Chapter 71

As Aiden sat by the bed, his hand still clutching April’s, the soft padding of tiny footsteps caught his attention. He turned to see Alex and Sophia standing hesitantly at the doorway, their wide eyes taking in the sight of their father’s tear-streaked face and their mother lying still on the bed. The innocent confusion on their faces tugged at Aiden’s heartstrings, adding another layer of guilt to the already heavy burden he carried.

“Dad?” Alex asked, his voice small and tentative. “Why are you crying? Is Mom… is she dead?”

Aiden’s chest tightened at the question, and he quickly forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He could see the worry etched on his children’s faces, their young minds struggling to process the scene before them. The last thing he wanted was to scare them, to add to their own fears. He took a deep breath, composing himself as best he could, before standing up and walking over to them.

“No, no, sweethearts,” Aiden said softly, kneeling down to thei