Chapter 440


    ray weak and fragile in Casey’s arms. Her sobs gradually subsided into the rhythms of sleep.


    Staring at her gaunt cheeks, Casey was haunted by a nagging premonition sparked by her earlier


    words. His hand tenderly brushed her forehead as his eyes welled up with concern. “ra, do you


    know something you’re not telling me?”


    Since her return, ra had been in a deep slumber for two whole days and nights. Even in her


    unconscious state, she was aware of visitors by her bedside.


    She heard Sasha’s tearful rebukes, felt Rose’s gentle grip on her hand apanied by soft sobs.


    ra longed to open her eyes to see them, but her eyelids seemed glued shut, unyielding to her


    will.


    Dream and reality blurred into one another.


    She saw herself, a child again, asleep on her father’s back; she relived the heartbreaking moment


    when, after her desperate plunge into theke triggered by Victoria’s actions, her father cradled her


    lifeless body and wept.


    Every act of love her father had bestowed upon her since childhood reyed in her mind. His image


    shifted from a young, handsome schr to a middle-aged man with graying temples. In each


    phase, the adoration in his eyes never wavered.


    After the divorce from Victoria, her father, not yet forty, had dedicated his life solely to her, never


    contemting remarriage. How could such a devoted man not be her biological father? The thought


    of his sorrow pierced her heart.


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    Visions of her father’s loving gaze flooded ra’s mind, and tears streamed down her cheeks


    uncontrobly as she murmured, “Daddy, daddy.”


    At her calls, Casey rushed to her side. His hand soothingly stroked her hair as he whispered, “It’s


    alright. I’m right here.”


    When she heared his voice, ra’s eyes fluttered open, revealing a depth of unspoken anguish.


    With a choked voice, she murmured, “Dad, I’ve missed you so much.”


    Casey bent down to envelop her in his embrace. Hisrge hand gently caressed her head. “ra,


    tell me what’s happened,” he urged softly.


    ra clung to Casey’s neck, silent but for the tears that kept flowing. If Casey had harbored any


    doubts before, they were now dispelled. ra knew the truth of her origins.


    He ventured cautiously, “Did Heidi say something to you?”


    After a few seconds of hesitation, ra faintly nodded. “Dad, why am I not your child? Is it a


    mistake? I don’t want to be the daughter of the Campbell family. I just want you to be my dad.”


    As she finished, ra’s sobs grew quieter in Casey’s hold.


    Easing her turmoil with gentle reassurance, Casey whispered, “I will always be your dad, and you


    will always be my dearest ra. That will never change. If you don’t want to return to the Campbell


    family, then don’t. I’m not ready to give you up to Paolo just yet.”


    Their tender embrace was witnessed by Edwin as he entered the room. His heart ached to connect


    with ra. He wanted nothing more than to let her know he was her brother, the one who would


    watch over her from now on. But witnessing her attachment to Casey and her refusal to ept her


    true heritage left him immobile, his feet refusing to make even the slightest movement forward.


    Ian ced aforting hand on Edwin’s shoulder, murmuring, “We need to give her time to


    process this. In a few days, she’lle to terms with it. ra has a strong sense of right and


    wrong; she won’t hold Paolo’s sins against you.”


    Edwin’s heart, which had been taut with anxiety, eased slightly at Ian’s words.