Chapter 115 Can You Hold Me?

Anna calmed herself and looked around the hospital room. Not seeing Alice and Cedric, she asked Charles, "Are Mom and Dad very sad about losing the baby?"

Anna had clearly seen how much Cedric and Alice were looking forward to this child.

Before Charles could answer, Alice, who had been standing outside the room, couldn't hold back her pain any longer. She pushed the door open and walked in.

Cedric followed closely behind.

"Anya." She nudged Charles aside, sat by the bed, and looked at Anna's bandaged hand with deep concern.

She gently patted Anna's arm and softly comforted her. "Anya, don't be sad. As long as you're healthy and you and Charles are well, you two can have as many children as you want in the future."

After saying this, Alice added, "Anya, some things in life are just not meant to be. It wasn't meant to be with this particular baby. Don't worry; when you've recovered, we can try for another one. This little one just wasn't meant to be in our lives."

Anna smiled faintly and nodded.

Alice noticed her weak and tired expression.

Not wanting to disturb her rest, Alice and Cedric comforted Anna a bit more before quickly leaving.

Before leaving, Alice gave Charles a look, signaling him to come out.

In the hallway outside the hospital room, Alice lowered her voice and said, "Charles, Anya is already upset about losing the baby. Be careful with what you say around her these next few days. Don't say anything you shouldn't, and don't keep bringing up the baby."

Alice earnestly advised, "Charles, you might not understand this as a man, but a child, no matter how old, is always a part of their mother. The pain of losing a child cuts deeper for the mother than anyone else. You need to be extra attentive to Anya's emotions now."

Charles lowered his eyes and nodded.

Anna had been unconscious for the past two days, which had really scared Charles.

For two days and nights, he hadn't dared to leave her side or close his eyes, stubbornly watching over the unconscious Anna without saying a word.

Alice and Cedric had tried several times to persuade him to take a break, offering to stay with Anna in the room.

But Charles couldn't rest easy unless he was personally watching over Anna.

Looking at Charles, Alice finally said, "I'll go home and make some nourishing soup. Charles, you stay with Anya."

When Charles returned to the room, Anna was examining the wound on her left hand.

Charles walked over, supporting her arm so her wrist rested on his hand. He was worried that her arm might get sore if she held it up for too long.

"Anya, does it still hurt?" He sat by the bed and asked her.

Anna shook her head, "It's much better."

Although she still felt weak, the intense pain from before had subsided. "By the way, who helped me with the antidote?" she said.

Charles knew what she was worried about.

He cupped her face with one hand, making her look at him, and softly replied, "Anya, don't worry. Ethan has already used medication to counteract the M-type liquor over the past two days."

Anna nodded against his palm.

"Are you thirsty? I'll get you some water." Just as Charles turned to leave, Anna gently tugged at his hand.

Charles immediately stopped and looked back at her.

He saw the pain in her eyes as she looked up at him and said, "Charles, can you hold me?"

Her voice seemed filled with deep unease.

In the two months since they got their marriage certificate, she had never made such a request.

After a brief moment of surprise, he leaned down, carefully avoiding her IV needle, and gently but firmly embraced her.

As Charles moved, Anna sat up slightly.

Though her body was weak, Charles held her securely, ensuring she wouldn't fall.

With her right hand inconvenient due to the IV, she slowly wrapped her bandaged left hand around Charles's waist, her slightly cold cheek resting against his chest, her long lashes gently lowered as she quietly leaned on him.

Since being taken to the Starlight Pavilion by Michael, the lingering fear and panic in her heart began to dissipate bit by bit in Charles's embrace.

For the first time, Charles fully felt her dependence on him. Yet, at this moment, this dependence, which he had always longed for, only made his heart ache more.

He gently kissed the corner of her lips, using his actions to tell her that he didn't blame her for what had happened with the baby.

No matter what, he could never bear to blame Anna.

"Anya." He softly called her name.

His broad hand gently patted her back, soothing her like a child, and he tenderly reassured her, "Don't be afraid, Anya. Don't be afraid. I will always be by your side. This is all in the past now. Neither Michael nor Thalia will ever hurt you again. Anya, I promise you, for the rest of our lives, nothing like this will ever happen again. I will protect you and never let you get hurt again."

Anna's eyes filled with tears.

The mist turned into droplets, silently falling onto the blanket.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Charles, I couldn't protect our baby." Hearing the sobs in her voice and the sound of her tears hitting the blanket, Charles felt as if something was gripping his heart tightly, making it hard to breathe.

"Anya, it's not your fault. You are still just a young girl. Having a baby now was indeed a bit early." Charles comforted her.

He gently placed his hand on her flat stomach.

Looking into her tearful eyes, he said slowly and clearly, "Anya, no matter what, that's our first baby. I will make sure those who hurt our baby pay for it, one by one."