The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 288

Cody lay on the hospital bed, looking small and miserable, his eyes watery as he clung to Steven’s sleeve. “Daddy, I miss Mommy. Does she know I’m sick? Why isn’t she coming to see me?”

His voice wobbled, and in the next second, his face crumpled as he started to cry.

When Marian was around, she was always saying bad things about Lucie, and it made Cody keep his distance from her. But he was just a kid. And when kids get sick, all they want is their mom.

Steven crouched down beside the bed, trying to hold it together. “You miss Mommy? I’ll call her right now and ask her to come to the hospital, okay?” He pulled out his phone, already scrolling for Bria’s number.

Cody’s lips trembled even harder. “Which mommy are you calling?” he asked, his words tumbling out between sniffles.

Steven froze, his hand halfway to dialing. He stared at Cody, not knowing what to say.

“I don’t want the new mommy. I want my old mommy back. Daddy, I promise I’ll be good. Please, can we not have a new mommy?” The words fell apart as Cody dissolved into tears again.

Now that his mommy was gone, it hit him how much he missed her. Every time there was a parent meeting at kindergarten, the other kids had both their parents with them. He was always the only one without a mom.

And his mom was so pretty and gentle. Whenever she came to school, the other kids always whispered about how lucky he was.

Steven felt like someone was squeezing his heart. He tried to comfort Cody, but his voice was rough. “Cody, be a good boy. Your new mommy is your real mommy now.”

Cody wailed louder. “No! I don’t want her! I just want my old mommy! Does she really not want me anymore?”

Steven tried, “Hey, come on…”

But Cody couldn’t stop. He started coughing, gasping for breath. The fever was making it worse, and now his asthma was flaring up.

“Don’t cry, sweetheart, please, don’t cry!” Steven’s voice shook. He was completely helpless.

“I just want Mommy. I only want Mommy,” Cody sobbed.

Steven gave in. “All right, Daddy will take you to see her, okay?”

“Really?” Cody looked up, hope flickering in his eyes.

Steven’s brow was furrowed with worry. “But you have to promise to be good. Mommy isn’t feeling well either, so you have to be on your best behavior when you see her.”

Cody nodded, suddenly quiet and obedient.

Steven hesitated for a moment, then scooped Cody up and carried him down the hall toward Lucie’s room.

Five minutes later, he paused at the door, took a deep breath, and gently pushed it open.

Lucie was lying on the bed, still and silent, looking almost lifeless.

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