With Nicklaus gone, Nicholas and the men immediately rushed toward Mrs. Anna.
One of the men quickly knelt beside her and began removing the restraints while Nicholas helped loosen the ropes around her wrists.
"Mrs. Anna, you're safe now," Nicholas said urgently.
The moment the last restraint came loose, Anna stumbled forward.
She didn't even stop to catch her breath.
Her eyes immediately went to Elian.
"Elian!"
She rushed toward him, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.
She dropped to her knees beside him and gathered his head carefully into her arms.
"My child…"
Her voice broke.
"Elian, please…"
She cried bitterly, holding him close.
"I'm here," Elian whispered faintly.
Anna looked down at him.
His eyes were barely open.
"Grandmother…"
"Yes, I'm here," she sobbed. "I'm right here."
Elian tried to lift his head, but he didn't have the strength.
His eyes slowly moved over her face, as if he simply needed to make sure she was truly safe.
"You're okay…"
Anna nodded through her tears.
"Yes. I'm okay. You found me."
A weak expression of relief crossed Elian's face.
He had done what he came for.
He had found his grandmother.
His eyes began to close.
"Elian?"
Anna's voice trembled.
"Elian, stay awake."
His breathing became weaker.
"Grandmother…"
His voice was barely audible.
Then his eyes closed completely.
"Elian!"
Anna cried out, holding him tighter.
"No, no, no… please don't leave me!"
The men immediately moved closer.
Nicholas stood frozen for a moment, staring at Elian in shock.
"Get him to the hospital!" he ordered.
Several men carefully moved toward Elian as Anna continued crying beside him.
Cherry rushed inside moments later.
The moment she saw Elian unconscious in Anna's arms, she covered her mouth, tears instantly filling her eyes.
"Elian…"
Anna could only hold onto him and cry as the men prepared to carry him out.
Hours later
AT THE HOSPITAL
The doctor stepped out of Elian's room, his expression serious.
Everyone immediately gathered around him.
"How is he?" Cherry asked anxiously.
"He's stable for the moment," the doctor said. "We've treated his injuries, but he lost a dangerous amount of blood."
Mrs. Anna's heart sank.
"Then give him blood," she pleaded. "Please. Give him whatever he needs."
"We need to," the doctor replied. "But unfortunately, the hospital doesn't have his blood type available."
Anna stared at him in disbelief.
"What do you mean?"
"Elian has a very rare blood type. We don't have a compatible supply in our blood bank right now."
Cherry's eyes filled with tears.
"Can't you get it from somewhere else?"
"We're contacting other facilities, but because his blood type is so rare, finding a compatible donor could take time."
The doctor paused.
"His biological family would be the quickest possibility. If we can identify a close biological relative, we can test them for compatibility and, if they're a match, arrange the donation immediately."
Silence fell over the hallway.
Jennie and Nicholas stood completely still.
Neither of them said a word.
But Mrs. Anna looked at them.
Her heart began pounding.
She knew exactly what the doctor had just said meant.
If she told them the truth…
If she finally admitted that Elian was the baby Jennie had lost all those years ago…
They could be tested.
They could donate.
They could save him.
Anna's eyes moved toward the closed hospital-room door.
Her precious Elian was lying unconscious on the other side.
She pressed a trembling hand against her chest.
I have to tell them.
The thought terrified her.
For years, she had kept the truth buried because she was afraid of losing Elian.
She had raised him.
Loved him.
He was the family she had left.
The only person who had remained beside her.
And now, telling the truth could mean giving him back to the family he had been taken from.
Anna's eyes filled with tears.
She looked at Jennie and Nicholas again.
They were standing only a few steps away.
She could tell them.
She could finally say the words.
Elian is your son.
But fear held her back.
What if they took him away?
What if Elian no longer wanted her?
What if, after all these years, she became a stranger in his life?
Anna lowered her head, tears falling silently.
She knew the truth might be the only thing that could save Elian.
But she wasn't ready to lose him.
Not yet.
She clenched her trembling hands together.
"I can't…" she whispered so quietly that nobody heard.
Behind the hospital doors, Elian remained unconscious.
And for the first time, Anna found herself trapped between two unbearable choices—
protect the secret she'd carried for years, or reveal it to save the child she loved.
Meanwhile, far away from the hospital, Nicklaus and Cindy met at a quiet location.
Nicklaus was leaning against the side of the car, breathing heavily. His clothes were disheveled, his face bruised, and blood stained the corner of his mouth from the fight with Elian.
Cindy stared at him in disbelief.
"You idiot!" she yelled. "Do you even realize what you've done?"
Nicklaus glared at her.
"Not now, Cindy."
"Not now?" Cindy snapped. "We were followed because of you! I told you we needed to be careful!"
Nicklaus clenched his jaw.
"You think I wanted Elian to find us?"
"Yes!" Cindy shouted. "You practically led him straight to us!"
Nicklaus pushed himself away from the car, but the movement made him wince.
"Spare me the yelling and help me get these injuries treated."
Cindy stared at him for a moment before sighing heavily.
"Fine."
She stepped closer and helped him into the passenger seat.
Nicklaus lowered himself carefully, holding his side.
Cindy shut the door and walked around to the driver's side.
Once she got inside, Nicklaus leaned back against the seat, closing his eyes.
"I can't go home like this," he muttered.
Cindy glanced at him.
"Why?"
"My parents will know."
He looked down at his bloodstained clothes.
"If they see me like this after everything that happened tonight, they'll realize I was behind it."
Cindy understood immediately.
"So where are you going to stay?"
"Anywhere but home."
Cindy started the engine.
"I know a hotel."
Nicklaus nodded.
"Take me there."
Cindy drove away from the area, keeping her eyes on the road.
For several minutes, neither of them spoke.
Then Nicklaus opened his eyes and looked out the window.
"Elian survived."
Cindy's hands tightened around the steering wheel.
"I know."
"He saw Anna."
"I know."
"And he knows someone from the family was involved."
Cindy remained silent.
Nicklaus leaned his head against the seat.
"We need to be more careful from now on."
Cindy glanced at him briefly.
"We?"
Nicklaus looked at her.
"You're in this too."
Cindy said nothing.
The car continued through the dark streets until the hotel finally came into view.
Cindy pulled into the entrance and stopped.
Nicklaus slowly opened the door.
"Help me inside."
Cindy sighed again before getting out.
She supported him as they entered the hotel together, both knowing that whatever happened next, their secret was becoming harder and harder to hide.