Chapter 266 Inherited
Allergy
Eric noticed it, too.
Just moments before, in the garden, there had been no signs of anything unusual, but now, in such a short span of time, red rashes had appeared all over Felix’s body.
Feeling uncomfortable, Felix couldn’t help but scratch at his skin, his discomfort evident as he looked up at his grandparents with tearful eyes.
“Grandpa, Grandma… I feel awful. It’s so itchy…” Felix’s voice quivered as tears threatened to spill from his eyes.
Esme’s heart broke for him. She gathered Felix tightly in her arms, trying to soothe him. “Be strong, Felix. Just a little longer. The doctor will be here soon.”
But at the mention of the doctor, Felix shrank back, a wave of fear crossing his face.
“Don’t be afraid, Felix. We’re here with you,” Esme reassured him.
Felix curled up in her arms, looking utterly pitiful as he pleaded, “Grandma, can I not see the doctor?”
Esme’s refusal was firm. “No, you have to.”
Soon realizing she had been too harsh, she softened her tone and asked gently, “Are you scared of the doctor, Felix?”
Felix nodded quietly, still gripping Esme’s clothes tightly.
Esme gently brushed his hair, blaming herself. “I should have noticed. I
wasn’t paying enough attention to how Felix was feeling!”
Eric spoke up, his voice filled with concern. “It looks like it might be an allergic reaction.”
“An allergic reaction?” Esme’s eyes widened, a sudden realization dawning on her. “Could it be…”
Esme and Eric exchanged a glance, and in an instant, their thoughts aligned.
“Pollen!”
“A pollen allergy!”
They spoke together.
“You are back!” Olivia, having just finished making the call, suddenly called
out.
Esme and Eric both looked up in unison, and a wave of unease washed over them when they saw Renee and William walking through the door.
Renee’s heart immediately skipped a beat as she saw Felix lying uncomfortably on the sofa.
“What happened to him?” As she asked, her steps quickened, urgency in her movements as she rushed toward Felix.
Upon seeing Renee, Felix reached out for her, his face a blend of fear and distress. “Mommy, I’m sorry…”
Renee’s heart shattered at the sight of him like this. She scooped Felix into her arms and quickly assessed his condition.
When she saw the red rashes on his face, everything clicked. She understood immediately what had happened and the meaning behind Felix’s apology.
Felix knew he was allergic to pollen, and whenever Renee wasn’t around, he always tried to avoid flowers:
“How did Felix get exposed to pollen?” Renee asked, looking around the room and noticing there were no flowers in sight. Then, her gaze dropped to Felix’s shoes, now marked with mud, and she frowned. “Did you take him to the garden?”
Caught off guard by the question, Esme lowered her head, guilt washing over her. When it came to her precious grandson’s safety, she couldn’t bring herself to say much to defend herself. “We… We didn’t know Felix had inherited William’s allergy…”
“Did you call the doctor?” William asked, concern clear in his voice.
“Yes, we did,” Olivia answered quickly, eager to reassure them.
Renee turned to Olivia with determination. “Go get a basin of warm water for me.”
Olivia hurried off to do as instructed.
Esme, sensing how important it was to act fast, said, “I’ll find a change of clothes for Felix. His clothes might still have pollen on them.”
Eric also stood up and opened the windows to let in fresh air, hoping to clear the space of any remaining allergens.
The entire family sprang into action, their movements swift and filled with worry.
The doctor arrived shortly after, having been informed about Felix’s condition. He quickly administered an injection and gave Felix some medicine to ease his discomfort.
After the treatment, Felix fell asleep in Renee’s arms, but the lingering itchiness from the rashes kept him restless. He tossed and turned in his sleep, occasionally letting out a small sob, which tore at the hearts of Esme and Eric.
Renee carried Felix back to his room so he could rest more comfortably. As she held him close, Felix seemed to find solace in her embrace and soon
fell into a deeper sleep. Renee, too, drifted off, exhaustion weighing heavily on her.
It wasn’t until Renee heard some noise downstairs that she slowly woke up. Her eyes fluttered open, and for a brief moment, she felt disoriented, trying to figure out where she was and how she had gotten here.
Then, her gaze shifted to Felix, peacefully sleeping in her arms. His innocent, serene face grounded her in the present, and she smiled softly, reminded of the deep connection they shared.
