Rejected By My Mate; Claimed By Lycan Quadruplets Chapter 288

The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor filled the hospital room, a steady contrast to the quiet murmurs between Emma and Amy.

Serena’s eyelids fluttered open, her vision blurry at first, but then clearing enough to see her daughter curled up in her arms.

“Mommy?” Amy’s small voice was filled with relief as she tightened her hold around Serena.

“You’re awake!”

Serena exhaled slowly, a wave of exhaustion washing over her.

“Amy…” Her voice was hoarse, dry, as if she had swallowed a desert. “Sweetheart, are you okay?”

Amy nodded eagerly, her face lighting up.

“I’m fine, but you scared me! You were sleeping for so long, and everyone was worried.”

Serena managed a weak smile and kissed Amy’s forehead.

“I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

Emma sighed in relief, stepping closer to the bed. “Serena, how do you feel? You’ve been out for a while.”

Serena blinked a few times, adjusting to the dim hospital lighting.

“I feel… tired,” she admitted, shifting slightly. “But I’m okay.”

Before Emma could respond, the door creaked open, and Serena turned her head—her eyes landing on someone she hadn’t expected to see.

“Mom?”

Mrs. Winthrop stood in the doorway, her hands clasped together, her face a mixture of relief and frustration.

“Serena!” she breathed, rushing toward the bed.

Serena immediately pushed herself up, ignoring the slight dizziness that followed. “Mom! What are you doing here?”

Mrs. Winthrop didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she engulfed her daughter in a tight hug, her body shaking slightly.

Serena froze for a moment, then slowly wrapped her arms around her mother, inhaling the familiar scent of home.

“You scared me,” Mrs. Winthrop whispered against her daughter’s hair.

“Emma called me. The moment I heard what happened, I booked the next flight.”

Serena pulled back, her brows furrowing. She turned to Emma. “You called my mom?”

Emma shrugged slightly.

“I didn’t know if I should at first, but I thought she deserved to know.”

Serena exhaled, then turned back to her mother, guilt creeping up her spine.

“Mom, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have made you come all the way to Arizona because of my recklessness.”

Mrs. Winthrop shook her head.

“Don’t apologize for something that wasn’t your fault. I would have come either way.” She cupped Serena’s cheek, scanning her face for any sign of pain.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

Serena nodded, offering a small smile. “I’m fine now, really.”

The room fell into a brief silence before Bianca cleared her throat.

“So, Serena…” Bianca leaned forward slightly, keeping her expression soft and concerned.

“What exactly happened? One minute you were fine, and then the next, you were drowning. Do you remember anything at all?”

Serena blinked at the question.

She hadn’t had time to really process everything.

But now, sitting here, thinking back, she felt it again—that strange sensation of being pulled under.

She hesitated before answering. “I… I don’t know.”

Bianca’s fingers tightened around the chair armrest. “You don’t know?”

Serena shook her head slowly.

“One moment, I was sipping my drink, and the next, I just felt… pulled in.

” Her brows furrowed. “I didn’t slip. I didn’t lose my balance. It felt like something dragged me down.”

Emma and Mrs. Winthrop exchanged glances.

“Dragged you down?” Emma repeated. “Like… someone grabbed you?”

Serena hesitated again. “I—I don’t know,” she admitted. “Everything happened so fast.”

Mrs. Winthrop reached for her daughter’s hand. “It’s okay,” she soothed.

“You don’t have to think about it now. What matters is that you’re safe.”

Serena sighed. “Yeah… you’re right.”

Mrs. Winthrop smiled softly.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she asked, “Are you hungry?”

Serena nodded eagerly. “Actually… yes. I feel like I haven’t eaten in forever.”

“Good.” Mrs. Winthrop stood up and turned to Emma.

“I want to make her some soup. Something warm and nutritious. Let’s go to her house and prepare it.”

Emma nodded. “Of course.”

Mrs. Winthrop turned to Bianca. “Would you mind staying with her while we go?”

Bianca’s heart skipped a beat.

She hadn’t expected to be left alone with Serena. But she forced a smile and nodded.

“Of course! I’ll stay right here.”

Serena glanced at her mother. “You don’t have to go through all that trouble, Mom. We can just order something.”

“Nonsense,” Mrs. Winthrop scoffed. “I want you to eat something homemade.” She turned to Amy.

“Come on, sweetheart, you’ll help me cook for Mommy.”

Amy beamed. “Okay!”

With that, Emma, Mrs. Winthrop, and Amy left the room, leaving Bianca alone with Serena.

Bianca clenched her fists for a brief moment before releasing them.

She needed to act normal.

She turned to Serena and smiled sweetly. “I’m really glad you’re okay. You scared us all.”

Serena smiled back, albeit tiredly. “Yeah… I scared myself too.”

Bianca chuckled, reaching out to pat Serena’s hand. “Just rest, okay? Everything will be fine.”

Serena nodded and closed her eyes, completely unaware that the woman beside her was the very reason she had nearly died.

Meanwhile…

As Mrs. Winthrop, Emma, and Amy walked out of the hospital, they were not prepared for what was waiting for them outside.

The moment they stepped through the doors, a flurry of flashing lights and shouting voices surrounded them.

“Ms. Emma! Is it true that Serena Winthrop drowned?”

“Is the CEO of Rocky’s Design alive or dead?”

“Mrs. Winthrop, can you confirm her condition?”

“Was it an accident or something more?”

Emma froze, completely blindsided by the swarm of reporters.

“Where did they all come from?” she muttered, shielding her eyes from the constant flashing cameras.

Mrs. Winthrop frowned. “How did they even find out?”

Amy clutched her grandmother’s hand, her small face scrunched in confusion. “Why are they shouting?”

Emma didn’t have time to answer.

She grabbed Amy’s hand and quickly turned to Mrs. Winthrop. “We need to get out of here. Now.”

With that, she pushed through the crowd, guiding Mrs. Winthrop and Amy toward the parking lot.

The reporters followed them, throwing out more questions, cameras flashing, microphones being shoved in their direction.

“Ms. Emma! Just one statement!”

“Mrs. Winthrop! What happened to your daughter?”

“Is it true that she was poisoned before she drowned?”

Emma bit back a curse. Who the hell leaked this information?

After much effort, they finally reached the car and slammed the doors shut.

Emma took a deep breath and immediately grabbed her phone.

She dialed Bianca.

The moment the call connected, she didn’t waste time.

“Bianca, the hospital is surrounded by the media!” she blurted out.

“They know about Serena’s accident, and they’re asking all sorts of questions. You need to make sure her door is locked—make sure no one barges in!”

On the other end, Bianca’s grip on her phone tightened. She barely held back a smirk.

The news had spread.

Perfect.

But, of course, she pretended to be shocked. “Oh my God! How did they even find out?”

“I don’t know!” Emma snapped.

“But please, make sure Serena is safe. I’ll handle this from my end.”

Bianca forced a worried tone.

“Of course, I’ll take care of everything. Just be careful!”

As the call ended, Bianca slowly put down her phone.

She turned to Serena, who was resting peacefully.

The storm had just begun.