A Life Beyond Limits novel Chapter 422

When the news hit, the hope on Emily's face shattered. Her knees gave out, and she crumpled to the floor as darkness swallowed her vision.

She couldn't take it anymore. The weeks of waiting, the sleepless nights, the fragile hope she'd clung to—all of them had led to this. It was a crushing, unbearable blow.

In her despair, she fainted.

Quintis' heart sank too, but seeing Emily collapse, he shoved his disappointment aside and shouted for help.

Laura and the bodyguards, stationed outside, rushed in at the commotion. Dozens of them swarmed the room, lifting Emily gently and rushing her to the nearest hospital.

While unconscious, Emily was trapped in a nightmare.

She saw her baby's face was streaked with blood, his tiny voice trembling as he cried out to her. "Why haven't you come for me, Mama? Why did you leave me all these years?"

Her heart ached, and she was desperate to explain. However, no words came.

When Emily finally woke hours later, her face was pale, her eyes hollow. It was as if the light inside her had been snuffed out.

Emily had let herself dream that she might find her son. But now, that dream was dust.

Reality was a knife, twisting deeper with every breath. At that moment, life felt meaningless.

Quintis sat beside her. His heart winced in pain as he watched her despairing look. No one could understand the depth of his pain. The longing for a son he'd never known, the guilt of failing his wife, the helplessness of watching her fall apart.

For the first time, Quintis felt miserable. He reached for her hand and said gently, "Are you hungry? Let me cook something for you. In a few days, we'll go to Orthawt to clear our heads."

Emily's voice broke as she continued, "I dream about him every night. I'm always waiting and always hoping that one day we'll find him.

"I always cook his favorite dishes of spicy chicken and meatloaf soup whenever I have the time. I hope that one day, when he comes home, he can taste the food I made for him so that he'll know that no matter how long he's been gone, this family has stayed the same and is awaiting his return.

"Even if it takes ten years, 20 years, or longer, I'll wait. I'll wait forever, without regret. I'll never stop missing him."

Yet, everything was crashing down around her. The hope she'd clung to for over a decade was crumbling, and with it, her will to keep going.

Quintis' heart ached as he comforted Emily, "Let it go. We've searched for so long. Maybe it's time to stop."

He couldn't bear to see Emily like this. Every search and glimmer of hope had only led to more disappointment. He was terrified she could not endure the despair.