His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 25

**TITLE: Betrayal Births by Joseph King**
**Chapter 25**

**Claire’s POV**

The rhythmic beeping of the monitors echoed in the sterile room, a constant reminder of my fragile state. Even after the doctor and his team had exited, their white coats trailing behind them like ghosts, the sound lingered, filling the silence with an unsettling pulse. I reclined against the crisp sheets, feeling a strange numbness wash over me as I fixated on the ceiling, as if it held the secrets to my survival.

Mom, Naomi, and Ethan remained nearby, their eyes flickering towards me with an intensity that felt almost suffocating. It was as if they feared that a prolonged gaze might shatter my already fragile spirit. I tried to push down the irritation that bubbled within me, as well as the gnawing realization that Elijah had not returned to check on me since the doctor’s visit.

But why did it matter?

Ethan was the first to break the heavy silence that enveloped us. “The specialists will run more tests in the morning,” he stated, his voice steady and reassuring, like a calm anchor in a storm. “They’ll start looking into the best treatment plan for you. A cure.”

The word hung in the air, distant and elusive, like a mirage in a desert. Cure.

I struggled to let the notion settle in my mind, grappling with how foreign it sounded to me. I had been told I was facing a terminal condition.

No cure, no remedy—neither short-term nor long-term. Just a constant cycle of management and a flicker of hope. Had they been mistaken?

As my pulse quickened, my thoughts spiraled. Was there genuinely a possibility for me to live free from this torment? To escape the pills, the fainting spells, and the all-too-familiar scent of antiseptic that had become a part of my existence?

I turned my gaze to Mom, whose eyes shimmered with tears, the red rim around them a testament to her distress. Naomi mirrored my confusion, her expression a reflection of my own bewilderment.

Slowly, Mom nodded, as if to reassure me that this was indeed happening and not just a figment of my imagination.

I blinked rapidly, but the tears still blurred my vision. A burning sensation crept into my throat as I turned to Ethan, meeting his calm, light blue eyes that seemed to shine with quiet strength. They were a stark contrast to the turmoil within me, though I couldn’t quite understand why I was comparing.

“Thank you,” I managed to croak out, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan’s expression softened, a flicker of warmth breaking through his usual composure. “You don’t need to thank me, pup. We’ll figure this out together.”

But despite his comforting words, the tears continued to flow, my chest heaving as sobs erupted, raw and unrestrained. Mom reached out, enveloping me in her embrace, smoothing my hair as she murmured repeatedly that I wasn’t alone.

Ethan remained seated, a silent guardian, his presence steady and unwavering, as if he were a sentinel watching over me during this storm of emotion.

And for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I allowed myself to truly cry.

Later, as the room settled into a heavy silence and Mom and Ethan slipped out, Naomi perched herself on the edge of my bed. She had been restless all afternoon, her foot tapping a nervous rhythm, her phone clutched tightly in her lap.

“You’ve been cooped up long enough,” she declared suddenly, her tone resolute. “Let’s get some fresh air.”

I shot her a weak glare, though I intended it to be more of a side-eye. “Are you serious? I just fainted.”

“Exactly,” she replied, grinning as if her logic made perfect sense. “You need a reset. Come on, Claire. Just a little walk. The evening breeze will do you wonders.”

“I don’t think—”

“Don’t argue,” she insisted, tugging at my arm with surprising determination. “You’ve literally been asleep for an entire day. You didn’t even notice.”

I froze, confusion flooding my senses. “Wait… what?”

She nodded, her lips pursed in a way that suggested she was trying to convey something profound. “You woke up this morning, but you were so out of it that you don’t even remember. It’s evening now.”

A shiver coursed through me. An entire day lost? My body was betraying me in ways I hadn’t fully comprehended.

Yet, Naomi’s eyes sparkled with an infectious determination, and I couldn’t bear to dampen her enthusiasm. With a resigned sigh, I relented. “Fine. Just a short walk.”

Her victorious whoop filled the air as she helped me change into comfortable clothes, practically dragging me toward the door.

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