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.

scolded. "But you have watched Ms. Bella grow up. You know what kind

urgency. "Aunt Mila, Hugh is

Mila's entire body tensed.

plane crash. Right now, he is being manipulated and used. The person controlling him could take

kept it from you and Wyatt. I was afraid

violently. Her bloodshot eyes widened. "Who is

head. "Aunt Mila, I'm sorry. For both your

group of people tried to

that the mastermind still

was stunned. Her gaze darkened

memory, and Grant was in need of

who wanted to

situation was far more complex than she had

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

anyone?" Mila's voice cracked. "Do you have any idea... The doctors said

at the hospital a moment later, he would not have

could barely breathe. Bella rushed to soothe her, gently patting

finally found Hugh. If I lose him again... I don't want to

time, I

then, Mila's phone

She glanced down.

red dot moved steadily

"Aunt

the phone, her knuckles

Hugh was unconscious, I installed a tracker on his phone. da Savrow is too big, and I have

not help but marvel-Wyatt's women were

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