Chapter 131 Mommy Must Not Be Hurt
Riley perched on the living room sofa, Finley close by, when the boys scurried over with the medical kit clutched in their tiny hands. They nestled beside her, their wide eyes filled with worry as Riley began to attend to her wounds.
She accepted the kit gratefully, dispensing reassuring smiles to her little ones. With measured movements, she extracted the necessary supplies to treat her injury.
However, it was her right hand that was injured, rendering her left hand clumsy and awkward.
"Mommy, let me help you!" Landon said , his voice brimming with earnestness as he extended a hand to aid her.
Riley paused, acknowledging the difficulty she faced. She nodded and was about to pass the medicine to Landon when a larger, more capable hand intercepted.
Both mother and son looked up in unison.
"I’ve got this," Donovan declared, his forehead creased with concentration as he knelt before her.
Landon pursed his lips and nudged Winston. The two of them shuffled aside, making space for Donovan to settle next to their mother.
With surprising tenderness, Donovan took Riley's injured hand in his own. She felt a flicker of something deep within, but she quickly masked it, lowering her gaze. “Sorry for the trouble,” she murmured.
Donovan’s frown deepened at her formal tone, yet he held his silence, focused entirely on tending to her wound.
Beside them, Finley clutched Riley's clothes nervously, her wide eyes locked onto Donovan's actions, as if fearing her mother might experience pain.
Sensing her anxiety, Riley turned to offer a reassuring smile. "It doesn't hurt at all."
Finley's eyes flickered, but she continued to stare at Riley's hand.
Landon sat close to Donovan, his worry for his mommy palpable, though he remained silent.
Winston, on the other hand, tilted his head and directed his wide-eyed gaze at Riley's hand. "It looks pretty bad. Will it blister? Mommy is a doctor—her hands are super important! She can’t get hurt!"
Riley's chuckle was soft and comforting. "No, it won't. Remember, Mommy is a very skilled doctor, right? This medicine was carefully chosen by me and is very effective for burns. You used it when you were little too."
Winston nodded, reassured but still hesitant. After a moment’s pause, he asked, "Will it leave a scar? Mommy’s hands are so beautiful, they mustn't have scars!"
Riley shook her head, "No, it won't. Don't worry."
As Riley spoke to Winston, Riley couldn’t help but be acutely aware of Donovan beside her. Though only a few minutes had passed, it felt like an eternity to Riley.
"It should be fine now. Take a look," Donovan's deep voice sounded in her ear. Riley glanced down quickly, then withdrew her hand, "It's fine, thank you."
Donovan's hand paused in mid-air for a moment before he slowly withdrew it, rising to his feet without a word.
Finley tugged at Riley's clothes, bringing her back to her senses. She turned and showed the girl the treated hand. Finley's serious gaze held for a while before she finally looked up and bestowed a smile upon the woman.
Seeing Finley smile, Riley was both surprised and nervous. "Auntie has finished treating it. Are you feeling better now?" she asked, wanting to confirm the girl's comfort.
The next second, Finley nodded, her smile deepening, dimples appearing at the corners of her mouth.
"Mommy, she smiled!" Winston exclaimed, jumping off the sofa in surprise.
Riley saw it too, and the sight filled her with such joy that she momentarily lost the ability to react.
Finally regaining her composure, her eyes misted over. She hugged Finley close. "I'm so glad you're better. Don't scare Auntie like that again, okay? My sons are back in kindergarten now. They'll play with you, and if anything bothers you, you must tell us, alright?"
Finley, nestled in her embrace, nodded obediently.
