Chapter 1794:


    Alban carefully turned her to face him, his hands resting on her shoulders, and murmured gently, “Don’t cry. This is all on me. Hit me, scream at me — whatever you need.” Yet the more he spoke, the more Gillian’s sobs intensified.


    “Why did youe back at all? When we needed you most, you were nowhere to be found. And when we finally learned how to survive without you, you suddenly appear.” Her voice shook, heavy and clogged with emotion. “What do you even want?” With every word, the sense of injustice drowned her further.


    Back when she and Adide were barely scraping by, with no one to rely on, he had beenpletely absent. But the moment Christina helped them gain stability, he had reemerged.


    “Gillian, I’m sorry. I failed you and Adide. I’ve been looking for you all these years — this is my fault. I’ll spend the rest of my life making amends.” Alban’s chest throbbed with remorse and self-loathing.


    If only he hadn’t been unconscious back then — perhaps he wouldn’t have lost her. But life offered no second chances, no rewinding time, and all he could do now was dedicate whatever remained of it to setting things right for her and their child.


    ???????? o?? ?????? ????v????е o?? gal?o??e???.??????


    Gillian curled into Alban’s embrace, fighting to quiet her tears, terrified that even the smallest sound might wake Adide. Alban’s hand moved in slow, soothing circles over her back, a silent attempt to steady her.


    Once her emotions finally ebbed and her breathing evened out, he murmured gently, “If anything is weighing on you, you can talk to me. I’ll take care of it.”


    The words jolted Gillian back to herself, and she shoved him away without hesitation.


    This was never something Alban could fix. And she couldn’t confide in anyone else either, because doing so would expose King’s whereabouts. She feared that if King’s location ever came to light, the legendary doctor would be furious and might even refuse to perform the surgery. Instead of indulging in foolish dreams of a life with Alban, Gillian only wanted to endure, to live quietly, and to stay by Adide’s side as she grew.


    “Gillian…” Alban reached out for her fingers, but she yanked her hand away.


    The chill in her eyes, sharp with bitterness, pierced straight through his chest and left him breathless. Did she truly despise him this deeply?


    Yet when he thought of everything Gillian and Adide had endured, Alban found himself understanding her hostility.


    “You…” He exhaled, forcing down everything he longed to say. He knew then that this couldn’t be hurried. He had a lifetime ahead of him to atone for what he had done to Gillian and Adide. They had carried their pain for years, and forgiveness was never going toe easily.


    “However long it takes for you to ept me, I’ll wait,” Alban vowed.


    For an instant, something stirred inside Gillian, but she crushed it just as quickly. Promises from men were usually empty, and she refused to ce any faith in his. Maybe in less than three months, Alban would grow tired and walk away on his own.


    A bitter, mockingugh escaped her, the ache in her chest tightening. She didn’t dare wish for what she could never im; all she wanted was to protect what remained.


    “Mr. Martel, it’ste. You should go home,” Gillian said, her expression icing over.


    “I want to stay here with you. Otherwise, I won’t be at peace,” Alban answered.


    Even with guards watching the room around the clock, unease still gnawed at him over their safety.


    .


    .


    .