Chapter 53

The silence in Adrien's room seemed eternal, broken only by the faint beeping of the monitors marking his vital signs. Ana stood by the window, watching the city from the hospital. The first rays of sunlight were beginning to illuminate the horizon, but her heart remained immersed in the darkness of memories and doubts.

Adrien was asleep, exhausted from the procedure and the emotions of the previous day. His face showed a mix of tiredness and peace, a calm that Ana wished she could feel but found elusive.

As she watched him, a mix of love, regret, and fear filled her. Had she done the right thing by seeking him after all these years? Though Luca now had a chance to survive, it had reopened wounds that might never heal.

Her phone vibrated softly in her bag, pulling her from her thoughts. She quickly took it out and saw a message from the doctor in charge of Luca:

"Luca is stable, but he will need constant monitoring. You can visit him when you are ready."

Ana sighed in relief, though she knew this was just the beginning. She put the phone away and looked at Adrien once more.

-Thank you for saving him -she whispered, knowing he couldn't hear her.

Before leaving the room, she left a note on the nightstand:

"I'm with Luca. We'll talk when you recover. Ana."

When Ana arrived at the pediatric unit, she found Luca in his bed, connected to several monitors, but with a more relaxed expression than in the previous days. His small body fought with every fiber of its being, and Ana felt a pang of guilt thinking that she had waited so long to seek help.

-Mom... -Luca murmured weakly as she entered.

-I'm here, my love -Ana replied, quickly moving closer and taking his small hand.

-Is the man who came... my dad? -Luca asked, with the innocence of a child who doesn't fully understand the complexities of human relationships.

Ana swallowed hard, surprised by the question.

-Yes, darling. He is your dad.

Luca smiled faintly.

-Is he going to stay?

Ana didn't know what to say. She wanted to tell him yes, that Adrien would be there for him, for both of them, but the reality was much more complicated.

-We'll do everything we can to make sure he does -she finally replied, gently stroking his hair.

As Luca closed his eyes again, Ana felt a weight in her chest. Adrien had proven he was willing to do anything for Luca, but what did that mean for them as a family?

Hours later, Ana returned to Adrien's room. She found him awake, with the note she had left in his hand, staring at it intently.

-How is he? -Adrien asked as soon as he saw her enter.

-Stable. The doctors say he's responding well. Thanks to you.

Adrien nodded, but his gaze was serious.

-Ana, we need to talk.

Ana closed the door behind her and walked over slowly.

-I know.

Adrien sat up a bit in bed, though he still looked weak.

-I want to know everything. Why did you leave? Why didn't you tell me?

Ana took a deep breath, feeling her chest tighten.

-It wasn't an easy decision. When I found out I was pregnant, your mother confronted me. She demanded I abort, that I disappear from your life. I couldn't do it, Adrien. I couldn't take away our son's chance at life.

Adrien closed his eyes, processing her words.

-And you thought leaving was the best choice?

-I didn't have another option -Ana replied, her voice trembling. -Your mother had resources, power... I couldn't fight against her. So, I left, far away, to protect Luca.

Adrien felt his chest burn.

-Protect him from what, Ana? From me? I never would have let my mother hurt you.

-I know -Ana said, tears falling down her cheeks. -But at that moment, I didn't see another way.

The silence between them was heavy, filled with unsaid words and repressed emotions. Finally, Adrien spoke.

-I want to be there for him, Ana. Not just because he needs my marrow, but because he's my son. I want to know him, be part of his life.

Ana nodded slowly, feeling a mix of relief and fear.

-That's all I've ever wanted for him.

As they looked at each other, they both knew that, though the road would be difficult, they were willing to try. For Luca. For them. For what they had lost and what they could still recover.

After talking to Adrien, Ana walked firmly toward the pediatric unit, her heart pounding with each step. She needed to see her son again, hug him, feel that all she had done had not been in vain. Her son, Luca, still didn't understand what was happening, but Ana did: every second was crucial, and she couldn't afford to lose him.

When she entered the room, Luca was in bed, staring at the ceiling with tired eyes, but when he saw her, a small smile appeared on his face.

-Mom... -he said, his voice weak but full of hope.

Ana quickly moved to her son, gently taking his hand.

-I'm here, my love. How do you feel?

-A little better... -Luca replied, with a faint smile that made Ana feel relieved. -Will Dad come soon?

Ana's heart skipped a beat when she heard the word "dad." She didn't know whether to tell him the truth or simply stay silent, as the uncertainty about their future as a family was bigger than ever. But she couldn't lie to Luca.

-Yes, darling, he will come soon -she said, gently stroking his face.

At that moment, Adrien entered the room. The door opened slowly, and Ana looked up, meeting Adrien's gaze. He was standing, still weak, but with a determination Ana hadn't seen before.

Luca, noticing his presence, tried to sit up a bit in bed, his eyes sparkling with emotion.

-Dad... -Luca whispered, almost as if he couldn't believe he was there.

Adrien couldn't help but smile, but his smile quickly faded when he saw the fragile state of his son. He slowly approached the bed, not taking his eyes off Luca, and crouched down to be at his level.

-Hello, little one -Adrien said, his voice cracking with emotion.

Luca extended his hand weakly, and Adrien gently took it, feeling that at that moment, everything else lost importance.

-I'm going to take care of you, I promise -Adrien said, his voice full of a firmness that surprised even him.

Ana watched the scene in silence, feeling a knot in her stomach. There were so many unanswered questions, so much she needed to tell Adrien about everything that had happened, but now, seeing the connection between him and Luca, she realized that for once, the past had to be left behind.

-What matters most to me now is that you're okay, Luca -Adrien said, gently stroking his son's hand. -I'm here for you. No matter what happens, I'll always be here.

Luca closed his eyes, feeling the comfort of his father's words.

-Dad... -he murmured, with a faint smile. -I love you.

Ana, hearing those words, felt a wave of emotions overwhelm her. She had never imagined seeing Adrien as a father, nor that her son would accept him so easily. But seeing that small spark of joy on Luca's face, something in her heart softened.

-I know, son. And I love you more than you can imagine -Adrien replied, his voice filled with emotion.

The moment of connection was brief, but meaningful. Ana felt that all she had fought to hide over the past years was crumbling, though there were still too many shadows between her and Adrien.

-I'm going to stay a little longer with him -Ana said, standing up to let Adrien spend time with Luca.

Adrien nodded, looking at his son with tenderness.

-Thank you, Ana. I know it hasn't been easy for you, but I promise I'm going to be here for him. For both of you.

Ana smiled with a mix of sadness and hope, feeling that, although the future remained uncertain, at least now there was a chance to start over.

As Ana left the room, Adrien sat next to Luca, who had fallen asleep shortly after their encounter. Adrien looked at his small face, filled with peace but also marked by the struggle he had endured.

The uncertainty about the future of their family still weighed on him, but for the first time, he felt like he was taking the right path. He didn't know what would happen next, or how things would change, but now, for the first time, there was something he could place his hope in: Luca.