Chapter 336

Serena's POV The sterile white walls of the hospital room felt like they were closing in on me. Rancy's fever had finally broken, but her flushed cheeks and matted hair were painful reminders of our terrifying morning. I brushed a damp strand of hair from her forehead, my heart aching. Two years old and already so brave. The doctors said she'd be fine—just a severe viral infection—but those hours when her temperature soared to 104 felt like the longest of my life. "Mama," Rancy's small voice cracked, her eyes fluttering open. "Vivi? See Vivi?" My heart sank. Vivian Blackwood. Of course that would be her first coherent thought after hours of feverish sleep. "Honey, Vivian can't come to the hospital. You need to rest and get better first," I explained gently, offering her the sippy cup of water the nurse had left. Rancy's bottom lip trembled dangerously. "But promised! See pitchers!" I sighed, remembering their playground conversation that I'd overheard yesterday. Vivian had apparently i