Her eyes were hazy at first, as if she were peering through a thin veil of mist, trying to figure out where she was.


    Evelyn''s breath caught.


    A tidal wave of joy crashed over her.


    Her little girl was awake.


    "Charlie..."


    Evelyn''s voice quivered, her gaze fixed on Charlie, overflowing with a love so deep it almost hurt.


    This was her precious child, lost and now found again.


    Tears filled her eyes in an instant. When Charlie stayed silent, worry got the best of Evelyn. Unable to help herself, she reached out and gently touched Charlie''s forehead, her voice thick with concern. "Sweetheart, why aren''t you saying anything? Are you feeling sick anywhere?"


    The touch snapped Charlie''s wandering eyes into sharp focus.


    Those wide, confused, tear-filled eyesnded on Evelyn''s face, her pupils narrowing in fear.


    "Ah-!!"


    A scream, raw and piercing with terror, echoed through the hospital room.


    Charlie''s body was still so weak, but her fear of Evelyn gave her a burst of wild strength.


    She shrank back, pulling away with everything she had.


    Fighting to break free of Evelyn''s arms, her tiny hands and feet kicked and thrashed, eyes wide with panic and rejection.


    "Bad person! Stay away from me! Go away! Get away!!"


    Charlie screamed and sobbed, her voice warping with pure fear, her little face flushing bright red.


    Charles''s face went pale.


    He hadn''t expected this. The poison in Charlie''s body was gone-but she still didn''t remember Evelyn or him.


    She still wanted nothing to do with them.


    Charles acted fast, hitting the call button to get Andrew.


    "Charlie!"


    Evelyn''s heart was breaking. "Don''t be scared, honey! It''s me, Mommy! Don''t you remember me?"


    She reached out, trying to touch her daughter''s shaking shoulders.


    "You''re not my mommy!"


    The words hit Evelyn like a p.


    Charlie smacked her hand away


    trembling, inching back until she


    nearly fell off the bed, calling out in desperation, "Mommy, help me."


    But it was crystal clear-she wasn''t calling for Evelyn. She was calling for Luna.


    Evelyn felt like her heart had been ripped in two.


    She wanted to get closer, but didn''t dare upset her daughter any more.


    Swallowing her longing, she


    stumbled back, tears streaming down her cheeks as she tried to


    But nothing calmed her.


    Charles opened his arms, shielding his daughter, waiting for Andrew to arrive.


    In her panic to get away from Evelyn, Charlie suddenly tumbled into someone''s


    arms.


    She froze.


    She''d been rejecting everyone-everyone except Luna.


    But when she turned and saw Charles, she hesitated.


    This was the man Mommy had told her was Daddy.


    Mommy said Daddy loved her very much.


    And Mommy loved Daddy, too.


    She couldn''t push Daddy away. She had to stay close to Daddy, make him happy


    then Mommy would be happy, too.


    Charlie stopped fighting.


    She flung herself into Charles''s embrace. "Daddy!"


    Charles was stunned.


    Charlie''s small body crashed into him, jarring his still-healing wound.


    A jagged pain tore through his abdomen, his vision swimming as cold sweat broke


    out across his forehead.


    But Charles just gritted his teeth, refusing to make a sound.


    Almost by instinct, he wrapped his arms around Charlie, holding her tight. "Don''t be afraid, Charlie. There are no bad people here. Daddy and ng


    Mommy will always be here for you. No one will ever hurt you."


    "Daddy, she''s the bad person. Can you make her leave? Aurora''s scared."


    Charlie trembled in Charles''s arms. There was nothing fake about it-her fear of Evelyn was heartbreakingly real.