Helena's eyes brimmed with glistening tears as fear and worry held her in their tight grip. She fought back the urge to cry and nodded her head, showing a maturity beyond her years.
Julian's little cheeks were flushed, his expression a mix of fear and concern as he gave a confused nod.
"You two are doing great," Thalassa said tenderly, stroking their hair and taking their hands as they approached Hertha's bedside.
"Mommy..." Helena looked up with her small head and saw Hertha lying motionless in bed, her wounds wrapped in bandages. Tears surged from her eyes as she felt both heartache and fear- fear of losing their mommy.
Julian's lips puckered as he, too, was on the verge of tears.
They halted more than a meter from Hertha's bed, not daring to come closer.
Thalassa had told them not to touch Mommy, or she might die. They were terrified of their mommy dying, so they didn't dare to approach.
As the children began to cry, Thalassa's heart melted. She quickly crouched down and scooped Helena into her arms.
Seeing them, Bridget hurried over and picked up Julian.
"Don't cry, Helena. Your mommy's just hurt. She needs some time to rest, and she'll be okay. No tears now. When your mommy's better, she'll tell you bedtime stories and tuck you in at night. Don't be afraid," Thalassa soothed, wiping away Helena's tears.
"And you, Julian, you're the big brother. You have to set an example for your sister. No crying, okay? If you cry, your mommy will worry even more," Bridget cooed, comforting Julian.
After all, they were just two-year-olds. No matter how mature they seemed, they were still children with a limited capacity to handle such situations.
Julian raised a small hand to wipe away his tears, pursing his lips in an effort to stop himself from crying. "Julian won't cry, and Helena won't either. Mommy will get better soon."
He was comforting himself as much as his sister.
Helena's little red lips quivered as she sniffled, trying to hold back her tears, but they kept falling, tugging at the heartstrings of anyone who saw her.
"There you go, you've seen Mommy. She's hurt and can't come home to sleep with you for a few days. You must listen to Bridget, okay? When your mommy's better, she'll come back, and you'll see her healthy and smiling again. Can you go back with Bridget now?" Thalassa asked the children in a gentle, negotiating tone.
"Okay, we'll wait for Mommy," Julian agreed obediently.
With Julian on board, Helena naturally followed suit.
Bridget cast a hurried glance at Hertha, taking in the severity of her injuries, and sighed with a heavy heart. She then led the two children out of the hospital room.
Watching Bridget walk away with the little ones, Thalassa felt a warmth in her eyes. She missed her four children terribly. It had been three years since she had seen them. Sometimes, in the still of the night, her longing choked her.
Perhaps when Lysander woke up, she would have the chance to see her four treasures again. They would be seven now, surely even more understanding.
Bridget, with Julian and Helena in tow, reached the elevator and waited for its arrival.
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.
"The elevator's here!" Helena ran toward it just as a man stepped out. Her forehead bumped into the man's leg.
"Hey there, kiddo, you alright?" Alaric, who had hurried out of the elevator, quickly bent down to check on the little tot.
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