Page 150 of My Damaged Protector

Something I know he got from his mother.

He's so strong-willed. It amuses me sometimes, especially when he puts it to test on the very person he got it from. She goes berserk trying to manage him. I just sit back and watch them both.

Slowing down, I bring him to my face level, letting his happiness wash over me, too.

“Love you little guy,” I say. His smile brightens and I start to drop him down. He starts to protest, but I pay him no heed.

“Daddy has to work. Go back to Mommy.”

The door to the house opens, and Olivia comes outside, a bowl of fruit in her hands.

“Come eat, Ryan.”

At her words, the little guy wrestles out of my grip and rushes toward her.

“Thank you.” I smile at her.

She shrugs, a smile on her face, too. “It's my duty as the only woman in the house,” she says.

That has me pausing. Only woman in the house. That's not possible.

“Where's Sarah?” I ask, a terrible feeling stirring in my gut.

Something is wrong.

“Sarah is not here, Ian. She's at the hospital. That's the sacrifice she paid for us to be here together. For Ryan to be born.”

What's she talking about? She's not making any sense.

Why would Sarah be at the hospital? What sacrifice did she make?

Everything was fine. I sorted it out. I handled Peter. And then she told me she loved me. Everything was okay, until…

Something happened, but I can't remember what it is.

“Why is Sarah at the hospital?”

“For the bone marrow transplant.”

What?

How can Sarah be at the hospital for the bone marrow transplant and Ryan is here? Shouldn't she still be here?

Something is wrong. I can't say what it is, but I know I have to find Sarah. She's the only one who can give an explanation for everything that's going on.

Stepping away from my car, I realize I'm back at Glazer Ville, in front of Sheila's house. If I have to get to Sarah soon, I'll have to take a flight.

I can't find Olivia or Ryan again. Maybe they're inside the house.

I start to walk away from Sheila's house, but then I realize I need a car, so I turn back, rush inside the house to get the keys to Sarah's car, and start to drive.

There's just one problem now. I'm no longer in Glazer Ville now that I'm in the car. I'm back in Louisiana. The city I grew up in, almost a day's journey away from New Jersey.

What on earth is going on with me?

With my heart beating fast in my chest, I continue to drive, finding myself in different places many times before I'm finally back in New Jersey and in front of the hospital.

I get out of the car and literally rush inside the hospital. I don't stop walking until I'm in front of Neville's ward. I push the door open, but Neville isn’t inside, and neither is Sarah.

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