Chapter 567:

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Dayna couldn’t take her eyes off Madison. Her gaze held a storm of emotion—disbelief, sorrow, and something close to pity. Despite Madison’s smile at Henry, Dayna could see it: she was unraveling at the seams.

Years of scheming, manipulation layered upon manipulation, and for what? Not only had Madison failed to become Declan’s wife, but the once-mighty Foster family had also nearly gone bankrupt.

She had lost the ability to bear children. And the only child she had—her own flesh and blood—wanted nothing to do with her.

Anyone would break under such circumstances. And it showed. The years Madison had tried so hard to conceal had caught up to her all at once—etched in every line of her face, sagging around her eyes like sorrow made flesh.

Madison finally lifted her eyes, glaring at Dayna and Nell with a bitterness that clung to every word, pointing at them with a trembling finger. “You did this, didn’t you? Both of you. What did you tell him? Why does he hate me—we’ve never even met! What did you say to turn him against me?”

Dayna pulled Henry closer to her chest, shielding him instinctively from Madison’s hysteria. “Children see more than we think. Maybe Henry hates you because deep down… he sees who you really are.”

“No!” Madison’s voice cracked, panic spilling from her chest. “He can hate the world, but not me! Not me! Never!”

After all, this was the child she had carried for nine whole months. She felt like she was falling apart.

With desperate, feverish eyes, she lunged forward, arms outstretched. “Give him to me! He belongs with me. Once he’s in my arms, he’ll understand. He’ll feel how much I care!”

But Dayna twisted sideways, shielding Henry further from her grasp. Her arms locked protectively around the boy as Nell lunged to double down.

𝖭𝖾w 𝘄𝘦𝖾𝗸𝗅𝗒 𝗰𝗁a𝗉𝘁е𝗿𝘀 𝘰n 𝗴𝖺l𝗻𝘰𝘷е𝗹ѕ.𝘤𝗼𝗺

But the chaos had already taken its toll. Henry wasn’t used to such dramas. The storm around him slammed into his chest. His breathing grew erratic, shallow. His skin paled, lips quivering as he gasped for air.

Dayna’s expression changed in an instant. “Something’s wrong—he’s having a panic attack. We need to get him to the OR, now!”

Madison hesitated for a second, but then lunged again, eyes wild. “No! Give him to me!”

Nell had seen enough. She stormed forward, grabbed a fistful of Madison’s hair, and slapped her hard—once, and then again. “Move, you maniac! If Henry loses his chance to recover because of you, I swear I’ll make sure you pay for it!”

Madison stumbled to the side, dazed, as Dayna bolted past her with Henry in her arms, disappearing into the operating room as quickly as she could. There was no time to delay or worry about exposing her true identity. Henry’s condition was already critical, and any kind of emotional stress could halve the chances of a successful operation.

Her footsteps pounded against the tiles, her heart racing as she cradled the boy’s fragile body, fists clenched in a silent vow: she would do everything in her power, draw on every ounce of skill and knowledge she had, to pull Henry through.

Behind her, Madison reeled from the slaps but still staggered after them. “Give him to me! What are you doing to that child?”

Nell blocked her like a wall, frowning with fury and disgust. “Don’t even try it. We know everything you’ve been hiding. If you actually care about that boy, you’ll shut your mouth and back off! I’m warning you—you’d better hope Henry’s surgery goes well. Otherwise, it’ll be your fault. You caused this! His condition relapsed the moment you stormed in!”

Nell wasn’t a doctor, but she had been with Henry just the day before during his medical checks. She knew what the doctors had said—he needed calm, quiet, and complete emotional stability. Any spike in emotion, any rush of adrenaline, could trigger collapse.

Yet Madison had barged in like a hurricane. That stupidity could have cost Henry his life.

For a beat, Madison stilled, her chest heaving. Then, narrowing her eyes at Nell, she asked through gritted teeth, “What do you know?”

Nell didn’t bother with an answer. She leaned in, her voice low and threatening. “If you don’t walk out of here right now, I’ll give you another reason to scream. Or should I let Declan know exactly what you’ve been up to?”

That hit its mark. Madison’s face crumpled like paper in the rain. Fear eclipsed her rage.

As much as she wanted Henry, she needed Declan. And if he found out her secret—

Without another word, Madison turned on her heel and fled, too afraid to challenge Nell further.

Still, a nagging fear gnawed at her gut. What if they did know the truth? What if Henry’s real identity wasn’t as secure as she thought?

In the hallway, Nell stood unmoved, her arms crossed as she stared at the red-lit sign above the operating room. Her lips moved soundlessly in a prayer.

The surgery dragged on—four long, breathless hours—before the doors finally opened. Dayna stepped out, pale and drained, wiping her face. Nell rushed forward the moment she saw her.

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