infinite Rebate System: 10x Rewards for Conquering And Taming Heroines

The ride to the hospital was quiet, but the silence felt easy rather than heavy. Night had settled fully over the city, soft and cool. Streetlights slid past in long yellow streaks, and the wind tugged at Jason’s jacket as he guided the motorcycle through the nearly empty streets. The engine hummed low and steady beneath them.

Emma sat behind him, her arms loosely wrapped around his waist. Not clinging. Just enough pressure to stay balanced when he took a turn. Her cheek rested lightly against his back every time the bike leaned. The warmth of her body seeped through his shirt in a way that was hard to ignore.

Jason told himself not to overthink it.

He was thirty-eight in his soul. In his previous life he had been around plenty of women~some brief, some complicated, some he thought he cared about. None of those moments had felt quite like this. Maybe it was because Emma had always been part of the background of his life, someone who never needed to prove she belonged. Maybe it was because she and Victoria had quietly shown up for his mother when everything was falling apart. Or maybe it was simply that after dying once and coming back, he finally understood what real care looked like when it wasn’t wrapped in conditions.

He let out a quiet breath.

Emma shifted behind him, her voice close to his ear over the wind. "What’s going on in that head of yours?"

"Nothing."

"Liar." There was a soft laugh in her voice. "You’ve been sighing like that since we were kids. You only do it when your brain won’t shut up."

Jason smiled despite himself. She still knew him too well.

A few minutes later the hospital came into view. He parked under the covered entrance, killed the engine, and waited while Emma climbed off. The sudden absence of her arms around him left a strange, cool space against his back. They walked inside together, the thermos of chili tucked under Jason’s arm.

Sarah was already sitting up when they pushed open the door. Some of the color had returned to her face. The moment she saw her son carrying food, her expression brightened like someone had turned on a light.

"You’re back."

"Of course." Jason lifted the thermos. "Brought dinner."

Sarah raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "You cooked?"

Emma snorted. "That was my exact reaction."

"Mom." Jason put on an offended face. "Your son is perfectly capable of cooking."

"Since when?" Sarah shot back without missing a beat.

The whole room broke into laughter. Victoria, who had been sitting in the corner chair with a half-empty water bottle, nearly choked. Jason rubbed the back of his neck, fighting a smile of his own.

"Tough crowd tonight."

They opened the thermos. The rich, savory smell of homemade chili filled the small ward~smoky, warm, and unmistakably comforting. Victoria blinked in genuine surprise.

"Okay... that actually smells really good."

"Told you," Jason said, a little smug.

Emma rolled her eyes. "I did half the work."

"Forty percent."

"Fifty."

"Forty-five."

"Fifty," she insisted, chin tilted up.

Jason held up both hands in surrender, grinning. "Fine. You win."

Emma looked ridiculously pleased with herself, like she had just claimed a major victory.

Sarah watched the two of them bicker, and the smile that spread across her face reached all the way to her eyes. For a little while the hospital walls, the IV pole, the quiet fear that usually lived in the corners of the room~all of it faded. It just felt normal. Warm. Like a regular family night that had somehow found its way into a hospital ward.

Emma filled a bowl and sat on the edge of the bed. "Careful. It’s still hot."

"You don’t have to baby me," Sarah protested, though there was no real heat in it.

Emma blew gently on the spoon anyway before holding it out. "Then stop complaining and eat."

Victoria laughed from her chair. "Look at her. She’s bossing you around now."

Emma’s cheeks flushed pink. "I’m just worried about her."

Sarah’s expression softened. She reached out and gave Emma’s hand a gentle squeeze. "I know, sweetheart. Thank you."

Jason sat a little apart, quietly peeling an apple with a small knife, the skin curling away in one long strip. He watched the scene without speaking. In his previous life this moment had never existed. His mother had died. The laughter, the easy teasing, the simple warmth between the people in this room~all of it had been lost for good. Now it was back, close enough to touch, and the weight of that truth sat heavy and grateful in his chest.

His eyes stung for a second. He blinked hard and looked down at the apple.

Victoria noticed. She always did.

"Jason?" she said quietly.

"Yeah?"

"You okay? You’re staring."

"I’m good." He kept his eyes on the fruit. "Just tired."

The meal continued in that same easy rhythm. Conversation drifted from neighborhood gossip to Emma’s latest university stress, to Victoria complaining about how expensive everything at the grocery store had gotten, to Sarah sharing old stories that made them all laugh. Nothing important. Nothing dramatic. Just ordinary life happening in a hospital room.

Jason soaked up every second of it.

These were the exact moments he had missed the first time around.

By the time the bowls were empty and the thermos packed away, the corridor outside had grown quiet. Sarah glanced toward the dark hallway and then back at them.

"You kids should head home. I’m really fine now."

Victoria frowned. "We can stay a little longer."

"No." Sarah’s voice was gentle but firm. "You’ve done more than enough today. Go get some rest."

Emma still looked reluctant. Sarah’s smile softened further as she looked at Jason.

"Especially now," she added.

He understood. As long as she knew he still needed her here~as long as she remembered she wasn’t alone~she wouldn’t give up again.

Victoria finally nodded. "Alright. But I’m coming back tomorrow with breakfast. And I’m not taking no for an answer."

Sarah laughed under her breath. "You sound like you’re threatening me."

"I am," Victoria said with a grin. "Skip breakfast and I’ll force-feed you myself."

They were still laughing as they gathered their things. Then Sarah called out suddenly.

"Emma?"

Emma turned. "Yeah?"

Sarah’s eyes sparkled with unmistakable mischief. "You’re such a good girl. And so pretty."

Emma blinked, caught off guard. "Thanks...?"

Sarah glanced between Emma and Jason, her smile growing wider.

"I was just thinking~whoever ends up marrying you someday is going to be one very lucky guy."

Emma froze. Jason froze.

Victoria burst out laughing so hard she had to cover her mouth.

"Mom!" Emma’s face went bright red.

"What?" Sarah said, all innocence. "I’m just saying."

Jason grabbed the empty thermos like it was a lifeline. "Time to go. Right now."

"Yes," Emma agreed quickly, already moving toward the door. "Let’s go."

The two of them practically fled the room while Sarah and Victoria’s laughter followed them out into the hallway.

As they walked side by side toward the elevators, the sound of that laughter still echoing behind them, Jason felt something quiet and steady settle deep in his chest.

This was why he had been given another chance.

To protect them.

To keep this kind of warmth alive.

And this time, he was not going to lose it.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!