"You still love him, do you?" Rhena looked at her daughter earnestly. 

  　　Carmen meets her mother's loving gaze. She could not lie to her, so denying her true feelings for John was no use. "I always do, Ma." 

  　　"Do you want to speak with him?" 

  　　Carmen pondered for a moment. After careful thought, she nodded and said, "I can't avoid him forever, nor can I hide my growing belly after a few months." 

  　　"I'll fetch him, then." 

  　　"Thanks, Ma." She was grateful to have a family who would not abandon her but support her decision. 

  　　Rhena came out of the ward. She saw John seated on a bench, clasping both hands while his elbow rested on his knees. His neck sunk into his shoulders. 

  　　The guy looks helpless, and Rhena fights the urge to feel pity and accept John. Not yet. He has to prove to himself first that he deserves her daughter. 

  　　"John…" 

  　　John was a bit startled. He quickly rose to his feet. "Ma'am?" 

  　　Rhena looked at John with intent. Even though she would dig a pit, it cannot change that this man is the father of her grandkid. 

  　　"I'm giving you the last chance to talk to my daughter. But I'm warning you, Mr. Jackson. I'm still not pleased with you." 

  　　"I'm ready to accept your displeasure with me, Mrs. Dawson. I don't mind if you can't forgive me yet. But please allow me to prove how much I love your daughter. Give me a chance to persuade her." 

  　　Rhena felt a chill listening to John's pleas. She waves her hand to dismiss John. 

  　　In Carmen's ward, she looked away when John entered the door. 

  　　"Hi. How are you feeling?" 

  　　"I would not feel good if I stayed like this forever." Carmen sounded so bitter because of her condition. In fact, she has no confidence in seeing John. 

  　　John clenched his palm into a ball inside his pocket. Carmen had a third-degree burn, and she needs surgery and rehab to walk again. She was suffering because Samuel planned to abduct Vincent, dead or alive. After the attack, Vincent went missing, and neither his men nor Master Shun Crow had a lead about where he was. 

  　　'I need to know where Vincent is.' John told himself. He stepped closer to Carmen and held her hand. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll be your legs until you can walk again. I promise I will not shun you away this time." 

  　　Listening to John's words, Carmen didn't know whether to laugh at how ridiculous it was or cry as her heart fluttered and would like to believe it. 

  　　"You don't need to be cheesy, John. Can't you see? I look hideous now," said Carmen bitterly. 

  　　"You are mistaken, sweetheart. You are always beautiful in my eyes." 

  　　Carmen was speechless. Deep inside, she wanted to believe in John and give him a chance one more time. But whenever she remembered that another woman was occupying his heart, it broke her again. 

  　　How could she compete with Ivy now? 

  　　Although Ivy is just the daughter of John's family driver, she is gorgeous and has a beautiful body. She may have had no wealth, but Ivy graduated with flying colors. She is smart. 

  　　The only advantage she had now compared to Ivy was the child growing up in her womb. It is what she could be proud of. However, it still confused her whether to get back together with John only because they had a child. 

  　　After she learned she was pregnant, Carmen asked herself a million times if she could bear knowing the truth that there was another woman in John's heart. 

  　　It seems like a lonely life. 

  　　"John, you should have to go home and take care of Ivy instead of me. She was still grieving after Jay's passing. I have my family to look for me, so I am fine." 

  　　"She had her family too," said John, tightening his hold on Carmen's hand. He softened his gaze and pleaded. "Please, take me back. Breaking up with you is the stupidest thing I ever did. After hearing what happened to you, I felt like my world crumbled, and suddenly I woke up from my idiocy. I almost lost you. Now, I would never leave your side. I love you, Carmen." 

  　　Carmen was rendered with silence. She grabbed her hand and turned her head to the other side, averting her gaze from John.

  　　She almost gave in. "Let me think about it." 

  　　"It's alright. You don't need to give me an answer. I can wait even if it's forever. I have one request. Please don't send me away. Let me take care of you." 

  　　Carmen grabbed the sheet and clenched her palm. She hated how it warmed her heart, and she couldn't stop saying, "Okay." 

  　　"Thank you, Carmen!" Out of joy, John kissed Carmen's forehead and startled her. 

  　　"John, I just allow you to stay, but it doesn't mean we have a relationship." 

  　　John scratched his temple as he smiled embarrassingly. "I'm sorry. I did not control myself. You don't know how you made me happy." 

  　　Carmen just shrugged a shoulder and paid little attention to John's reasoning. "I'm tired. I wanted to sleep." 

  　　"Go on. I'll be here watching you." 

  　　~

  　　Later that night, Carmen and Pitt were transported to Dream City, accompanied by Rhena and John. 

  　　Evan Dawson stayed behind not to get a lot of attention when they were still dealing with Samuel Miller's men, the Dark Organization. They are still holding Rob a hostage. 

  　　"Hey, John!" 

  　　"James…" John raised his knuckle and bumped into James. He also shook hands with the other knights. "How's the search?" 

  　　James shook his head. "Those men are not negotiating. So we could not take a reckless action." 

  　　"I see. I wished I could help. But the Dawson family had wider influences than me when I am just an outsider." said John. 

  　　James patted John's back. "I heard you are wooing Carmen. Good luck!" 

  　　"Yes, I am. Thanks." John sighed with relief to see James was supporting his goal. "By the way, how is the princess?" 

  　　Sadness flashes in James' eyes. "The empress is still in a coma after she had forced labor. The babies are in incubation and fighting for their lives." 

  　　"Can I see them?" John made a request. He looked at James with expectant eyes and sighed with relief when James nodded. 

  　　"Let's go." James led John toward the tenth floor. 

  　　John had vigilant eyes when he stepped out of the elevator. He saw how heavily guarded the entire floor was. He guessed it was Master Crow's order. 

  　　"Poor angels." 

  　　John heard James uttering these two words that pulled him from his train of thoughts. From the window, John saw four incubators with four babies. On their bodies connected several medical types of equipment. 

  　　After their visitation, James brought him to the fifth floor, where the restaurant was located. 

  　　"Hey, James. I need to use the restroom first."

  　　"Alright. You know the way?" asked James. 

  　　"Yes, I am." 

  　　"Cool!" 

  　　John watched James enter the restaurant. Once the guy is out of sight, he trailed down the hallway that will take him to the restroom. 

  　　Inside, he checked every cubicle to see if another person was using the toilet. After ensuring he was alone, he entered one and sat on the toilet bowl. 

  　　John pulled his phone out of his leather jacket pocket and typed on the screen. 

  　　"The princess had already given birth, and they are in critical condition." 

  　　"KILL THEM." 

  　　Is the reply John received.