?<strong>Chapter 445:</strong>


    “I don’t want to be a child without parents,” she answered, her gaze wavering but honest.


    It was not a deration born of full eptance, but of reluctant necessity. Still, for Adrian, it was enough.


    He knelt down and hugged Aurora. “You’ll never be without parents, Aurora. I promise I’ll protect you and your mom forever.”


    Aurora’s bravery crumbled, and the tears she had held back for so long finally spilled over. “Dad, when will Mom wake up? I’m scared.”


    Adrian’s chest tightened. He stroked her hair gently, wiping her tears with a handkerchief. “Don’t be scared, sweetheart. Mom’s just resting. When she’s ready, she’ll wake up. We just need to be patient a little longer, okay?”


    “Okay,” she whispered, her voiceced with the kind of strength that only children forced to grow up too soon could muster.


    Every day after kindergarten, Aurora would go straight to the hospital to visit Joelle.


    She would chatter about school, recount her day, and share the little joys that made up her world—stories of the games she yed, the new words she learned, the food she ate.


    The doctor had said that hearing familiar voices could help.


    Aurora shared everything with Joelle.


    g?lnσν???s?c?m, your destination for tales


    Adrian put aside all his work to care for Joelle wholeheartedly.


    But after nearly a month of effort, Joelle showed no signs of improvement.


    As the days passed, Aurora was losing hope.


    “Dad, does Mom not want us anymore?”


    “No, Aurora.”


    Joelle was avoiding waking up to confront the harsh realities of life.


    A few days earlier, the news of Joelle’sa following her suicide attempt had made headlines.


    The sudden public outcry sparked a wave of apologies from those who had wronged her in one way or another—toote, as far as Adrian was concerned. He could only hope that, when Joelle woke up, this knowledge would bring her a small measure of peace.


    Standing in the doorway, Can waited silently, hesitant to intrude on the quiet moment between father and daughter.


    It was Aurora who noticed him first. With a quiet understanding far beyond her years, she said, “I’ll go tell Mom another story.”


    Once she was gone, Can took a careful step forward. “Mr. Miller, I understand your need to be here, but Miller Group is in trouble. Thepany can’t manage without you.”


    Adrian had pushed aside all his responsibilities. Whatever business could be handled remotely, he did so online, but it wasn’t enough.


    Thepany was struggling, and Can knew he had to bring Adrian back before it was toote.


    “Sir, the doctor has asked us to prepare for the long haul. Ms. Watson might not wake up anytime soon. Please, think about the bigger picture—the future of Miller Group.”


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