Chapter 379: A Sense of Bloodline Connection

The door to the intensive care unit slowly opened, and Wren Sutton walked out, reluctantly looking back with every step.

Adrian Lancaster still hadn’t woken up.

Although she was disappointed, Wren Sutton didn’t weep. She cheered him on in her heart, and she cheered herself on, refusing to entertain any pessimistic thoughts.

’Illness strikes like a landslide, but retreats as slowly as pulling a silk thread.’ Besides, Adrian had survived such a severe car accident, suffered such grave injuries, and had a brush with death.

The fact that he didn’t die, that he was alive, was a testament to his strength and resilience.

Wren Sutton told herself to hold fast to the belief that Adrian would definitely wake up, that he would definitely recover his health.

Supported by this conviction, the only thing she could do now was wait. Calm down and wait patiently.

"Adrian, I believe you won’t let me down, and you won’t let our whole family down. We’re all waiting for you. You have to keep fighting."

...

While Wren Sutton was in the ICU with Adrian, a malicious smear campaign against her had already exploded online.

Posts slandering her as cold-blooded and ruthless, accusing her of attempting to murder her own husband to seize the Lancaster family fortune, were everywhere. Public opinion instantly erupted into a frenzy.

But right now, she was completely unaware of all the noise online.

The Lancaster family had a tacit understanding. No one mentioned a single word about it in front of her.

She was already mentally and physically exhausted, enduring the pain of her husband’s coma. If she found out about these soul-crushing rumors, wouldn’t it just cause her more pain and make her break down?

If Wren Sutton had an accident due to anger or emotional distress, how would the Lancasters explain it to Adrian? How would they explain it to Mr. and Mrs. Sutton? How would they explain it to Owen and Nina?

The Lancaster family did not sit idly by. They immediately mobilized all their connections and resources. Their public relations team went into full-scale action, purging the entire internet with lightning speed, taking down content from platforms, banning accounts, and sending out cease and desist letters simultaneously.

In just one hour, the flood of defamatory posts, malicious comments, and paid trolls setting the narrative had vanished from the internet as if they had never existed.

At the same time, the corporation’s legal and technical staff dug deep, tracing the source of the posts, the troll accounts, and the IP trails, layer by layer.

Unfortunately, in the end, all the leads went completely cold.

The person behind the scenes was extremely meticulous. The accounts were all purchased anonymously, and the IP addresses were routed through multiple layers of proxies before ultimately being hidden, leaving no trace that could point to a specific individual.

The Lancaster family never even suspected Claire Bennett.

This woman had never appeared before the Lancasters, wasn’t in their circle of friends and relatives, had no business dealings with them, and wasn’t even on Wren Sutton’s list of social contacts.

To the Lancaster family, she was a complete stranger who might as well not exist.

In the end, the investigation had to be hastily concluded.

It was a malicious, anonymous operation. The source was unknown and untraceable.

It wasn’t that the Lancaster family lacked the means, but that the enemy was too cunning, their methods too covert, and their anti-surveillance skills too strong. They left no openings.

As unwilling as they were, the Lancasters could only sigh in frustration.

They stopped insisting on finding the culprit and instead instructed their people to strengthen defenses to prevent similar incidents. Their focus returned to Adrian’s condition and protecting Wren Sutton.

Wren Sutton, who was kept in the dark the whole time, never knew she had been embroiled in such vicious rumors.

Perhaps this was fate’s way of being kind, as heaven couldn’t bear to see her suffer any more.

She continued her steadfast vigil outside the ICU, waiting for the moment Adrian would wake up.

When news of this reached Claire Bennett, she clenched the coffee cup in her hand so tightly she flung it, splashing its contents all over the floor.

The crimson rage in her eyes was practically overflowing.

She had meticulously planned everything, paid off the trolls, and set the narrative, just waiting to see Wren Sutton reviled by the entire internet, her reputation ruined, and driven to a dead end by public opinion.

But she never expected the Lancaster family to be so protective and their methods so aggressive. In just one hour, they had shattered all her calculations.

The public opinion frenzy that should have lasted for a long time came to an abrupt halt.

All her malice had vanished without a trace, and Wren Sutton was completely unscathed.

Claire Bennett stared intently at the blank search page on her computer, her body trembling with rage.

Her nails dug deep into her palms, but she couldn’t feel the slightest pain, only the bitter resentment and fury of falling short at the final hurdle.

The scheme she had so carefully laid was so easily defeated. This sense of frustration and anger nearly consumed her.

The only silver lining was that the Lancaster family hadn’t traced it back to her.

’It’s too early for me to admit defeat.’

...

