Chapter 246

After the doctor came to check, he told Emma, "His vital signs are stable for now, no major issues. But you still need to be careful. His emotional state doesn't seem good, and you need to prevent him from committing suicide again."

Emma was startled and nodded repeatedly. "Okay, okay."

After the doctor left, Emma returned to the bedside and tried to muster a smile. "Matthew, are you hungry? Do you want to eat something?"

Matthew looked at her.

Emma continued, "We can only have liquid food for now. I remember you love oatmeal the most. How about I ask the housekeeper to make some and bring it over?"

As she spoke, Emma took out her phone to make a call.

But as soon as she took out her phone, Matthew, who had been lying down, suddenly sat up and snatched the phone from her.

He opened the editor, typed a line, and handed it to Emma.

Matthew: [Where is Isabella?]

Emma choked up a bit and smiled. "Do you want to see Isabella?"

Matthew just looked at her quietly.

"Matthew, I know you want to see her, but she's Sebastian's fiancée now. Charles had a huge falling out with Sebastian over your situation. She won't come to see you now." Emma said.

Matthew's eyes were stormy with determination. He tossed his phone aside and yanked out the IV, trying to get out of bed.

"Matthew!" Emma was stunned for a moment, then quickly wrapped her arms around his waist. "Matthew, what are you doing?"

Matthew, frenzied, ignored her protests and yanked open the door, trying to rush out. But the moment he opened it, two prison guards stationed outside stopped him in his tracks. "3087, where do you think you're going?"

Matthew froze.

Emma pulled him back into the room, apologizing profusely to the guards.

Once the door was closed, Emma said, "Matthew, you still have a few months left on your sentence. Once you're healed, you'll have to return to serve your time. You need to focus on recovering, not on running away!"

Matthew stared at her for a long moment, then turned back to his phone to type: [I need to see Isabella!]

Emma frowned. "Why do you need to see her? All these years, haven't I been enough for you compared to some woman on the outside?"

Matthew remained silent. He deleted the previous message and typed a new one: [I need to see Isabella. If I can't see her, I'll die!]

Emma gritted her teeth. "Fine. I'll bring her to see you. But Matthew, you have to promise me that after you've seen her, you'll stay alive and take care of yourself!"

Matthew finally nodded.

The next morning, Isabella woke up early.

She opened her eyes to find Sebastian dressing. His movements were slow and careful, given his blindness.

Isabella got up and walked over to help him with his cufflinks, then took a moment to admire him. "You look very dapper today."

Sebastian brushed his hand against her cheek and smiled. "It's our first time seeing our daughter, so I figured I should make an effort. Can't have her thinking her dad is a slob."

Isabella's eyes welled up a bit, her smile tinged with emotion. "She's just a baby. What does she know?"

Sebastian said, "Even so, I want to make a good impression."

Isabella stood on tiptoe and kissed the corner of his mouth. "I'm going to freshen up."

"Okay."

Downstairs, Jack had been waiting for a while.

After a quick breakfast, they set out for Lakina's largest airport.

According to Charles, the plane bringing Sweetie would land at ten o'clock. Sebastian's team had been in place at all the major airports and key exits since midnight. By the time Isabella and Sebastian arrived at the airport, it was barely seven in the morning.

The morning mist was still lingering, and sunlight hadn't yet broken through. The entire airport seemed to be enveloped in a thin, ethereal haze, surreal and dreamlike.

Sebastian found a prominent spot and sat with Isabella, waiting.

The airport's announcements came in a steady stream, and people flowed in and out around them, an endless parade of faces and movements, never pausing.

Isabella watched the minutes tick by, each one dragging by with agonizing slowness.

Sebastian held her hand, his usual calmness replaced with an even deeper silence.

Isabella turned to Sebastian, feeling the tension radiating from him.

At this moment, Sebastian was more anxious than she was.

Unable to suppress a smile, Isabella gently rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb. "You're going to love Sweetie when you see her."

Sebastian managed a smile. "Our daughter is my little bundle of joy. Of course, I'll love her."

Isabella thought about how he had once believed Sweetie wasn't his and how they had missed each other time and again. She couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and regret. "I should have told you sooner."

If she had told him earlier, they might have had some time together before Sweetie was taken away. They could have had those precious early moments.

Sebastian lifted her hand and placed a gentle kiss on it. "I pride myself on being clever, but I was so foolish I couldn't even recognize you. When Vanessa was impersonating you, there were so many obvious flaws, and yet I didn't see through it. Bella, I've missed so much time with you and our baby. I've been a terrible partner."

"Don't say that," Isabella replied, her voice tinged with guilt, "Sebastian, you're a wonderful person."

Sebastian held her hand with a faint smile. "Bella, if Charles keeps his word and brings our daughter back to us, I promise, I'll let the past be the past."

Letting the past be the past.

The phrase sounded simple enough, but Isabella felt there was something more behind his words. Before she could ponder it further, the airport's announcement system crackled to life, reporting the latest flight arrivals.

Jack checked the information three times, his excitement barely contained. "Mr. Landon, Isabella, this is the flight! It's landed ten minutes early!"

Before Isabella could fully process the joy, she saw two police officers approaching from a short distance. The silver gleam of their handcuffs sent a chill down her spine.

An uneasy premonition struck Isabella.

As the officers drew closer, Isabella instinctively stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Sebastian.

Her movement startled both Jack and Sebastian, and even the officers glanced in her direction. Their gaze lingered momentarily on Sebastian before they shifted their focus to the arrival gate.

Isabella broke into a cold sweat.

The officers only stared at Sebastian for a few seconds before turning their attention away.

Sebastian, sensing Isabella's unease, lightly scratched the palm of her hand with his fingertips and asked, "What's wrong?"

Jack also looked at Isabella strangely.

Isabella bit her lip and whispered, "Two police officers came. I thought they were here to arrest you."

Sebastian was silent.

"Bella, don't be afraid. I'll be fine." Sebastian squeezed Isabella's fingers, his voice gentle.

Isabella felt she was being too sensitive. Just as she was about to nod, she saw out of the corner of her eye the two police officers walking towards the arrival gate. In front of everyone, they handcuffed a short-haired man.