Chapter 124: Denial

The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains of the VIP hospital room, bathing everything in a warm golden glow.

It was a sharp contrast to the terror that had unfolded only hours earlier.

Alexander lay peacefully on the hospital bed. Tiny sensors were still attached to his chest, monitoring his heartbeat, but the steady rhythm on the monitor was enough to ease anyone’s worries.

Kristoff stood beside the window with his back to the room, his eyes fixed on the city skyline.

He hadn’t slept. Not for a single minute.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Alexander lying motionless beneath the robot puppy.

The memory made his fists tighten.

A knock interrupted the silence.

Before anyone could answer, the door slowly opened.

Charlotte stepped inside.

She was still wearing the same dress from yesterday, her makeup hastily applied to conceal the exhaustion on her face. The moment she saw Alexander sleeping peacefully, tears welled in her eyes.

"Alex..."

She hurried toward the bed. Just as she was about to touch the baby’s tiny hand—

"Don’t."

Kristoff’s icy voice froze her in place.

Charlotte slowly turned around. Kristoff was staring at her. His expression was colder than she had ever seen.

"What... what’s wrong?" she asked softly.

He didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he picked up the oversized teddy bear that he asked his driver to bring over. It was placed on a nearby chair as evidence.

"Recognize this?"

Charlotte blinked innocently.

"Of course. I bought that as a gift for Alexander."

"You admit it?"

She nodded without hesitation.

"I do. I thought it was cute and would help Alex sleep better."

Kristoff’s gaze hardened.

"Then explain why you would give such an oversized stuffed toy to Alex?"

Charlotte frowned.

"What is wrong with it?" Charlotte tried very hard to maintain her composure.

"You don’t know?"

"I gave it to the nanny after I arrived home yesterday. I told her to put it in the nursery. I had no idea she would place it inside the crib next to Alex. I know it caused Alexander’s accident, but I never meant for any of this to happen."

Kristoff took a slow step toward her, his expression growing colder.

"Shouldn’t that have been common sense?" he asked. "We attended parenting classes together. We were taught the basic dos and don’ts of caring for babies."

Charlotte’s heart skipped a beat.

"The footage shows you handing this bear to the nanny."

"I already said I did."

"It also shows the nanny placing it beside Alexander while he was sleeping."

Charlotte’s eyes widened.

"What?"

"I never told her to do that!"

Kristoff let out a cold laugh.

"You expect me to believe that?"

"What do you mean by that Kristoff? Are you doubting me?"

Her eyes reddened almost instantly.

"I only wanted her to leave it in the nursery. I never imagined she’d put it in a dangerous position in the crib."

Kristoff remained unmoved.

"My son stopped breathing because of that bear."

Charlotte’s lips trembled.

"I... I didn’t know..."

"You almost killed him."

Those four words struck harder than a slap.

Charlotte staggered back as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"No..."

She shook her head desperately.

"I would never hurt Alexander. I love him."

"You?"

Kristoff’s voice dripped with ridicule.

"Love?"

"If you truly cared about him, you would’ve known that babies should never sleep beside stuffed animals."

Charlotte froze. Of course, she knew.

She had read countless books on infant care before Alexander was born. Kristoff forced the books on her. She knew that stuffed animals, pillows, and loose blankets had no place inside a baby’s crib.

But now...

She could only play the innocent.

"Kristoff..." Her voice quivered as fresh tears welled in her eyes. "Are you... angry with me?"

She lowered her head, looking utterly pitiful.

"I’ve never raised a child before. There are so many things I don’t understand. I only wanted to give Alexander a gift. I never imagined something like this could happen."

Tears rolled freely down her cheeks.

"I’m sorry..."

Her shoulders trembled.

"I truly didn’t know my ignorance could nearly cost him his life."

"Sorry?"

Kristoff’s voice was as cold as ice.

His eyes burned with barely restrained fury.

"If that robotic puppy hadn’t detected Alexander’s cardiac arrest and started CPR..."

He took a step closer, every word striking like a hammer.

"...my son would already be dead."

Charlotte’s face turned deathly pale.

For a fleeting moment, the tears in her eyes stopped.

She had never imagined that insignificant-looking robotic pet would become the variable that ruined everything.

Kristoff pointed toward the charging dock near the window.

The small robotic puppy sat quietly, its blue indicator light blinking.

Charlotte stared at the little puppy in hidden disgust. Yesterday, it called her Auntie and ruined her plan.

Something so small... Something she had barely noticed yesterday...

Had accomplished what no human in the house had managed to do.

Silence filled the room.

Finally, Kristoff spoke again.

"The nanny was dismissed."

Charlotte slowly nodded.

"I understand."

"And until I know exactly how this happened..."

His gaze locked onto hers.

"...I don’t want you anywhere near my son."

Charlotte’s eyes widened.

"What?"

"Aren’t you always making excuses not to visit him? Now you don’t need to do it."

Her breathing hitched.

"I came here because I was worried about him."

"Worried?"

Kristoff scoffed.

"You’re the reason he’s lying in this hospital."

"No! Why are you thinking like that?" Charlotte pleaded.

She instinctively reached for his arm.

"I would never hurt Alexander! He is my son."

Kristoff pulled away as though her touch disgusted him.

"For Alexander’s safety..."

His voice was devoid of warmth.

"...stay away from him."

Charlotte felt as though the ground had disappeared beneath her feet.

She looked toward the bed one last time.

Alexander slept peacefully, completely unaware of the storm raging around him.

Tears blurred Charlotte’s vision.

Without another word, she turned and walked out of the room.

The door clicked shut behind her.

Outside the room, she leaned against the wall as sobs escaped her lips. She made sure it was loud enough for Kristoff to hear.

Inside, Kristoff didn’t look back.

His eyes remained fixed on his sleeping son.

No matter what Charlotte claimed...

He couldn’t forgive the fact that Alexander had nearly died.

Not yet.