The Sutton Residence.

The air was filled with the sound of babies crying, one wail after another, making one’s heart tighten.

Owen and Nina hadn’t seen their mother for a whole week.

During the day, they could just about manage when people were playing with them, but once evening fell, sleepiness and a sense of grievance washed over them, and the two little ones became utterly inconsolable.

Their little arms and legs flailed, their little mouths were puckered, and their little faces were flushed from crying. No amount of holding or rocking could quiet them.

Mrs. Sutton held one, and Mr. Sutton held the other. The elderly couple was so exhausted their eyes were bloodshot. They worried for their grandchildren and for the people at the hospital, and they didn’t want to tell their daughter unless it was absolutely necessary.

"What are we going to do? The babies’ faces are red from crying, they won’t drink their milk, and they won’t sleep. It’s obvious they miss their mother."

Mrs. Sutton gently patted the baby in her arms, feeling both anxious and heartbroken.

"Wren is at the hospital watching over Adrian and refuses to leave for even a moment. We don’t dare call and disturb her, in case we distract her."

Mr. Sutton sighed. He was at a loss, too.

"Let’s try to soothe them a little longer. If we really can’t, we’ll call Wren and have her come back for a bit. There are so many people in the Lancaster family; they can’t really expect her to stay at the hospital by herself."

"If something really happens to the babies from all this crying, it will be our fault. We won’t be able to face Wren and Adrian then."

An hour passed.

Owen and Nina were still crying, and their cries grew more intense, heart-wrenching, to the point they were struggling to breathe.

Mr. Sutton couldn’t bear the heartbreak any longer. After hesitating again and again, he picked up his phone.

"I’m calling Wren. If they keep crying like this, something’s going to happen to them."

Mrs. Sutton didn’t stop him, just nodded helplessly.

"Call her. Let her come back and see the children. They really miss their mother so much."

Mr. Sutton dialed his daughter’s number.

The moment Wren Sutton answered the phone, the sound of her babies’ overlapping cries flooded through the receiver.

Her heart instantly clenched.

Mr. Sutton tried his best to keep his voice down as he began with difficulty, "Wren, we can’t console Owen and Nina. The babies won’t stop crying, and your mother and I are at our wits’ end. That’s why we had to disturb you."

"The babies aren’t even six months old. They haven’t seen you in a week, and they really miss you. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be crying this hard."

"Wren, please come back for a bit. The children need their mother too."

Hearing this, Wren Sutton’s eyes instantly turned red, and her chest ached so much she could barely breathe.

She had risked her life to give birth to Owen and Nina; they were a part of her. Hearing her babies cry, the mother in her felt her heart break into pieces.

On one side was her comatose husband; on the other, her wailing children.

Both were people Wren Sutton cared about deeply; she couldn’t let go of either side.

She looked up at the door of the intensive care unit, her vision blurred by tears, caught in a terrible dilemma.

The Lancasters standing beside her heard what Mr. Sutton said over the phone and felt terrible. They all began to persuade Wren Sutton to go home.

"Wren, we’ll keep watch here. We’ll notify you immediately if anything changes. You should go home and check on the children first."

"That’s right. The babies are too young to be crying like this. Go back for a bit, rest at home for a couple of days, and spend time with them. We’ll watch things here at the hospital, don’t you worry."

"Wren, go back. Owen and Nina need you too."

Chiming in one after another, they practically half-persuaded and half-pushed Wren Sutton to leave.

"Okay, I’ll go back. If there’s any change here, tell me immediately."

"We definitely will, Wren," Lucia Lancaster promised solemnly.

Her eyes red-rimmed, Wren Sutton took one last look at the tightly closed door, then finally stood up and walked away.

The Lancaster family arranged for a dedicated driver to take her back to the Sutton family home.

...

The door to the Suttons’ living room was gently pushed open, and Wren Sutton walked in, her face etched with exhaustion, her steps urgent.

"Dad, Mom."

"Wren, you’re finally back."

Hearing the familiar voice, Owen and Nina both stopped crying at the same time. Crystalline teardrops clung to their long eyelashes, trembling slightly.

The babies, acting on instinct, sensed a familiar presence and turned their little heads toward the doorway in a daze.

Owen and Nina were still too young to call for their mother. They could only express their pure dependence, cooing and squirming in their mother’s direction, their eyes filled with an urgent longing.

It was an instinctual connection, a bond of blood.

Seeing the tears clinging to the corners of her children’s eyes and their little faces flushed from crying, Wren Sutton’s heart was squeezed painfully, filled with guilt.

She walked over quickly, carefully took Nina from her mother’s arms, sat on the sofa, and had her father bring Owen to her side.

