hallways, and always slow down at corners. Safety first, alright?”


    Her voice was soothing, her looks stunning, and her tone pleasant. Aurora blushed and nodded in agreement. “Understood, thank you.”


    Shortly after, Aurora joyfully handed out the medals to each adult, with Leah receiving one titled “Best Support Award.” Leah epted it with delight. “Let’s go! Time to celebrate! Congrattions, Aurora, on a sessful first sports day!”


    “Yay, yay!”


    As they concluded their exchange, amotion broke out nearby. “Lacey! Lacey!”


    Aware of Lacey’s severe heart condition, everyone hurried to her side. Lacey grasped her chest, her lips quickly losing color. Her eyshes trembled as she grimaced in pain.


    “Lacey!” Michael lifted her into his arms.


    They rushed to the hospital, where Lacey was whisked into surgery. The atmosphere outside the operating room was tense. Michael sat nearby, trembling, with his thoughts in disarray. Adrian was on the phone, desperately seeking a heart donor, though the prospects were bleak. Unable to contribute, Shawn and Katherine stayed back with Leah to look after the children.


    When the doctor dered Lacey in critical condition, Michael burst into tears. Joelle reached out to the Hudson family, but only Fiona came to visit Lacey. Upon arriving, Fiona could only weep. There seemed to be no action they could take but to wait and pray.


    At midnight, the surgeon came out. “The patient is critically unstable and only temporarily stable. She urgently needs a heart transnt. How is the search for a donor progressing?”


    .


    .


    .