Chapter 331

Steven swallowed hard and looked away from Lucie's searching eyes. "Cody... he's still in the ICU. The doctors say his immune system is really weak-he could catch something at any moment. It's just not a good time for visitors right now."

The lie slipped out so easily.

He hated lying to her. But at this point, if he wanted her to have the baby, he didn't have a choice. He was using both guilt and desperation to keep her here.

Lucie watched him, her brows knitting together. Something was off. Steven was always so secretive whenever Cody's "condition" came up. He hadn't even shown her a photo.

"So what's really going on with him?" she pressed, her voice edged with suspicion. "Is he getting worse?"

Steven's face tightened. "The doctors can only use conservative treatment for now. They're trying to keep things stable with medication."

"As soon as he's a little better, I'll take you to see him, okay?" He tried to soften his voice, tried to calm her down.

Lucie's eyes never left his face. She studied him, looking for any hint of a lie.

But Steven's grief looked heartbreakingly real. There was nothing for her to catch. "Steven, are you hiding something else from me?"

His jaw clenched. "Not this again. Why do you always have to doubt me?"

"If you don't believe me, I'll call the head doctor right now. You can ask about Cody yourself."

"...All right."

Steven didn't even hesitate. He told the nurse to bring the pediatric specialist over. It didn't matter—he'd already paid the doctor. The man would use all the right medical terms to convince Lucie that Cody really had leukemia. That the only cure was the umbilical cord blood from her baby.

A few minutes later, the nurse returned with Dr. Meza, who walked in carrying a stack of test results.

"Mr. Heath, Ms. Anderson."

Lucie tensed. "Doctor, how is Cody doing right now?"

Dr. Meza glanced at Steven, who gave him a tiny nod. The doctor seemed to get the message instantly. He handed the test results to Lucie.

"These are Cody's reports, Ms. Anderson."

Lucie scanned the pages. Even though she wasn't a doctor, she recognized the

word “abnormal” next to the key numbers. Her frown deepened.

"These numbers... Is it really leukemia?" Her voice shook, just a little.

vel

Dr. Meza adjusted his glasses and looked at her with practiced seriousness. "Yes, Ms. Anderson. Cody has acute lymphoblastic leukemia-one of the most dangerous types. The chemoi working well. His body isn't responding, and honestly, he's too young for the harsh treatments."

The chemo is

He paused, glancing at her stomach, and softened his tone. "We ran genetic matches. The umbilical cord blood from your baby is almost a perfect match for Cody. It's our best shot. If we miss this chance Cody's situation could get much worse." Cóntent

Lucie's heart twisted. She automatically placed a hand on her belly.

Cody wasn't her biological child, but the two kids had the same father. That made a match likely.

The doctor's explanation was clear, the numbers added up, and even the sadness

in his voice felt just right. There were no cracks to pick apart.

She had no choice but to believe it.

Lucie gripped the test results, her fingers cold.

She looked up at Steven. He was watching her with a look that begged her to trust him, eyes full of pain and desperation.

"How... How's Cody holding up?” she asked quietly, her voice thick with worry.

No one is made of stone. Especially not a mother-no matter what her DNA said— when she'd carried a child for nine months. She loved Cody deeply, and that wasn't something she could just turn off.

Dr. Meza let out a heavy sigh. "The medication is keeping things from getting worse, for now. But the side effects are rough. Cody's lost so much weight, and he can barely eat anything..."

Lucie felt her heart clench tight. It hurt just to imagine.

"My poor baby, Cody," she whispered.

Steven reached for her hand, his warmth steadying. "Lucie, I know this isn't fair to you. But Cody is just a kid—he's only three. He doesn't deserve any of this."

Steven's voice was tired and rough, thick with pleading. "Once the baby is born, and Cody is safe, you can do whatever you want. I promise I won't stand in your way. I won't bother you again."

Lucie pulled her hand free. She set the test results on the nightstand and sat in silence. The only sound in the room was the steady beeping of hospital machines. Dr. Meza quietly slipped out, leaving them alone.

"I understand," she said at last, her voice flat and calm. "I'll have the baby."

Steven's eyes lit up, hope blooming on his face like sunlight after a storm. “Lucie, thank you. Thank you for saving both of them..."

"But I have conditions." Lucie cut him off, her gaze sharp. "First, as soon as the baby is born, you take Cody for treatment right away. No delay Second, after the cord blood is used, the baby and I have nothing to do with the Heath family anymore. That includes you, Steven. You are never to show up in our lives again."