FULL NOVELXO Chapter 92: Her Life Is My Own
Arriving home for dinner that same night, the children met Ethan, rushing outside the dining area.
"Daddy, you are here!" Exclaimed the twins at the same time.
Despite the glee on their expressions, the gloom on Ethan's face was clear. He forced a smile, greeting the twins. Clearing his throat, he asked, "How was school, Kyle? Kenzie?" "Daddy, school was fine. We miss you," said Kenzie.
With a frown, Kyle added, "And Mom too. Daddy? Why is Mom not talking to us? She has not been joining us for dinner."
Ethan took a deep breath and looked up at Diana.
Like Ethan, Diana had been worried sick for Samantha since the incident at the hotel. No one had the heart to tell the children, so they knew not what their mother was going through.
"Kids, Mommy is not feeling well. Please excuse her. Know that she loves you so much," told Ethan. "Let's have dinner together."
It took everything from Ethan to pretend to be contented with his meal, but his heart was heavy, thinking only about his wife.
Still, he made an effort to give the impression that everything was normal. He gave his children a bath and kissed them goodnight. Only after tucking them to bed did he go to see Samantha.
***
Samantha was lying sideways on the bed, wondering how her fairy tale had turned out to be a scary one.
One day, she was in dreamland, enjoying her life with her husband and children, and her career at its peak, but now, in a blink of an eye, she was afraid for her life.
She knew that day, the results of the investigation were out and the fact that her husband never reported anything to her, she assumed it was something serious.
Even her mother, Sarah Davis, wanted to return to their mansion, just to be with her.
Samantha refused to see anyone else. She did not want to be comforted, not when she knew not what she had been injected with.
Hearing the creak on the door, she weakly sat up and turned to find Ethan. She blinked her eyes, asking, "Ethan, what did the laboratory find out? Why haven't you called me with the results?" Ethan sighed heavily. He found himself sitting next to his wife and leaned over for a kiss.
When Samantha evaded his touch, Ethan gently wrapped his arm around her. He said, "Trust me, Sam. I will do anything in my power to find the solution to our problem."
Just by the tone of her husband's voice, Samantha wound up teary-eyed. She glanced up to Ethan and inquired, "Tell me... what is going on? Ethan... I have the right to know."
Without warning, Ethan embraced Samantha tight. Despite her objections, he dared not to let her go.
He kissed on her forehead and answered, "Sam, the syringed contained a fluid sample of a woman that developed a suspected autoimmune disease, but really, everything is speculation for now... There are people that I need to see tomorrow to get more answers -"
"What kind of disease? Tell me!" Samantha demanded, smacking her hand against Ethan's chest. "Tell me, Ethan. Tell me!"
Ethan accepted every punch and bangs from his wife as she wept in his chest. She repeatedly cried and expressed demand, but only after settling her emotions did Ethan finally speak, "Sam, it's said to develop in women, affecting electrolytes and blood vessels."
He shared with Samantha everything that Dr. Rakesh told him, specifically highlighting that it is not infectious. He did not want her to fear being in his hold, his touch, especially feeling guilty for being around the children.
"We don't know yet if you will develop the disease and while there is no known cure, there were reports of survivors, Sam," Ethan made sure to highlight. Like his wife, he also became teary-eyed before revealing, "I will... do everything in my capability to find out how the survivors had a remission from the condition."
"Sam, let's have faith and hope that you don't develop the disease, but just." He halted his words, feeling a lump in his throat, and said, "Just in case, I want you to know that I will not rest until we find the cure for this illness."
"I'm sorry, Sam. This - this is my fault. The fault of my family and you got in between," he revealed while closing his eyes and breathing against the side of her face.
Samantha was still processing everything that Ethan said. When he blamed himself, she frowned and let go of him. She asked, "What do you mean, Ethan? How is this your fault?"
"I think, my uncle Sawyer is behind this," suggested Ethan. "I have come to learn that their new company was studying the same disease."
He cleared his throat and added, "It can't be a coincidence."
"Why - why would they do this?" Samantha asked, feeling her eyes water again.
"They must want something from me. That's what I am going to find out," Ethan answered.
He reached for his wife's hand and kissed it repeatedly. He caressed her face and wiped the wetness on her cheeks before saying, "Promise me, Sam. Promise me. Try not to let this affect you... As your husband, trust me when I say, I will make things right."
Samantha's eyes easily watered again. She crashed into Ethan's chest and told, "Ethan, I'm so scared. I'm so scared."
"I've just found my happiness. I've just found you and my kids are happy! I - I met Mom and I have everything I have ever dreamed of!" Soaking her husband's shirt, she added, "I want to be with you longer, forever if possible - "
"And that will happen, Sam. That will happen. Let's have faith - trust in the heavens for the plans they have made for us." For the first time in his life, Ethan shed a tear. He felt the fear in his wife, and a part of him dreaded the same. "I love you, Sam, and I will do anything for you and our children."
It took more than an hour for Samantha to fall asleep. She cried herself to rest in her husband's hold.
After settling her on the bed, Ethan stepped outside the room, calling Connor to his study.
He had Aiden in a conference call with him on the phone and from there, he gave his directive, "Aiden, hack into my uncle's company, specifically their study in the Kannareth Disease. They have moved to Braeton just last week, I will send you their address. Hack into their server and tap on their phones."
"Yes, Mr. Wright," Aiden, Ethan's hacker confirmed.
"I want to know their every plan, and if they were indeed responsible for hurting my wife," added Ethan.
Turning to Connor, Ethan's trusted childhood friend and security for his family, he warned, "Connor, if I don't get any results from BNU pharmaceuticals, please prepare to leave for Cambodia."
"I understand, Ethan." He looked down, feeling sorry for his friend, and said, "I'm sorry this happened to Sam."
"Aiden and Connor, I entrust you with my wife's life, said Ethan, flickering his eyes while taking a deep breath. "You know how much she means to me. Her life is like my own... Please... do not fail me."