Chapter 307

The nurse came in a little while later to check Kylie’s vitals.

Christian reluctantly moved his chair away from the bed, although he kept one hand on Kylie’s ankle until the nurse gave him a look.

“Mr. Sinclair.”

He glanced up.

“Yes?”

“I need to examine her.”

“Of course.”

He moved back another few inches.

The nurse checked the monitor, examined the IV line, and asked Kylie a few simple questions about her pain. Kylie answered as best she could, occasionally looking at Christian when she wasn’t certain whether she was allowed to complain.

He encouraged every complaint.

“Tell her where it hurts, sweetheart.”

“My side.”

“Anything else?”

“My entire body.”

The nurse smiled.

“That’s understandable after everything you’ve been through. We’ll discuss pain management with the doctor.”

Kylie looked at Christian.b”Can I have a new body?”

“I’ll see what I can arrange.” He chuckled.

“I want one that doesn’t hurt.”

“Very reasonable. Anything else?”

“One that can eat actual food.”

“We’ll put that on the list.”

The nurse shook her head, amused, and finished her checks.

“You’re doing well, Kylie. Don’t push yourself too much, and please let us know if the pain worsens or you notice anything unusual.”

Kylie nodded.

When the nurse left, Christian returned to his chair.

He did not immediately reach for Kylie’s hand.

Instead, he studied her face.

She rolled her eyes, then winced slightly.

Christian’s expression changed at once. “Easy.”

“I’m fine.”

He raised an eyebrow.

She sighed. “I’m not fine. I’m in pain. But I’m not dying.”

He looked at her.

The joke had been careless.

Kylie realised it as soon as she said it. “I’m sorry.”

Christian shook his head. “Don’t apologise.”

She studied him. “That joke was bad.”

“It was terrible.”

“You’re supposed to say it was funny.”

“I love you too much to lie to you about your material.”

She gasped faintly. “Horrible.”

“Yet you keep me.”

“Against my better judgment.”

He smiled.

……

Kylie almost immediately slept for a little over an hour.

When she woke again, the room was dimmer, the afternoon light fading beyond the windows. Christian was still beside her bed, though he had moved his chair closer and was reading something on his phone with an expression that suggested the contents had personally offended him.

She watched him for a moment.

His hair had fallen over his forehead.

His shirt was creased.

There was a faint mark on his cheek from where he had apparently rested his face against his hand.

She smiled.

Christian looked up almost immediately.

“Hey.”

She blinked. “Hi.”

“How are you feeling?”

She considered the question.

“Like I’ve been hit by a truck.”

“An entire truck?”

“Several.”

“That’s concerning.”

“Thank you for your medical insight.”

“Anytime.”

She shifted slightly, then stopped when the movement pulled at her side.

“Do you want the nurse?”

“No.”

“Water?”

She nodded.

He reached for the cup on the bedside table and helped her take a few small sips through a straw.

She swallowed slowly. “Thank you.”

He set the cup down. “Better?”

“A little.”

He brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

She looked at him.

“There’s something I wanted to tell you.”

Her expression became cautious. “Okay.”

He reached for her hand. “My mum came to visit you.”

Kylie went very still.

For a moment, she seemed not to understand the words. Then she looked at him. “Your mum?”

He nodded.

“When?”

“Yesterday.”

Her eyes widened slightly. She looked toward the door. “Did she see me?”

“She stood outside the room for a while. Emilia noticed her and told me.”

She looked back at him.

Christian rubbed his thumb over her hand.

“What did she want?”

“To see you.”

Kylie swallowed. “Why?”

Christian looked at her.

“She said she wanted to see you.”

She turned her face toward the window.

For a few seconds, she said nothing.

Christian did not rush to fill the silence.

Finally, she whispered, “I don’t know if I want to see her.”

The words were barely audible.

Christian’s expression softened.

He lifted his free hand and gently rubbed her forehead, smoothing the faint crease between her brows.

“That’s okay.”

Kylie closed her eyes.

He continued the gentle movement, his thumb passing slowly above her eyebrows.

Christian looked at her steadily.

“You’ve been through enough. You don’t owe anybody access to you just because they ask for it.”

She stared at him.

He brushed his thumb over her forehead again.

Her lips parted, but no words came.

Christian leaned closer. “Especially not while you’re lying in a hospital bed trying to recover.”

She looked away. “She came all the way here.”

“She technically rode one of the best cars down here.”

Kylie let out a slow breath. “That makes it harder.”

Christian nodded. “She did not walk down here, Kylie. Don’t think of it too much.”

It would have been easier if Mrs. Sinclair had not come.

It would have been easier if she had continued to insist that Christian was making a mistake, that Kylie was unsuitable, that his feelings were temporary and would eventually give way to family expectations.

It would have been easier if nothing had changed. But Mrs. Sinclair had come to the hospital.

She had stood outside the room and asked to see the woman she had once treated as an obstacle.

And Christian had told Kylie that his mother had apologised. He had not said it yet, but Kylie could see there was more to the story.

She looked back at him. “Did she say anything else?”

Christian was quiet for a moment. “She apologised to me.”

Kylie blinked. “Your mum apologised? To you?”

“That’s generally how apologies work.”

She gave him a weak glare. “Don’t be annoying.”

“Sorry.”

Kylie looked toward the window again.

She looked back at him, and squeezed his fingers as much as her strength allowed.

“I know you don’t need her approval now. You’ve made your own decisions, and you’ve built your own life. But I know that doesn’t mean the little boy who wanted his mum to be proud of him just disappears.”

Christian’s throat tightened.

He looked back at her.

She gave him a faint smile.

“So I’m glad she apologised. I’m glad you got to hug her. I’m glad you got something you needed.”

She paused. “Even if I’m not sure I want to see her.”

He let out a quiet breath. Then he bent forward and kissed her forehead. “That’s all right.”

She closed her eyes. “I don’t want you to think I’m trying to punish her.”

“I’m not.”

“I just…” She opened her eyes again. “I don’t know what to do with her being sorry.”

Christian nodded. “Then don’t do anything with it yet.”