Chapter 211
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VENUS
The silence pressed down like a weight I couldn’t bear.
The room wasn’t quiet-not really. Machines hummed, the heart monitor ticked in rhythm with my pulse, and somewhere beyond the door, I could hear the muffled chatter of nurses. But inside these walls, inside me, it was all stillness. Heavy, dreadful stillness.
My fingers curled against the bedsheet. “What happened to Iris p>
No one spoke.
Not Aaron, not Sabine, not Gianna.
My voice came again, sharper this time, slicing through the air. “I asked a question.” I looked at each of them, desperate for a hint of truth. “Where is my daughter p>
George’s body stiffened in my arm. His tiny hands fisted the blanket tighter, his knuckles turning white. I looked down at him, my breath catching.
“Baby,” I said, brushing his hair back from his damp forehead. “Tell me. What happened to your sister p>
He didn’t look up. His lower lip trembled, his breathing quick and shallow. I felt the tears already forming, that strange burn behind my eyes that comes right before everything falls apart.
“George,” I whispered. “Please p>
He swallowed hard, and when his voice came, it was small-cracked, like a sound that had been broken long
before it reached his mouth.
“Th-those men,” he stammered, “they t-took her, Mom p>
The words hit me like a blow.
He went on before I could breathe. “I-I’m sorry.” His shoulders began to shake. “We were running, just like you said, to hide in the woods. But then there were gunshots and—and we stopped. I saw you get shot and I got scared and we turned back p>
His voice broke completely then. The words came out in bursts, carried on sobs, “They found us. They-they took Iris. I tried, Mommy. I tried to fight them off but I couldn’t. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, they took her because of me p>
He buried his face in my chest, the sound of his crying ripping something clean out of me. I gathered him as close as I could with one arm, ignoring the pain that flared through my body. “Hey, hey, listen to me, baby,” 1 whispered into his hair. “Look at me p>
He didn’t. His tears were warm against my gown.”I told them to take me instead. I shouted at them. I told them to leave her alone, but they just… they just pushed me p>
“George,” I said again, firmer this time. I placed my good hand under his chin and gently lifted his face until those red, puffy eyes met mine. “It’s not your fault. Do you hear me? Not ever. You did everything right. You
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were brave. You kept your sister safe as long as you could p>
He shook his head, sobbing harder. “They took her because I didn’t run fast enough p>
“No,” I said, swallowing the ache that threatened to crush me. “No, baby. They took her because they’re bad people. Because they chose to. Not because of you p>
I leaned down and kissed his forehead, tasting salt and tears and antiseptic air. “We’ll find your sister, I promise you. I swear it, George. I’m so proud of you, and I’m so glad you’re safe p>
He clung tighter. I closed my eyes and held him against me, breathing through the pain, through the grief that was trying to drag me under. I could feel Aaron’s gaze on me-silent, and tortured.
When I looked up, he was standing near the foot of the bed, hands clenched into fists, his jaw tight. He looked like a man at war with himself, caught between guilt and fury and helplessness. Our eyes met, and something inside me broke.
He looked away first.
The sob escaped before I could stop it: loud, ugly and real. My chest heaved, tears spilling freely now, and I couldn’t even hide it. Aaron stepped forward like he wanted to reach for me but stopped halfway.
Gianna moved quietly around the bed, eyes glistening. “Venus,” she said softly, “maybe George should have something to eat. He hasn’t had much since…” she trailed off, her throat tightening. “We’ll take him for a bit p>
But George shook his head violently. “No!” His small hands clutched at me again. “I want to stay with Mommy p>
Sabine knelt beside him, her voice tender but coaxing. “Sweetheart, your mom needs rest, okay? You can come back later. Just come eat a little p>
“I don’t want to leave her!” His voice cracked, trembling with panic. “Please, I don’t want to p>
“George.” My voice was soft, trembling but firm enough to make him pause. I smoothed his hair again. “Listen to me, baby. I need you to be strong for me now, okay? You go with Auntie Gianna and Auntie Sabine. Eat something. Get a little sleep. When you wake up, you can come stay with me. I promise p>
He looked at me, eyes glistening, torn. “But what if you’re gone again p>
My throat tightened. “I’m not going anywhere, love.” I forced a smile. “Mommy’s right here p>
He didn’t look convinced. He turned stubbornly toward Aaron. “I don’t want to leave. Those men-they shot her. They shot my mom and they took Iris. It’s all my fault p>
Aaron’s composure cracked then. He came closer, crouching beside the bed so his face was level with his son’s. Hey, hey, no,” he said, his voice thick. “None of this is your fault, buddy. You hear me? Not one bit p>
George’s lip quivered. Aaron brushed a tear off his cheek with his thumb. “We’re going to find your sister,” he said quietly, steady as a vow. “But right now, your mom needs to rest so she can get better. Okay p>
George looked up at him, small and trembling. “Sabine’s waiting?” he asked in a whisper.
Aaron nodded, voice low and sure. “Yeah, she is. With your grandma. They’ve been worried about you p>
George hesitated. Then slowly, reluctantly, he loosened his grip on me. My heart squeezed as I felt his warmth
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leave my side.
He turned to me, his lashes still wet. “I’ll take care of Sabine,” he said earnestly. “I won’t let anything happen to her p>
I smiled through the tears, pulling him close one last time. “I know you will, baby. You’re my brave boy p>
I kissed the top of his head, breathing him in, memorizing the feel of him before Gianna gently took his hand.
He looked back once at the door-his face pale, eyes far too old for his age. Then he left with Sabine and Gianna,
the door closed softly behind them, leaving a quiet that pressed against my ears like stone. I sagged against the pillows, my body trembling from exhaustion, pain, and a fear I’d held at bay for too long.
Aaron was still there, just a shadow in the corner of the room, but that was enough. I turned toward him, needing the solid presence, the warmth that reminded me I wasn’t completely alone in this chaos.
The first sob broke free before I could stop it, jagged and guttural. My body shook, the tight coil of restraint unraveling in an instant.
“Venus…” Aaron murmured, stepping closer. His hand reached out, tentative, as if touching me might shatter what was left of my composure.
I leaned into him, letting my head fall against his chest. His arms came around me, solid and grounding, holding me even as I trembled. My tears soaked through my gown, hot and relentless, my grief spilling into the space between us.
“I can’t… I can’t…” I whispered brokenly, my voice hitching with every word. “I was supposed to… I was supposed to keep them safe. All of them. And I…” My words dissolved into another sob.
Aaron tightened his arms around me, his own body tense, as if he were holding back the storm inside him to be the anchor I needed. “Shh… it’s okay, baby. It’s okay,” he murmured, stroking my hair gently. “You did everything you could p>
I shook my head against his chest, the sobs rattling through me. “Iris… they took my baby. My child is in the hands of people we don’t even know. How are we-how are we going to find her p>
My voice broke. I reached for the IV line taped to my arm and yanked it free before Aaron could stop me. The sudden sting made me gasp, but I didn’t care. “We should-we should go find her. How long was I out? Where
“Venus, baby, stop. You’re hurting yourself p>
“My child could be suffering worse!” I snapped, my voice raw. “I need to do something p>
“Calm down, Venus.” His voice cut through mine, low and firm, carrying that unmistakable authority that made my chest tighten.
I froze, breathing hard, then wiped my face with my good arm-angry, desperate and trembling.
“What is going on?” I demanded, my voice shaking. “And who the hell is doing this, Aaron p>
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Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.