Twin Cupids at Work Daddy Come Home novel Chapter 644

When Julian held Madeline in his arms, she felt weightless and fragile, like a doll that had been broken and pieced back together too many times. Her skin was marked with bruises and gashes, so raw and painful it was hard to even look at her.

Casey was right. This was his fault. He should have protected her. The guilt made it hard to breathe.

Inside the emergency room, Madeline lay on the table, struggling just to keep her eyes open. She wiped the tears from her face, her voice barely more than a whisper. “Doctor…”

The doctor paused, meeting her gaze. “You’re awake.”

She nodded, fighting the discomfort. “My eyes... I think I need an eye doctor.”

If she hadn’t spoken up, the doctor might not have noticed so quickly. He bent down, examined her eyes, and his expression tightened before he hurried off to find a specialist.

Time seemed to drag on forever. Finally, the doors to the emergency room swung open and a nurse stepped out.

Julian was on his feet in an instant. “How is she?”

“She’s stable,” the nurse said, trying to sound reassuring. “Most of her injuries are just scrapes. The cut on her lower back is a bit worse, but with good care, she’ll recover. It’s just…”

Julian leaned in, barely breathing. “Just what?”

The nurse hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “Her vision… there’s permanent damage. She can’t see. I’m so sorry. She’s blind.”

Julian felt the world go eerily silent. He stared at the nurse, the truth landing like a punch to the chest. “You’re saying… her eyesight is gone? Completely?”

The nurse nodded. “Her corneas are badly injured, beyond repair. Unless she has a transplant, she won’t regain her sight. I’m sorry.”

The words barely registered. His mind kept echoing that one word. Blind. How had he not known? How had he not seen it?

The pain pressed in on him, smothering, suffocating. His fists clenched. Suddenly, he slammed his hand against the wall, the sharp smack echoing down the hallway and making the nurse jump.

“It’s a lot better,” she whispered back.

“Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?”

She pressed her lips together, silent for a few moments. Then she lifted her chin, searching for his face behind the gauze. “Julian… are my eyes… will I never see again?”

Julian felt a cold spike of adrenaline. He barely managed to hide his worry as he answered, “Who told you that?”

She let out a shaky breath. “I’m a doctor too, remember? I know what it feels like when something’s really wrong.” Her voice was quiet. “I’ve already prepared myself for the worst.”

Julian’s fingers traced the edge of her bandage, the ache in his chest almost unbearable. “It’s not that serious. The doctor said your eyes are just injured. The blindness is temporary. If you rest, you’ll get better.”

She hesitated, hope and fear warring in her expression. “Is that what the doctor really said? You’re not just telling me that to make me feel better, right?”