Chapter 530 A Narrow Escape
Cleveland Clinic.
When Alexander received the call, fear gripped his entire being.
He sped to the hospital, tires screeching against the pavement.
By the time he arrived, Victoria had already been wheeled into surgery.
A crowd had gathered outside the operating room—the Howard family elders, Esme, Lila, and others had all rushed to the scene.
"How could the golf cart at the estate possibly lose control?" Saskia wondered aloud, her brow furrowed with worry. "And right when she's so close to her due date. What terrible timing."
"Don't worry, Saskia," Esme reassured her while harboring her own concerns for her daughter. "Vicky and the baby will be fine."
The Howard family elders had arrived first, immediately after receiving Sawyer's call.
They'd learned what happened from Kimberly.
Alexander stood there, radiating a terrifying aura, his face dark with murderous intent.
Kimberly repeated the details of the incident as she stood before him.
This was clearly no accident—it was deliberate. Anyone who dared set a trap at Serenity Grove Manor was either incredibly bold or had a death wish.
"Mr. Howard, Matthew is already investigating," Kimberly informed him. She had sensed something was wrong immediately and had dispatched Matthew to look into it.
A tense, fearful atmosphere now enveloped the entire Serenity Grove Manor.
Midway through Victoria's surgery, Owen emerged once to share two pieces of news.
First: the baby was unharmed and had been delivered safely.
But Alexander's thoughts were entirely focused on Victoria.
"What about Victoria? How is she?" Alexander asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Owen briefly explained Victoria's condition.
The situation wasn't good—she was hemorrhaging severely. She already had a blood clotting disorder, and her right hand was fractured, likely from trying to protect her belly when she fell.
He needed Alexander to sign the surgical consent forms.
Since Alexander hadn't been present earlier, they'd had to postpone certain procedures.
Alexander stared at the consent forms, momentarily disoriented.
"Don't worry," Owen reassured him. "This is standard procedure. Victoria's condition is unique, but thankfully, you've stored enough plasma. She'll be fine. The bleeding is just taking time to control."
Seven long hours passed before Victoria was finally moved from surgery to a hospital room.
Her face was frighteningly pale, devoid of any vitality.
Everyone who saw her felt a pang of sympathy.
"Victoria is extremely weak right now with severe blood loss," Owen explained. "The good news is that she's not in any life-threatening danger. With proper care, she'll recover, though future pregnancies would be very difficult."
Alexander was simply grateful she was alive.
He wanted nothing more than her well-being.
And he had already decided she wouldn't have a second pregnancy.
After Owen gave some additional instructions, he left with Lila.
Soon after, everyone else departed, leaving the couple alone.
The elders went to see the babies in the nursery.
Fortunately, the twins were nearly full-term, well-developed, and didn't require incubators.
Meanwhile, Matthew had uncovered the truth behind the incident at Serenity Grove Manor.
He reported directly to Dylan.
Dylan was shocked to discover the culprits were members of the Howard family.
"Mr. Howard, we've identified those responsible," Dylan said, facing the haggard Alexander.
In just a few hours, Alexander seemed to have aged years.
"Speak," Alexander commanded, his voice hoarse.
Dylan replied, "It was Thora and Celine—the mothers of Christopher and Neil."
Thora and Celine had acted out of vengeance, blaming Alexander and Victoria for destroying their only sons.
Unable to strike at Alexander directly, they had targeted Victoria instead.
The two women had bribed a servant at Serenity Grove Manor to execute their plan.
As Dylan continued his report, the air around them seemed to freeze.
"The two ladies attempted to flee, but Quentin has detained them at both the airport and train station."
Before Dylan could ask how to proceed, Alexander's voice cut through the air, cold as ice, "Since they're so eager to see their sons, let Gideon arrange the reunion!"
Dylan swallowed hard. "Yes, sir. Right away."
Before leaving, Dylan summoned the courage to ask, "Should we inform Mr. Keith Howard and Mr. Lester Howard?"
"Anyone who objects can join them. A perfect family reunion," Alexander replied coldly.
"Understood, sir."
Meanwhile, Gideon quickly had Thora and Celine brought to the Mystic Hall facility.
The women had no idea who had apprehended them until Gideon appeared.
Dylan relayed Alexander's message verbatim to Keith and Lester, who chose to remain silent.
For years, they had never successfully challenged Alexander. Their sons were already ruined, and now they valued their own lives more than their wives'.
Dylan witnessed a stark display of human selfishness.
At the Mystic Hall facility, in a dark underground room, Gideon regarded the two women with contempt, a malevolent smile playing on his lips.
"Thora, Celine, you two wanted to see your sons? You should have just asked. I'd have been happy to arrange it."
With a nod to his guard, he ordered the door opened.
As it swung wide, a putrid stench wafted out.
Thora and Celine covered their noses, stepping backward in disgust.
"What's wrong? Too repulsed by your own sons?" Gideon taunted. "This is what you asked for—to be with them."
Celine couldn't believe her son was living in such conditions.
Neither could Thora.
