Just a couple of days ago, back in Nareigh, she was doing fine. She might not have been bouncing off the walls with energy, but the was healthy in every way.
And now, in just two short days, she ended up like this. “I failed to protect her. I never should’ve let her go through this. Jonathan thought, his heart heavy with regret.
“It’s not your fault, Jonathan. Don’t blame yourself. If Teresa wakes up and sees you like this, she’ll feel bad too,” Benny said softly.
Jonathan shook his head slightly. “I just can’t stop blaming myself. I never should’ve let her come here alone. I wasn’t careful enough,” he said, his voice heavy with guilt.
Benny sighed, his throat tight with emotion. “Why don’t you go check on the baby? Go see your little boy,” he said softly.
But Jonathan stayed right by Teresa’s side.
“Come on, let’s go see the baby,” Benny said as he practically dragged Jonathan away.
Right now, the little one was in the incubator. He was born just past 33 weeks, not quite 34, and weighed in at 5.5 pounds.
He was staying in the most advanced incubator. Compared to other preemies, his weight was actually pretty good. But since he was born early, his lungs weren’t fully developed, so he needed to stay in the incubator for monitoring and treatment.
When Jonathan and Benny looked through the glass at the baby, they saw him with his tiny fists clenched, little legs sticking up, eyes still closed–just a tiny little bundle.
Benny grinned and said, “Look at him. He’s such a pretty little thing, looks just like Teresa. And check out how smooth his
Jonathan didn’t say a word. He just stood there, gazing at his child through the glass of the incubator. That was it. He cou look. He couldn’t even hold his baby.
That kind of gut–wrenching pain of just standing there, unable to do anything but watch one’s own child, was something only a parent could ever truly feel.
Benny turned to Jonathan and said, “Hey, what day is it today? Still November? That means he’s a Scorpio, just like you. That’s great. If he takes after you, he’ll be bursting with energy and strength.
“He really looks like he’s destined for good fortune. If he’d been born a bit later, he would’ve been a Capricorn like Teresa.”
Benny was trying to tell Jonathan in a roundabout way that just because the baby was born early, it didn’t mean he’d have health problems.
Some preemies, as long as they were well taken care of, could grow up strong and healthy. Sometimes they even turned out smarter and tougher than other kids.
“Oh, by the way, what’s his name?” Benny asked.
“Felix Johnston,” Jonathan replied.
“Huh?” Benny blinked, looking puzzled. “Why is his last name Johnston instead of yours? Didn’t you and Teresa get remarried?”
Jonathan didn’t say a word.
1/2
Chapter 942
Benny went on, “Wouldn’t Felix Lynn sound better than Felix Johnston? Or maybe just call him Rocky. Look at how tough this line guy is. Right, Rocky–Rock?” Benny teased the little guy through the incubator glass.
The baby didn’t pay him any attention. He didn’t seem to like being called “Rocky–Rock” at all. His tiny fists were clenched tight, and his little feet were stretched out.
Benny let out a whistle and grinned, “Hey, Rocky–Rock, you gotta keep hanging its there. Be brave, keep fighting, and hurry up and get out of that incubator so you can finally be with your mom and dad.
“Do you have any idea how much those two have been worrying about you? Seriously, kid, you’ve had thern both losing sleep over you.”
“That’s enough,” Jonathan said, but he just couldn’t even force a smile at Benny’s teasing.
Especially when he saw his baby still hooked up to a ventilator, with those little patches on his chest monitoring his heartbeat. It broke his heart to see him like that.
His child was going through all this pain and suffering because of Yalena. Jonathan almost wished someone would just stab him to death or do anything to make this pain stop.
As that thought crossed his mind, a chilling, murderous intent flickered in his eyes.
AD
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