Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask

Chapter 579: Chapter 175 Return to Me

Daniel’s POV

After leaving the secure law enforcement facility downtown, I drove straight across the city to the private medical center where Lila was recovering. The facility was one of Thorne’s legitimate enterprises, ensuring both discretion and the highest level of care. When I walked into Lila’s guarded room, I found my sisters gathered around her bed, their animated chatter about future plans filling the sterile space with warmth.

Ivy was recounting some amusing incident involving the quadruplets and their attempts to outsmart their grandparents during a recent family gathering at the estate.

”Oh, Daniel! You’re back sooner than expected?” Zoe’s voice carried a hint of disappointment as she glanced up from her meticulous work. She was carefully applying a fresh coat of polish to Lila’s fingernails, treating her unconscious form with the reverence of preparing a sleeping princess.

”What exactly are you doing?” I asked, unable to suppress my amusement at the scene.

She grinned without pausing in her task. ”Giving our little warrior a proper manicure. After everything she’s endured, she deserves to wake up looking absolutely stunning.” She applied a quick-dry spray over the wet polish with practiced efficiency.

”I have to admit, it does look elegant,” I conceded, then addressed the group. ”Ladies, I appreciate everything you’ve done, but you can head out now. As you can obviously tell, I managed to clean myself up.”

”There’s my devastatingly handsome brother, finally smelling like civilization again!” Sybilla leaped up to embrace me. I wrapped my arms around her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, grateful for their unwavering support.

”But we’re having such a wonderful time here,” Ivy protested with an exaggerated pout.

Gemma nodded with genuine enthusiasm. ”This is honestly the most adult conversation I’ve had since the children arrived.”

”You two have serious problems,” Zoe declared, pointing an accusatory finger at them both. ”We absolutely must revive our sisters’ nights out.”

”That would be absolutely divine,” Ivy sighed with longing.

One by one, they offered gentle farewells to the sleeping Lila before embracing me and extracting solemn promises to contact them the instant she opened her eyes. Zoe lingered after the others had departed. Before pulling me into her arms, she studied my face with that penetrating gaze that never failed to see through any facade.

”Something’s eating at you, isn’t it?” she asked with quiet concern.

”I’m just worried about Lila, Zo.” I forced what I hoped was a convincing smile, though it wasn’t entirely fabricated—Lila remained my paramount concern. The inevitable confrontation with my father would have to wait its turn.

After my sisters left, I positioned a chair directly beside Lila’s bed and took her delicate hand in mine. Hours dissolved unnoticed until darkness claimed the city and a night nurse entered, activating the overhead lights and pulling me back to the present moment.

”How is our most cherished patient doing? Any signs of her returning to us?” she inquired cheerfully while approaching the bed. I shook my head in response.

”That’s completely normal,” she reassured me with professional warmth. ”She’ll awaken fully refreshed when her body is ready. I’m just here for her scheduled examination and to replace her IV fluids.” She moved with practiced efficiency around the bed while I stepped aside to provide adequate space.

My phone buzzed insistently in my jacket pocket. A glance at the screen revealed exactly the person I had no desire to speak with—my father. Ignoring his call would likely result in an unwanted personal appearance, which would be infinitely worse. With reluctance, I stepped into the corridor and accepted the call.

”Daniel, how is Lila’s condition?” he demanded immediately.

”Since when do you genuinely care?” My voice emerged cold and emotionless.

”Son, I’m fully aware of what happened to her. I’m genuinely concerned. Sybilla mentioned she hasn’t regained consciousness.” If Sybilla was maintaining communication with him, this call wasn’t truly about Lila’s wellbeing—he was probing to determine whether I’d spoken with Claire.

”Not yet. And since we’re dispensing with pleasantries, yes, I spoke extensively with Claire. She shared quite the riveting tale about your shared history.” I had zero patience for diplomatic maneuvering.

”Listen carefully, Daniel, whatever she told you—”

”Enough! I’m finished with the endless deception!” I cut him off with razor-sharp finality. ”I explicitly warned you about the consequences of pursuing this course. You actively sought out the individual who inflicted the most brutal harm on Lila and were prepared to finance some twisted abduction scheme solely to keep her away from me. The only factor that derailed your plan was discovering her wealth and promising business ventures. So, Elias Martinez, consider yourself officially without a middle son. Don’t contact me again.” I terminated the call, feeling as though the accumulated weight of generations had crashed onto my shoulders.

When I returned to the room, the nurse had completed her duties and departed, leaving the lights illuminated. I resumed my vigil beside Lila, taking her hand once more. I leaned close to her ear and whispered with complete sincerity:

”You are the absolute love of my life, little one. The most precious treasure in my world, the person who means everything to me. I need you desperately—please come back to me.” Each word carried the full force of my heart, simultaneously a declaration and a desperate plea. I needed her arms around my neck, her gentle voice promising me that everything would be alright.

I felt her fingers twitch almost imperceptibly in mine, but wondered if my desperate hope was deceiving my senses. I pressed a tender kiss to her lips and rested my forehead against hers, closing my eyes.

”I’m here, big guy. I’ll always be here.” Her voice, barely audible, seemed to anchor my soul.

I lifted my head, opening my eyes. She was blinking repeatedly, squinting against the harsh light as her vision slowly adjusted. She had returned to me.

Tears of overwhelming relief and joy sprang to my eyes. ”My little one! You’re awake!” I kissed her carefully, though every fiber of my being longed to crush her against me. ”I need to summon the doctor...”

”Doctor?” Confusion clouded her beautiful features as she took in her unfamiliar surroundings. ”Where are we?”

”We’re in the medical facility, beautiful. How do you feel?” I studied her intently for any indication of pain while pressing the call button.

”Completely numb. What happened?” Her bewilderment was evident and heartbreaking.

”What’s the last thing you remember?” I asked with infinite gentleness.

”I remember arriving at that office building and trying to escape, but Claire grabbed my hair, and then... nothing.” Her eyes searched mine desperately for answers.

The nurse entered briskly before I could respond. ”Well, look who’s rejoined the living! Our sleeping princess is awake! Wonderful news! I’ll fetch the doctor immediately.” She pivoted and vanished as quickly as she’d appeared.

”We reached that location in time,” I explained carefully. ”Claire and Connor have been arrested and are facing justice. Let the doctor examine you thoroughly first, and I’ll provide all the details when you’re stronger. What matters is that you’re safe now, with me, and nobody will ever separate us again.” I kissed her forehead, silently thanking whatever forces had brought her back to me.

”You came for me,” she murmured, her voice still weak but radiating warmth. ”You promised you would, and you kept that promise.”

”Tiny one, I would cross every ocean and climb every mountain for you.” I gently stroked her hair and offered her the most loving smile I could summon, my heart finally finding peace now that she had returned to me.