"No more crying, babies. Mommy’s back."

Wren Sutton wrapped her arms around Owen and Nina, pulling them gently into her embrace.

She lowered her head, nuzzling her cheek against their warm little foreheads. Her fingertips brushed away the teardrops from the corners of their eyes as she patted their backs slowly and gently.

"I’m sorry. Mommy couldn’t be here for you these past few days. I’m sorry you felt neglected. Mommy apologizes."

"Daddy is sick, so Mommy was at the hospital with him. Mommy didn’t mean to ignore you."

"Will you forgive Mommy, okay?"

Smelling their mother’s familiar scent, hearing her gentle voice, and feeling the steady beat of her heart, Owen’s and Nina’s small, tense bodies slowly relaxed. They leaned against their mother’s embrace, quiet and well-behaved.

Witnessing this tender scene, Mrs. and Mr. Sutton’s eyes grew moist. They felt both heartbroken and relieved. They could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"I’ll go mix some formula for the babies. They must be hungry after crying for so long."

Soon, Mrs. Sutton had the formula ready.

Cradling their bottles, Owen and Nina nestled in their mother’s arms, sucking vigorously on the nipples with contented, satisfied gulps.

Wren Sutton held her children tight, her eyes filled with deep love. All her exhaustion and anguish vanished in that moment.

"Such good babies. Mommy loves you so much."

The two little ones had been fussing for quite a while and had used up a lot of energy. After obediently finishing their milk, they fell asleep in no time. Their brows were smooth, their breathing was light and even, and their little mouths were slightly pouted, looking absolutely adorable.

With her parents’ help, Wren Sutton gently placed the babies in their crib and tucked them in.

Once they confirmed Owen and Nina were fast asleep, the three of them quietly exited the bedroom, leaving the door ajar.

Back in the living room, Mrs. Sutton couldn’t hold back any longer. She stepped forward, took her daughter’s hand, and looked at her haggard appearance, her heart aching.

"It’s only been a few days, and you’ve lost so much weight. You must be exhausted," Mrs. Sutton said, wiping away tears.

Wren Sutton comforted her mother, "I’m okay, Mom. Don’t worry. The Lancaster family arranged for people to take turns watching him. I’m at the hospital during the day and rest at a hotel across the street at night."

Hearing this, Mrs. Sutton still felt heartbroken.

"Watching all day is still very tiring. The real issue is the mental anguish, which is much harder to bear than physical exhaustion."

Mr. Sutton looked at his daughter with deep concern and asked, "Wren, how’s the injury on your arm? Does it still hurt?"

"It doesn’t hurt anymore," Wren Sutton said, shaking her head. Her tone was deliberately light, her expression calm.

"The nurse applies medicine for me on time every day. It’s basically healed."

In truth, it still hurt a little, but compared to Adrian’s injuries, this pain was nothing.

Besides, she didn’t want her parents to worry.

Mr. Sutton nodded, relieved. "That’s good, then."

Immediately after, he anxiously asked about Adrian’s condition.

When they learned that their son-in-law was still unconscious in the ICU, Mr. and Mrs. Sutton’s hearts grew heavy once more.

Other than praying devoutly, waiting, and doing their best to care for Owen and Nina, there was nothing else the old couple could do.

"I hope Adrian wakes up soon."

...

「The next morning.」

At the crack of dawn, Mrs. and Mr. Sutton got up and went to the market to buy vegetables and meat.

They wanted to cook a few good meals and stew some nourishing soup to help their daughter regain her strength, and also to make some baby food for Owen and Nina.

An hour and a half later, the couple returned with their hands full, carrying many bags packed with all kinds of fresh ingredients.

Downstairs at their apartment building, they ran into a neighbor who lived in the same unit.

The three of them exchanged friendly greetings.

The neighbor, Mrs. Zane, looked at Mrs. Sutton with a somewhat troubled expression, hemming and hawing, as if she wanted to say something but was holding back.

Mrs. Sutton could see that she had something on her mind. She sent Mr. Sutton ahead, telling him to take the things upstairs and not to wait for her.

Mr. Sutton, preoccupied with his daughter and grandchildren, agreed readily without a second thought.

Just then, Mrs. Zane looked around to make sure no one was there before leaning closer to Mrs. Sutton.

A flicker of confusion crossed Mrs. Sutton’s mind. She smiled and said, "What’s wrong, Mrs. Zane? Why so secretive? We’ve been neighbors for so many years, just say what’s on your mind."

Mrs. Zane sighed first, then lowered her voice and said, "There is something... It’s about your daughter and son-in-law."