Love by the Contract

Chapter 174

The sterile scent of antiseptic and the soft beeping of medical monitors filled the room as Emma Hamilton sat beside Lucy’s hospital bed. Her daughter’s pale face rested against the pillow, her dark curls framing her delicate features. Emma’s heart clenched at the sight of the IV line taped to Lucy’s small hand, a stark reminder of how fragile her children truly were.

Lucy stirred slightly, her eyelids fluttering open. “Mommy?” she whispered, her voice weak but steady.

Emma leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair from Lucy’s forehead. “I’m here, sweetheart. How are you feeling?”

Lucy managed a faint smile. “Tired.”

“That’s okay,” Emma said softly. “You just rest. The doctors say you’re going to be fine, but you need to take it easy for a little while.”

As Lucy drifted back into a light sleep, Emma sat back in her chair, exhaustion weighing heavily on her shoulders. She hadn’t left the hospital since they’d arrived the day before, and though Thomas had offered to take over so she could rest, she couldn’t bring herself to leave. This was her place—by her daughter’s side.

Outside the room, Emma met Thomas in the hallway. He held two cups of coffee, offering one to her with a concerned look. “How’s she doing?” he asked.

“She’s stable,” Emma replied, taking the coffee gratefully. “The doctors are running more tests to figure out what caused her to faint. They’re still leaning toward dehydration, but they want to rule out anything more serious.”

Thomas nodded, his hand resting on her shoulder. “And you? Have you eaten anything today?”

Emma shook her head. “I’m fine. I’ll eat later. Right now, I just want to focus on Lucy.”

“You can’t take care of her if you’re running on fumes,” Thomas said gently. “Let me handle things here for a bit. Go to the cafeteria, get something in you, and take a moment to breathe.”

Emma hesitated, torn between staying and stepping away. But the firm yet loving look in Thomas’s eyes convinced her. “Okay,” she said quietly. “But only for a few minutes.”

As Emma made her way to the cafeteria, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was Eleanor, her right-hand at the foundation. She debated ignoring it but decided to answer, knowing there might be urgent matters to address.

“Eleanor, now’s not the best time,” Emma said, keeping her voice low.

“I understand,” Eleanor replied. “But I thought you’d want to know right away. We just received an email from the Global Health Initiative. They’re offering us a substantial international grant—enough to fund the Mobile Health Initiative for three years.”

Emma stopped in her tracks. The Global Health Initiative was one of the most prestigious organizations in the world, and their endorsement could elevate the foundation to an entirely new level. “That’s incredible,” Emma said, her voice tinged with both excitement and apprehension. “What’s the catch?”

“The grant comes with stipulations,” Eleanor explained. “It would require you to oversee the project personally, which means extensive travel—months at a time, across multiple countries.”

Emma’s excitement faltered. She glanced back toward the hospital room where Lucy lay, her heart tightening. “I don’t know if I can commit to that right now,” she admitted.

“I understand,” Eleanor said. “Take your time to think it over. But they’ll want an answer soon.” in Lucy’s hospital room, Emma found Thomas sitting by their daughter’s side, reading softly from a storybook. The sight filled her with warmth, but the weight of Eleanor’s news pressed heavily on her.

Thomas looked up as she entered. “Everything okay?”

Emma hesitated, then sighed. “Eleanor called. We’ve been offered an international grant for the Mobile Health Initiative. It’s a huge opportunity, but it would mean a lot of travel.”

Thomas’s brow furrowed. “How much travel are we talking?”

“Months at a time,” Emma said, sitting down beside him. “It’s the kind of opportunity I’ve always dreamed of for the foundation, but…” She trailed off, her gaze drifting to Lucy.

Thomas followed her eyes and nodded. “Your family needs you right now.”

Emma ran a hand through her hair, the internal conflict evident on her face. “I don’t want to let the foundation down, but I can’t leave the twins, especially not now. And with everything we’ve been through lately, I’m not sure I can handle being away.”

Thomas took her hand in his, his touch grounding her. “You’ve built an incredible team, Emma. They can take on more responsibility while you focus on what matters most. You don’t have to do this alone.”

Emma gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you. I just need to figure out how to balance everything without letting anyone down.”

________________