Epiphany

Chapter 54 : Cramps

Author's P.O.V.

"AAAAHHHHHHH"

William and Noah freeze. Their breath hitches, their hearts pounding. That voice— "Olivia"

They don’t think. They don’t hesitate. They just run.

Bursting out of Noah’s room, they see the rest of their family rushing toward Olivia’s room, but neither of them pays attention to anyone else.

William reaches the door first, Noah right behind him. The second they step inside, panic grips them.

Olivia sits in her wheelchair, her body slightly hunched, clutching her waist. Her eyes are squeezed shut, and a pained wince escapes her lips.

From the corner of their eyes, they register Meloni standing beside her, but they don’t spare her a second glance.

"Ahhh-" Olivia whimpers.

Immediately, William and Noah drop to their knees in front of Olivia, their hands hovering near her but afraid to touch her in case it hurts.

“Olivia! What happened ?” William demands, his voice sharp with worry.

“Where does it hurt?” Noah follows up, his jaw tight. At that moment, every hesitation left from his heart.

Ethan, Jack, Michael and Mason rush in, totally panicked.

Ethan and Jack quickly kneel beside her, with a concerned look.

"What happened ? Why did you scream ?" Ethan asks urgently.

"What's hurting you, Olivia ?" Jack looks at her, panicked.

Olivia stays silent, clenching her waist more.

“Olivia, say something, please” Mason urges.

“Should I call an ambulance ?!” Michael’s voice is unusually tense.

Before Olivia can answer, Hazel and Sophia rush in, both of them breathless.

“Olivia?!” Hazel kneels beside her, her hands gently resting on Olivia’s shoulders.

"What is happening, darling ? Is your stomach hurting ?" She asks rubbing her back soothingly.

Sophia caresses her hair and asks softly, "Say something Olivia... I am calling a Doctor now."

Olivia doesn’t speak. She can’t. She just stares at each of them, her family—her brothers, her sisters -in-laws. The panic in their eyes, the way they’re all hovering over her, the way they look absolutely terrified just because she screamed once—her chest tightens.

She knew they loved her. She had felt it in the little things they did. But seeing them like this, so frantic, so desperate, all because she was in pain… it overwhelms her.

Tears well up in her eyes.

But the moment they do, her family misinterprets them.

“God She’s crying!” Jack exclaims, his voice rising in alarm.

“Is it that bad?!” Mason looks at William in panick.

“Damn it, we’re wasting time! I’m calling an ambulance—” Ethan starts to reach for his phone.

“No! Call our private doctor! He’ll be faster!” Michael insists.

William clenches his jaw, gripping Olivia’s arms gently. “Lia, baby look at me, please, you need to tell us what’s wrong... Is your stomach hurting ?”