The room was suffocatingly quiet, save for the soft, labored breathing of Mateo as he lay in Jey's arms, feverish and restless. Isa's heart clenched with each shallow breath her son took. She had never felt this helpless before. Her mind raced as she wondered how bad it really was-what if it was something worse than just an infection? What if it was a sign that something far more sinister was happening, something like before with Roman?

Isa shook her head, pushing those thoughts aside. She couldn't afford to let her fear spiral out of control. Mateo needed her now more than ever, and she had to stay calm for him, for the both of them.

Jey's reassuring voice broke through her thoughts. "We're gonna get him through this, Isa. He's gonna be okay."

She nodded, but deep down, doubt lingered. Still, Jey's presence-his steady confidence-helped ease some of her fear. He was doing his best, and that meant everything to her right now. But there was one thing that had been on her mind since the moment Mateo had fallen ill.

Sofia.

Isa turned to Jey, her face pale with the weight of her decision. "Jey," she started, her voice shaky, "I need to call Jimmy."

Jey raised an eyebrow but didn't speak. Isa quickly reached for her phone, her fingers trembling as she dialed her brother's number. She knew the look of concern that crossed Jimmy's face when he answered would bring a little comfort to her. At least Sofia would be in safe hands while they focused on Mateo.

The phone rang twice before Jimmy's voice filled the line, and Isa didn't waste any time.

"Jimmy, it's Isa," she said, her voice strained. "I need you to take Sofia for the night."

There was a pause on the other end, and then Jimmy's voice came back, soft but laced with concern. "What's going on? Is everything okay?"

"Mateo's sick," Isa explained quickly, her voice tight. "He's really sick, and I-I can't focus on Sofia right now. I need you to take her with you. I'll explain more later, but please, can you do this for me?"

"Of course," Jimmy replied without hesitation. "I'll be there as soon as I can. You don't need to worry about Sofia, Isa. I've got her."

Relief washed over Isa as she closed her eyes, a quiet sob threatening to break free. Sofia would be safe. She wouldn't have to worry about her daughter being caught in the chaos of the hospital.

"Thank you, Jimmy," Isa whispered, her voice breaking slightly.

As she ended the call, Isa turned to Jey, who was still holding Mateo, rocking him gently in his arms. He didn't ask any questions, just nodded in understanding. Isa needed her brother, and he was there for her, just as Jey had been.

"I've called Jimmy. He's on his way to take Sofia," Isa said, wiping away a tear that had escaped down her cheek.

Jey squeezed her shoulder reassuringly, his presence a grounding force. "You did the right thing. We'll handle this, Isa. We'll make sure Mateo's okay."

Isa gave a small nod, her heart heavy with worry but grateful for the support around her. She didn't want Sofia to see Mateo in pain, especially not after everything they'd been through as a family.

As the minutes stretched into hours, Jimmy arrived at the hotel, his face full of concern but also determination. Sofia, who had been unaware of what was going on, ran to him with a huge smile on her face, excited to see her uncle.

"Uncle Jimmy!" she exclaimed, her energy a stark contrast to the heaviness in the air.

Isa forced a smile, her heart aching as she knelt down to Sofia's level. "Sofia, baby, I need you to go with Uncle Jimmy for a little while, okay?"

Sofia furrowed her brow in confusion but nodded. "Okay, Mommy. Is Mateo okay?"

Isa stroked her daughter's hair, trying to mask her own fear. "He's just sick, sweetheart. He needs some time with the doctor. You'll be okay with Uncle Jimmy, right?"

Sofia nodded solemnly. "I'll be good."

Jimmy bent down and scooped Sofia into his arms, shooting Isa a look of understanding. "You don't have to worry, Isa. I've got her. You focus on Mateo."

Isa nodded gratefully, her throat tight as she whispered, "Thank you, Jimmy."

As Jimmy carried Sofia out of the room, Isa felt a weight lift off her chest. She could finally focus on Mateo without worrying about her daughter. With Jey by her side, they would get through this. They had to.

Isa turned back to Mateo, who was still in Jey's arms. The doctor had assured them Mateo was stable, but there were still so many unknowns.

"We're not alone in this," Jey murmured, his voice low but steady. He gently rocked Mateo back and forth, his eyes meeting Isa's. "We'll fight for him."

Isa smiled weakly, though tears threatened to spill over. "I know," she whispered. "I know."

As the hours passed, the weight of their situation grew heavier, but there was one thing that became clearer with every passing minute: no matter what came next, they would face it together.

And as Isa watched Jey hold Mateo in the stillness of the hospital room, she realized she didn't need to face this battle alone. They were stronger together than they had ever been apart.