Chapter 266

Nathaniel stood in quiet reflection, the echo of Ryan’s anguished cry still hanging in the air. It was the first sound the boy had made in a long time, and while it was rooted in pain, to Nathaniel, it was a sign raw, real, and strangely reassuring. The human will to feel, to fight through suffering, was alive in Ryan. Rowan was more than qualified to manage something as clinical as a fracture reset he’d handled countless cases across high-end recovery clinics but Nathaniel couldn’t bring himself to delegate this one. Ryan was too important. The child had become more than just a patient; he was a symbol of perseverance. And Nathaniel, ever the perfectionist, trusted no one but himself when it mattered most.