"You bastard, Gideon! How dare you keep my Neil in a place like this? You'll pay for this!" Celine screamed.
Gideon remained unmoved, casting her a cold glance. If not for her, his mother might still be alive.
Without further discussion, he signaled his guards to throw the women inside.
Thora and Celine struggled desperately, but to no avail.
Gideon found the scene ironic. They claimed to act for their sons, yet now that they faced the reality, they resisted.
Their maternal love existed but was clearly limited.
Moments later, blood-curdling screams echoed from within—screams filled with shock and terror.
Christopher and Neil were still alive, though perhaps not entirely whole.
Three days later, reports came that Thora and Celine had gone insane, constantly screaming and raving.
At the hospital, Victoria regained consciousness on the third day after surgery. She remained weak and drained.
When she opened her eyes, she saw Alexander—worried, haggard, his jaw covered in stubble.
She was surprised; this meticulously groomed man now looked disheveled.
But she understood—he had been terrified for her.
"Darling, don't worry. I'm alright," she said, her voice raspy and dry.
She attempted a smile, struggling to raise her hand to touch his face.
Alexander caught her hand first, pressing it against his cheek, savoring its warmth.
"Go freshen up. I can't bear to look at you like this," she teased.
He quickly cleaned himself up in the bathroom and changed into casual clothes.
Victoria became more alert as time passed, though she still appeared drained of vitality.
Owen examined her shortly after she awoke.
"Victoria is out of danger," he explained. "She's just suffering from blood loss, which will leave her weak for some time. Rest is essential."
No wonder she felt weak—she had lost nearly half her blood.
"Darling, what about our babies?" she asked weakly. "Do we have boys or girls?"
She had been wanting to ask about the babies, knowing from Owen in the operating room that they were safe.
After asking, Victoria noticed Alexander's momentary confusion.
A bold thought crossed her mind.
"You haven't seen the babies yet, have you?" she asked.
Alexander nodded.
For three days, he hadn't left her side.
Victoria didn't know whether to be touched or exasperated.
His heart had been entirely focused on her.
"I want to see our babies," she said.
"Of course. I'll have them brought here."
Just then, Preston and Landon arrived with Nathan.
Seeing Victoria awake, Nathan finally relaxed after three days of worry. "Victoria, you've been through so much."
Victoria smiled. "Nathan, I'm fine. I'm sorry for worrying you."
"Nonsense," Nathan replied. "You've done nothing wrong. You're a hero to the Howard family, giving me a great-granddaughter and a great-grandson all at once."
Soon after, Saskia arrived with the two babies.
For the past three days, she and Esme had taken turns caring for them.
Each woman carried one baby to Victoria's bedside.
Victoria was still too weak to hold them herself.
"Victoria, I'm holding your daughter, the younger twin," Saskia explained. "Your mother is holding your son, the older one."
Victoria gazed at her children, their skin wrinkled, eyes closed in peaceful sleep.
She suddenly felt that everything had been worth it.
Unexpectedly, the baby boy in Esme's arms opened his eyes and began making soft noises.
"Look at that," Esme said. "He was sleeping so soundly, but now he senses his mother nearby."
Children could be remarkably intuitive.
Victoria longed to hold them but lacked the strength and feared hurting them.
They were so tiny, their bones still soft.
Alexander, seeing his children for the first time, finally felt the reality of fatherhood.
Noticing Alexander's gaze fixed on the baby in her arms, Saskia said, "Hold your daughter."
Alexander hesitated, his hands trembling slightly. "How do I hold her?"
Everyone smiled—it was the first time they'd seen him so uncertain.
Saskia patiently showed him how to hold the baby, understanding this was his first experience as a father.
When the tiny infant rested in his arms, his entire body tensed.
A moment later, the baby girl awakened, her round eyes staring up at him as she made soft sounds and waved her tiny hand.
"Look at that! She's smiling," Saskia remarked with surprise. The baby had bonded with her father already.
Alexander was deeply moved.
Nathan asked, "The children still need names. Have you two decided?"
Alexander replied, "The boy will be Atticus Howard, and the girl, Yasmin Howard."
Yasmin seemed to approve of her name, making a sound just as Alexander finished speaking.
"Very well. Your decision," Nathan nodded in agreement.
Victoria had no objections either.
After a month of recovery in the hospital, Victoria was discharged to continue recuperating at home, primarily because the twins had been released earlier, and she couldn't bear to be separated from them.
With two new babies, Serenity Grove Manor became livelier than ever.
Lila visited almost daily to play with her godson and goddaughter.
Marlowe occasionally brought her daughter to visit as well.
Atticus seemed particularly delighted whenever he saw Marlowe's daughter Mina, whose full name was Wilhelmina.
Time flew by, and soon it was the twins' first birthday. A grand celebration was planned.
This was Nathan's wish—to invite all his friends to witness his great-grandchildren's milestone.
On that day, Victoria and Alexander departed Serenity Grove Manor with the children, heading to Howard Villa.
Throughout the journey, however, Alexander maintained a somber expression.
Victoria could only sigh in resignation.