My Disabled CEO Husband

Chapter Six

The days after Elena’s agreement to help Christian with the surgery weighed heavily on her heart. It was a promise made in the heat of a moment of compassion, but as the days unfolded, the reality of her decision sunk in deeper than she expected. It wasn’t just the surgery that burdened her now. It was the ever-growing connection she felt toward Christian, and to her own surprise, toward Liam too.

She had expected Christian to be distant, locked away behind the cold walls he had built after the accident. But instead, he seemed to observe her more closely now, studying her when he thought she wasn’t paying attention, his gaze lingering just a little longer than necessary. The small moments of vulnerability he let slip were like cracks in an unyielding stone—fleeting, but enough to unsettle her.

Liam, on the other hand, was a completely different presence. The boy had an intensity to him, a need for attention and affection that Elena hadn’t anticipated. He gravitated toward her like a magnet, seeking out her warmth and comfort in ways that tugged at her heartstrings. She never once considered herself to be a mother figure to him, but the more time she spent with him, the more she realized how deeply he had attached himself to her.

One evening, after a long day of research and work at the hospital, she arrived at Christian’s penthouse apartment to find Liam sitting on the couch, his small figure hunched over, looking out the window. There was a rare silence in the room, one she hadn’t heard in a long time, and it seemed to settle over her like a thick fog.

Christian was in the kitchen, his back to her as he prepared dinner, the clinking of pots and pans filling the air. But despite the noise of the mundane, there was a heavy tension between them, unspoken and palpable.

Liam didn’t notice her arrival, so deep in his thoughts that he almost seemed unaware of the world around him. Elena stood in the doorway, watching him for a long moment before she crossed the room and sat down beside him on the couch. His gaze flicked to her only briefly before he returned his attention to the view outside the window, as though he were lost in some place far beyond the penthouse walls.

“What’s on your mind, Liam?” she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

He didn’t answer at first, his eyes still fixed on the horizon, the city lights twinkling beneath them. It was as if he were trying to find the right words, struggling to bring whatever emotion was swirling inside him to the surface.

“I miss Mommy,” Liam said finally, his voice small, his words heavy with an innocence that made Elena’s chest tighten with sorrow.

Her heart broke in that instant. She had never been prepared for the weight of such a simple statement. There was no malice in it, no ill will—it was just the quiet longing of a boy who had lost the two people who had meant everything to him.

“I know, sweetie,” she murmured, placing a gentle hand on his small shoulder. “I miss her too. But she’s still here, inside you.”

He sniffled, wiping at his nose with the back of his hand, and Elena could feel his sadness tugging at her own heart. She wanted to fix it, wanted to be able to make it better for him, but she didn’t know how. All she could do was be there.

“Will you be my Mommy?” Liam asked, his voice so soft and uncertain that it almost broke her.

The question hung in the air, lingering between them like a fragile thread. Elena swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. She wasn’t Liam’s mother. She wasn’t even sure what role she played in his life. But the affection he gave her, the way he looked at her with such trust and hope, made it hard to refuse.

“I’m not your mommy, Liam,” Elena said, her voice barely above a whisper, her heart heavy with the unspoken words. “But I’m here for you. And I always will be.”

Liam looked up at her with wide eyes, his little face glowing with hope. "Promise?"

She nodded, squeezing his hand gently. "I promise."

Meanwhile, Christian had been watching the entire exchange from the kitchen, his face unreadable, but his eyes sharp, taking in every subtle interaction between Elena and his nephew. The sight of Liam clinging to Elena—calling her “Mommy” without even realizing the weight of the words—stirred something deep within him. He couldn’t pinpoint what it was, but something inside him twisted, a feeling he couldn’t explain.

The truth was, Christian had never truly allowed himself to be vulnerable in front of anyone, let alone someone like Elena, who had quickly woven her way into his life. His instincts screamed at him to push her away, to retreat behind the armor he had spent so long constructing. But there was something about her—something that made him hesitate every time he looked at her.

When dinner was ready, he placed the plates on the table, silently motioning for them to sit. Liam eagerly climbed into his chair, and Elena followed suit, sitting beside him. Christian remained standing, watching the two of them in a moment of strange silence before finally speaking.

"How was your day?" he asked Elena, his voice low, almost too calm.

Elena looked up at him, her eyes soft but firm. “It was fine. I’m just... still processing everything. This surgery—it’s a big deal, Christian. I want to help you, but there’s so much more at stake here.”

Christian’s gaze softened for a moment, his eyes lingering on her before he sat across from them, his posture stiff but with an undercurrent of something unspoken. “I know,” he said quietly. “But I need you to understand that this isn’t just about the surgery for me. It’s about trust. I need to trust you, Elena. I need to know that you’re not just doing this out of obligation.”

She met his eyes, feeling the weight of his words, but also the vulnerability behind them. She could sense the struggle within him—his desire to be the man he once was, to reclaim what was taken from him, and yet, his fear of relying on someone else.

“I don’t want to be the one to fix you, Christian,” Elena said softly. “But I can help. I can be here. I don’t know where this will lead, but I’m not going anywhere.”

Christian remained silent, his gaze fixed on her as if trying to decipher the truth in her words. His chest tightened in a way that felt unfamiliar—he had never needed anyone before, but with Elena, everything seemed to be different.

As the evening wore on, the small, fleeting moments between them became more intimate. When Christian reached over to pass the salt, his hand brushed against Elena’s, and for a moment, neither of them pulled away. The brief contact sent an unexpected shiver down her spine. His touch lingered, if only for a second, but Elena couldn’t ignore the warmth that spread through her at the simple act.

Liam, oblivious to the tension between them, finished his meal and climbed into Christian’s lap, his small arms wrapping around his uncle. Christian’s usual stoic expression softened as he cradled Liam in his arms, the boy’s innocent affection melting away the harsh edges of his cold exterior. Elena watched the moment unfold, her chest tightening at the sight of the bond between the two of them.

When dinner was over and Liam had been tucked into bed, Elena found herself alone in the living room with Christian. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, with emotions that neither of them had the courage to voice.

Elena broke the silence first, her voice low and steady. “I’m here, Christian. I’m not going anywhere. But I need you to understand that this isn’t just about the surgery. It’s about all of us. It’s about Liam too. And I won’t let you shut me out.”

Christian’s eyes flashed with something—a flicker of vulnerability, a hint of uncertainty—but he didn’t look away. He held her gaze, as if trying to read her, trying to figure out if she meant every word.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke, his voice quieter than before. “I won’t shut you out, Elena. I don’t know what I’m doing, but I know I need you.”

For a brief moment, the distance between them seemed to close. And in that moment, Elena realized that maybe, just maybe, she had already started to fall into a life she hadn’t expected.