Jace had just been stabilized and was still unconscious.

The nurse explained that it would take about half an hour for him to regain consciousness, so they had to remain by his bedside.

Bennett checked the time on his phone and asked, “Are you hungry?

Let me get you some food."

Claudia shook her head and said, "I'm not hungry."

She then turned to Elmo and inquired, “Could you fetch two bowls of porridge? I'm sure Elmo must be hungry."

Elmo refused immediately.

“It's fine, Elmo," Claudia reassured him, looking at Bennett.

Bennett gently touched her face and said, “Alright, I'll go get it.”

With that, he left the ward.

After Bennett left the room, only Elmo, Claudia, and Jace were left.

At this time, Jace was still unconscious on the hospital bed.

Claudia stared at him and shuddered at the thought of losing him.

Her heart would have been crushed if the doctor had come out earlier with dire news.

Jace had taken on the role of her single parent after her mother died when Claudia was just an infant.

During her childhood, Claudia often questioned Jace about her mother's absence, jealous of how other kids had a mother, and yet she didn't.

Each time, he would say that her mother was in heaven, preparing a room full of Claudia's favorite toys, so that when she were to join her, she'd have a room full of toys.

As she grew older, Claudia accepted that her mother was gone.

Over time, Claudia stopped asking Jace about her mother. However, she often found the master bedroom lit late into the night. When she entered, she discovered Jace staring at a photograph of her mother, his eyes revealing a complexity of emotions.

He hoped Claudia would cherish the memory of her mother, but he also wanted to shield her from the ongoing pain of her absence.

As Claudia matured, her yearning for her mother became a regular thing.

For Jace, Claudia was the remnant left behind by his beloved woman; a treasure that he must cherish and look after.

For Claudia, Jace had been not just a father but also a teacher, a friend, and a constant companion for the past twenty-five years of her life.

The cost of growing older involved losses, but she couldn't bear the thought of losing her father.