Chapter 170
Elena’s POV
Rafael ran along the shore. He was so happy as he continued to gather more stones of varied shapes and sizes. It was evident that the little child missed playing outside. Not that he had much to begin with.
I felt a pinching pain in my heart. Finally, he’s with me. I would do everything to make up to him. I would make sure that he would enjoy his childhood that was taken away from him.
His laughter perfectly blended with the sound of the gentle waves. It felt like everything was normal. He was back in himself. He was just a boy playing by the water and testing how far his arm could throw.
I just remained standing where I was as I continued to watch him. The sea was so wide. I never appreciated the beauty of it until today. The tide lapped in his little feet as he picked through the scattered stones. He held up one stone and showed it to me as if he had found a treasure.
“Yeyyyy! I found another one!” he shouted. His voice was loud, and I could sense the genuine enjoyment fie felt in that very moment. I wished I could freeze it. I wished I could just make these the only memories he could remember. I wished that I could erase the sufferings he had experienced while he was away from me.
I noticed Deacon smirked.
“What’s on your mind?” I curiously asked.
“Do you think he can win this time?” he asked as he folded his arms across his chest.
Of course, that question made me roll my eyes. He was obviously teasing me.
“Well, maybe, if you let him win,” I said as I hid my smile.
Rafael stood straight, and I saw the stone clutched in his fist. He stretched his arm, and I saw how he tried to remain focused as he let the stone fly away from his hand. The stone arched high before it splashed into the ocean.
It was farther than I thought!
His whole face lit up, and there was a triumphant grin as he looked at me and Deacon.
“Did you see that?” Rafael repeatedly asked proudly. His eyes were so bright and round. It was as if he were telling Deacon that he already won the round.
“Yes, I saw that one. Well done, Rafael!” I proudly answered. “That was your best yet,” I added.
But then, just as quickly as I felt proud of his achievement, the light in his eyes faltered. My heart started to pound.
Rafael’s hand went to his chest. His small shoulders stiffened as if he was having difficulty breathing.
“Oh, no, please, no,” I whispered as my heart started to pound inside my heart. The next stone that he was supposed to throw slipped from his hands.
I was shocked. I didn’t expect this to happen. Inside my mind, I have an idea what’s going on with my nephew and how I wish that I were wrong. That was not what I was thinking.
I wished that he were just tired and overwhelmed with everything that had happened. I knew his life had turned three hundred and sixty degrees after we had found him.
Fear overwhelmed my being.
“Rafa–el,” I called out his name, even if it’s so hard for me.
“Raf!” I said again in a broken voice. I didn’t want him to hear my weak voice, but I couldn’t help it. Did we exhaust him that
Chapter 170
+25 Bonus
much to experience such pain again?
I saw how a thin sound escaped from my nephew’s throat. It was half–gasp and half–whisper. His knees bent through the sand.
I ran towards his direction, but before I could even reach him, he fell to the ground.
“Rafael!” I shouted.
I dropped beside him, and I didn’t mind the water that was soaking my clothes anymore.
His forehead was hot. I could feel the sweat in his skin.
My heart started to race again when I felt his body tremble as if he was chilling and it had been seeping down into his bones.
I didn’t know what to do. There was so much fear inside of me. I thought everything was okay, but why was he having that kind of attack again?
The hope inside me was suddenly gone. It was like a candle that was suddenly blown out.
I didn’t even notice that Deacon was already beside us. He knelt beside us. His hand was steady and ready to open the kit that we prepared in case something like that happened to Rafael. I was grateful that we had kept it with us.
“Urrrr…” I heard my nephew moan beside me. He was still holding his chest and catching his breath.
Tears started to fall from my eyes. There were a lot of questions inside my head.
Why did it have to happen again? Was all my nephew’s suffering not enough?
He had already experienced enough bad things in his life. He had enough life challenges. Couldn’t he be happy? Couldn’t he live a normal life as a child? That’s all I was wishing for.
Rafael crumpled to the ground. I looked at his face, and he was so pale. He was still burning hot.
I have to come to my senses. I couldn’t be crying and act weak while that was happening to my nephew. If I were overwhelmed by my emotions, then I might lose Rafael, and this time, I may not be able to see him again. And I don’t want that to happen.
“Let me do this now,” Deacon said in a low and calm voice. It was too calm, and I knew he was doing that to help my fear fade. He wanted me to see that everything is under control.
He reached out for Rafael’s body while my nephew was still trembling.
I saw how Deacon took a deep breath and looked at me with a serious face.
“The poison is flaring again.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
