The atmosphere in the hospital room was stifling.

Mila and Quentin stood frozen, staring at Bella in utter shock.

"Ms. Bella, you... You knew all along that the boy was Young Master Hugh?" Quentin's voice trembled with disbelief.

"Yes." Bella pressed her lips together, lowering her lashes. "Last time, when Ralph took his cigarette butt for a DNA test... We already knew the results."

"So you and Ralph both knew that he was my Hugh... Yet you conspired to keep it from me?!" Mila stepped forward, her shoulders shaking, her eyes were red with restrained emotion.

A pang of guilt pierced Bella's heart. She hesitated before whispering, "Aunt Mila, I'm sorry... If you must blame someone, blame me. It was my idea-it had nothing to do with Ralph."

Mila's gaze locked onto hers, unwavering. Without realizing it, tears streamed down her face.

"You have no idea what I have endured all these years without Hugh. Wyatt, Camilla, Celeste, and Sasha -they all told me to let go. I forced myself to move past the grief of losing my child and accept the possibility that Hugh was gone, his body lost forever.

"But I never let go. Not for a single second. Night after night, I dreamed of Hugh standing before me, drenched from head to toe, whispering over and over, 'Mom... The water is so cold...""

A heavy sigh escaped Quentin's lips, while Bella trembled, overwhelmed with sorrow.

Mila's tears fell uncontrollably, her reddened eyes swirling with anguish. "Bella, you knew everything and

still kept it from me. Do you not see how presumptuous and cruel you have been to me?"

For the first time, the woman who had treated Bella as her own daughter and spoiled Bella more than her own children raised her voice.

At this moment, pain consumed Mila, stripping away her usual composure.

"I'm sorry..." Bella apologized again, choking on her words.

being scolded. "But you have watched Ms. Bella grow up. You know what kind of person she is. She is not reckless or thoughtless. I believe she must have had her reasons for keeping

with urgency. "Aunt Mila, Hugh is in

Mila's entire body tensed.

take his life at any moment. If his

I kept it from you and Wyatt. I was afraid that your love for

bloodshot eyes widened.

"Aunt Mila, I'm sorry. For both your safety, I cannot tell you

today, on the road, a group of people tried to kill

mounting. "If what you say is true, that the mastermind still has a use for Hugh-why would they try to kill

was stunned. Her gaze

and Grant was in need of

was a third force at play-someone who wanted to sever Grant's

situation was far more

weight settled over Bella's heart, but she forced herself to reassure Mila. "Aunt Mila, don't worry. Hugh is not the same as before.

cracked. "Do you have any idea... The doctors said that if

hospital a moment later, he

could barely breathe. Bella rushed to soothe

finally found Hugh. If I lose him again...

won't happen, Aunt Mila. This time, I swear I will bring

then, Mila's phone

She glanced down.

moved steadily

"Aunt Mila,

the phone, her knuckles turning

I installed a tracker on his phone. da Savrow is too big, and I have no other way to

inhaled sharply. She could not help but marvel-Wyatt's women were truly

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