"Thank God. This is wonderful news!" Alyssa eximed, sping her hands


    together. Ovee with emotion, tears glistened in her eyes.


    "Where''s Mandy? I saw her just this afternoon. Where did she go?" Colene asked, confusion clouding her gaze.


    Alyssa immediately followed up, "When did Mandy disappear?"


    "I''m not sure. It''s probably been two or three hours."


    In a daze, Alyssa recalled Mandy''s strange behavior over the past few days. If she wasn''t on the phone with someone, she always looked unsettled, distracted. Suspicion quietly took root in Alyssa''s heart.


    At first, she had assumed Mandy was simply overwhelmed with worry over Winston. But now that she thought about it carefully, something felt deeply wrong.


    Winston meant everything to Mandy. Unless something extraordinarily important hade up, Mandy would never have left his side. So what could havepelled her to leave the hospital without a word, without informing anyone?


    A sense of unease crept into Alyssa''s chest, spreading slowly like cold mist.


    Just as she pulled out her phone to contact Mandy, Abel hurried over with two senior physicians, his face lit up with excitement. "Mr. Winston is awake. He''s awake!"


    The news exploded through the corridor like a spark catching fire. The Taylors embraced one another, overwhelmed with emotion. L and Tatiana clung tightly to each other, tears already streaming down their faces.


    "Dad!"


    Winston''s children flooded into the hospital ward. The sterile scent of antiseptic was suddenly reced with warmth and joy.


    Alyssa was the first to reach the bedside. She clutched Winston''s wrinkled hand, the one connected to a tube, and broke down in tears, her sobs soaking the pristine white sheets.


    "Dad... you''re finally awake! Do you know how worried we''ve been about you?" "Dad, can you see us? Dad?"


    Ss leaned closer, spreading his fingers and waving his hand in front of Winston''s face.


    Liam''s eyes were red as well. Half amused and half touched, he shoved Ss aside. "Cut it out. It''s not like Dad''s gone blind."


    ene


    Grinning sheepishly, Ss scratched his head and cracked another joke to lighten the mood. "Hey, he had severe stroke. Even if he''s awake, Shouldn''t we check how his recovery''s going? What if he can''t even count anymore?"


    Laughter rippled through the room. Smiles like these had not appeared on the faces of the Taylor family for far too long.


    Winstony on the bed with his eyes half-open, hisplexion pale. His gaze slowly swept across the room,nding on every familiar face-each one a child he had raised with his own hands.


    His slightly unfocused eyes drifted before finally settling on Alyssa''s radiant face. Her face was small and delicate like the moon, her eyes clear, her nose sharp, her lips pink and soft.


    "How pretty..." Slowly, unsteadily, Winston lifted his hand and gently cupped Alyssa''s cheek. In a faint mumble, he said, "You look like... someone I know."


    Alyssa froze, her breath catching in her throat. Panic surged through her as she asked, "What did you say, Dad?"


    "Dad?"


    Winston blinked weakly, confusion clouding his eyes. "Who are you referring to, my dear? Who are you calling ''Dad''? Were you calling me... ''Dad"?"


    The moment the words left his mouth, the room fell deathly silent. Not a single sound could be heard.


    "Dad, look carefully. This is Lyse, your favorite daughter-Alyssa!" Jonah said, watching Winston''s expression closely. His throat had gonepletely dry.


    "What''s going on, Winston?" Ss blurted out in shock. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead as his voice rose uncontrobly. "This isn''t funny don''t care if you don''t recognize anyone else, but how ca cana you not recognize Lyse? Is your brain actually fried?"


    "Don''t panic!" Alyssa said quickly, her voice hoarse with anxiety. "Dad has just woken up. He might not have fully processed everything yet. Please stop pressuring him."


    She tightened her grip on Winston''s hand, forcing her usual bright smile onto her pale, stiff face. She did her best to appear lively and energetic—the version of herself Winston knew best.


    "Dad, it''s me, Lyse. I''m Alyssa-the


    one who always causes you trouble and makes you worry every day. You


    used to get so mad that you wanted to spank me. Does that... remind you of anything?"