Chapter: 553

She knew she had to turn to Francine for support. To make Jonathan believe her story, she needed his parents’ backing.

Unintended lies had snowballed into something larger, and now she had to weave even more stories to cover it up.

By the next morning, Nikolas' surgery was completed.

With his parents still abroad, Jonathan remained at the hospital, waiting outside the operating room.

When the doctor emerged and removed his mask, his expression was grave. “The surgery was successful, but... whether he would wake up is uncertain."

"You mean he might be in a vegetative state?"

The doctor nodded solemnly. "Yes, prepare yourself for that possibility.”

Jonathan took a deep breath, his brow furrowing with worry.

He hadn't anticipated the severity of Nikolas’ injuries.

He also fretted about Rowan, alone at home and possibly frightened.

After confirming he couldn't visit Nikolas in the ICU, Jonathan drove back to East Shade Bay.

Expecting Rowan to still be asleep, he was surprised to find his son waiting in the hallway.

"How's Nikolas?"

Jonathan was overcome with emotion. He bit his lip, struggling to contain his feelings, not wanting to show his teary eyes to his son.

Nikolas was his best friend, always a fucking idiot, but... He had always been there for Bates Group and for him.

"He's fine, just resting."

"Really?" Rowan sensed his father's distress. After a moment of thought, he stepped forward and took Jonathan's hand. "Mom used to say that holding my hand made everything better when she was sad. So, you should hold it too, to help Nikolas get better."

Suddenly finding himself close to his son, Jonathan paused for a moment before holding the boy's small hand in his own.

"Nikolas will be alright. Once he's up, I'll take you to see him at the hospital.”

Rowan nodded, seemingly taken aback by the reassurance. “Why haven't you made me call you Dad?"

Before coming back to the country, Rowan had imagined every possible situation.

He thought Jonathan might insist on being called Dad, or perhaps show strong dislike, even refusing to acknowledge him. Such scenarios were common in TV dramas Rowan had watched.

But nothing was going as he had thought it would.

Jonathan, labeled as a neglectful father, neither pressured Rowan into anything he was uncomfortable with nor doubted his identity. He simply welcomed him home and cared for him attentively.