Entangled in the Night: Unable to Escape Him-Chapter 37: Mom, Don’t Go

Just as Chloe was about to leave, Mrs. Nash called out to stop her: "Chloe, do you understand the consequences of what you’re about to do? If you go this time, and after you leave, what then? If he becomes attached to you, will you still be able to walk away?"

Mrs. Nash felt deep sympathy for that child, but she felt even more for Chloe.

It had been so hard for her to escape that man’s clutches. She really didn’t want her to fall into his grasp again.

Chloe understood her mother’s worry, but she simply couldn’t let go of Julian Prescott.

Just thinking of his unbroken fever, refusing all treatment, made her heart ache as though pierced by a thousand needles.

She was a doctor—she knew well how dangerous a high fever could be for a child.

Julian Prescott already suffered from autism. If his fever led to further complications, Chloe knew she’d never forgive herself.

She couldn’t help but burst into tears. "Mom, I know you mean well, but I can’t just ignore Julian. What his father did to me shouldn’t have to be something he bears. I’m a doctor—saving lives is my calling, no matter who the person is."

Hearing this, Mrs. Nash let out a long sigh: "I’m just worried that lunatic will try to keep you here. If you really can’t let that child go, then go see him, but be careful on the road."

"I know."

With that, she grabbed her car keys and rushed out.

All Chloe could think about was the day her son died.

When she arrived at the medical station, it was nothing but rubble and ruins.

If only she’d come back earlier, maybe her son wouldn’t have died. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Even if it was death, at least she could’ve been by his side—he wouldn’t have been alone.

She was determined never to let such a thing happen again.

Her heart was pounding the whole way. She stepped harder on the gas as she drove.

When she reached the old Prescott family mansion, a line of people stood outside Julian’s door.

There was Old Master Prescott, still frail from illness; Lucy Rhodes; the family doctor; the butler; and the housekeeper.

Everyone looked tense and anxious.

As soon as Lucy Rhodes saw her arrive, she rushed over and grabbed her hand. "Dr. Nash, thank God you’re finally here! I’ve been worried sick."

As she spoke, tears started to pour down her face.

Lucy had watched Julian grow up. He didn’t have a mother, and his autism kept him from speaking—he’d had it hard enough.

Chloe’s heart pounded with anxiety, but she still patted Lucy Rhodes’s hand to comfort her: "Don’t worry. I’ll go check on him."

She walked over to Old Master Prescott, afraid he would worry himself ill again, and quickly tried to reassure him: "Grandpa Prescott, you’ve just started to recover; you shouldn’t get worked up. Please go rest—I’ll see how Julian’s doing."

Old Master Prescott’s eyes were rimmed with red. "Thank you, Chloe. I’m sorry for the trouble."

Chloe took the key and opened Julian’s bedroom door. She expected to find him sprawled in bed, miserable from his fever.

But what she didn’t expect to see was Julian, sitting alone in front of an easel, drawing.

On the pad were portraits of two people.

Beside them, a few crooked words.

Me and Mom.

Seeing this, Chloe’s heart twisted painfully in her chest.

As a mother herself, she could feel Julian’s yearning for his mom, and it made her ache inside.

She slowly walked over to Julian’s side, crouched down, and called to him in the gentlest voice: "Julian."

At the sound of her voice, Julian looked up in disbelief.

Those big, shiny black eyes stared at her, unblinking.

Tears gradually welled up, filling his eyes.

Huge, fat drops slid down his smooth cheeks.

His lips trembled; a hoarse little voice broke out of his throat, "Mom."

Chloe pulled Julian into her arms and gently stroked his head, her voice soft and soothing: "Julian, Mommy’s here."

In this moment, for Chloe, no matter what Julian wanted—she was willing to give him anything.

Even if she knew it could put her in danger.

Julian’s fever-flushed face nuzzled against Chloe’s shoulder; his small hand gently stroked her cheek.

He looked at her with pleading eyes. "Mom, don’t go."

Chloe lowered her head and kissed his forehead. "Okay, I’m not leaving. But Julian, you have to be good—when you’re sick, you have to take your medicine, or your fever will hurt your body, and you won’t get to see Mommy anymore."

Julian nodded through his tears.

Seeing that Chloe had finally persuaded him, Lucy Rhodes started weeping too.

She held his little hand and said, "Julian, are you trying to scare your aunt to death? If anything happens to you, your dad will skin me alive."

Julian clung to Chloe and refused to let go, not even for his temperature or a drip.

He was terrified to let go, as if she might disappear if he so much as loosened his grip.

Seeing him like this made Chloe feel as though her heart was being sliced to ribbons.

The day she was sent to the front lines, her own son had clung to her the same way.

It was as though—even at that age—he somehow knew. He cried and cried.

But with urgent orders coming from the front, Chloe hardened her heart and left her child with the nanny.

She grabbed the emergency kit and raced out.

Never, ever expecting that would be the last goodbye between mother and son.

Maybe children are sensitive—they can sense that, once Mommy leaves, they might never see her again. So they bawl and won’t let go.

That scene was much like today.

She had left her son behind, and she regretted it for life.

This time, she wouldn’t let herself abandon Julian Prescott.

Julian’s fever was at 41°C, but he pushed himself to stay awake, his eyes locked on Chloe.

Chloe gently stroked his head. "Julian, you really need rest now. Take a good nap—Auntie won’t leave, I’ll stay here with you, okay?"

Given her promise, Julian was still uneasy. His hot little hand gripped Chloe tight.

He wanted her to pinky swear.

Chloe hooked his little finger. "Pinky swear—hang in there for a hundred years, you can’t take it back. Whoever goes back on their word is a big meanie. Come on, let’s do the seal."

When they finished the whole ritual, Julian finally relaxed.

His fever was so high that his eyes had long since lost their sparkle.

It wasn’t long before he drifted off to sleep.

As she nursed his fever, Chloe asked Lucy Rhodes, "How did Julian’s mother die?"