Chapter 568:

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Nell carefully supported Dayna’s weight and asked with genuine concern, “Are you feeling alright? How did the surgery turn out?”

Dayna settled onto a nearby bench, shaking her head slowly. “The operation went very well. I’m just feeling a bit drained.”

Surgeries that demanded such intense focus and lasted for hours truly tested a surgeon’s endurance. After taking a moment to steady herself, Dayna seemed to regain her usual composure.

Her eyes scanned the quiet hallway as she asked, “Where’s Madison now?”

F𝗶𝗇d ոo𝘷𝘦𝗹 𝗣𝘋𝗙s 𝗼𝗇 g𝘢𝘭ո𝘰𝘃e𝗹𝘴.со𝗆

Irritation crept into Nell’s voice as she responded, “I sent her away. Someone that reckless is nothing but a burden. If Henry hadn’t been saved, I might have really lost it and killed her right then.”

Dayna leaned back against the bench, her face clouded with conflicting emotions, before a realization struck her.

“Henry said he was brought here without knowing,” she said thoughtfully. “That must mean Madison took Henry without telling his father and brought him here for the surgery. We should track down Henry’s family. They’re probably frantic over his disappearance.”

Nell gave a firm nod. “You’re right. I’ll assign someone to look into this immediately.”

“Even though the surgery succeeded, Henry still needs constant care.” Dayna’s gaze lingered on Henry, who remained unconscious after being wheeled out. “You stayed with Henry all night, so today is my turn. We’ll keep taking shifts.”

Concern flickered across Nell’s face as she looked at Dayna. “You just finished such a major surgery, and now you’re planning to skip sleep? I’m worried you might burn out.”

Dayna gave a reassuring shake of her head. “It’s alright. Bloomstead has excellent pharmacists and doctors on call. If anything urgent happens with Henry, I can manage it right away.”

“Alright then.” Nell gave in, choosing not to press the issue further.

Later that night, Henry finally opened his eyes. His right hand was hooked up to an IV as he stared blankly at the ceiling, confusion clouding his gaze.

“Am I… still alive?” he whispered softly, just loud enough for Dayna, who sat quietly by his bedside, to catch the words.

A sharp pang hit Dayna’s chest the moment she heard him. His voice carried a silent plea, a hint that Henry’s desire to keep living was fading.

The drive to survive is vital for anyone facing illness. Modern medicine could cure many conditions, but without the patient’s own will to fight, no treatment could truly heal them.

Usually, this despair haunted those with terminal diseases who had lost all hope, yet Henry was far too young to feel this way.

Dayna’s eyes softened as she looked at him. “Remember what I told you? I promised you magic—I’ll do everything to help you heal and keep going.”

Tears welled up in Henry’s eyes as he turned toward Dayna. “I believe you. But it hurts so much. The medicine, the endless injections—they’re bitter and painful. Sometimes, I feel like I can’t hold on any longer.”

His life had barely begun, yet it was already tangled in a web of drugs and treatments. Hospital rooms felt cold and sterile, always surrounding him with piles of white pills.

Desperation flickered behind Henry’s eyes as he confessed, “Sometimes I think if I died, the pain would stop. I never met my mom, and my dad’s always caught up with work. Maybe I was never meant to be here.”

An unfamiliar ache settled deep in Dayna’s chest at his words. Henry’s words landed like a heavy weight on her heart. She had always believed Henry was well-behaved and mature, never realizing just how much pain and sorrow such a young boy hid beneath his calm exterior. Only now did she grasp that Henry had been putting on a brave face for everyone, but this surgery had truly tested his limits.

With care, Dayna reached for Henry’s free hand, the one not hooked up to the IV. “You need to trust me. Fate brought you here to me, so I could work my magic and help you keep living. I promise, for now, you won’t have to take any medicine or get injections unless it’s absolutely necessary, alright?”

Dayna’s voice softened as she encouraged the boy, but Henry hesitated, his uncertainty clear.

Noticing his doubt, Dayna added, “You mentioned you’ve never seen the world outside the hospital walls. If you go on with the treatment, I’ll take you out to play. We’ll fly kites at the park and visit all the amusement parks that every kid dreams about.”

At the mention of amusement parks, Henry’s eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement. Such places were simply irresistible to a child.

“I’ve never been to those places before. My dad never let me,” he admitted quietly.

A warm smile crossed Dayna’s face. “Well, now that you’re getting better, I can take you there.”

The brightness in Henry’s eyes deepened with hope.

Softly, Dayna asked, “Can you promise me you’ll try your best to keep fighting?”

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