Chapter 743

Vivian pulled Ethan out of the hospital room and shut the door behind them.

Her voice dropped to a hushed whisper. "Ethan, have you lost your mind? Theo just had surgery. He's emotionally fragile right now."

Ethan's gaze drifted past her to the closed door. His voice was low. "He needs to know the truth. He keeps blaming himself for Sophia's mistakes. That kind of guilt will destroy him."

"But he's only five!" Vivian clenched her fists. "How do you expect him to process that the woman he's called 'Mom' for five years isn't his real mother—and nearly killed him?"

Ethan turned to face her fully. His eyes were steel. "That's exactly why he needs to know now. I won't let him grow up trying to please someone who never deserved to be called his mother."

Vivian bit her lower lip. Her hand instinctively moved to her abdomen, where new life stirred. If her child one day asked about their father, what would she say?

Ethan's gaze followed the movement. Suddenly, he pulled her into a crushing embrace.

"What are you—" She struggled, but his arms were unyielding.

"Vivian." His chin rested atop her head. "Not all parents are as heartless as Sophia. If I had a child, I'd love them with every breath in my body."

She went rigid. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. "What...what are you saying?"

His arms tightened like he wanted to fuse them together. "I'm saying neither you nor our child will ever be alone again. From this moment on, I'll protect you both."

Vivian shoved him away, her face pale. "You know?"

Ethan didn't answer directly. He gently wiped the cold sweat from her temple. "Theo needs you. I need you. No matter what happens, the three of us are family now."

The hallway lights cast deep shadows in his eyes. For the first time, Vivian realized this man understood her far better than she'd ever imagined.