Alessia and Zane rushed into the hospital, their footsteps echoing in the sterile hallways as they followed a nurse to the emergency room. The tension between them was palpable. Alessia’s chest tightened when she caught sight of her father through the glass window of his room. Zayden lay unconscious on the hospital bed, pale and motionless, surrounded by machines that beeped softly.
“Oh my God,” Alessia whispered, her hand flying to her mouth.
Victoria stood beside the bed, her hand clutching Zayden’s. She turned as they entered, her face streaked with tears. “He had a mini heart attack,” she choked out. “The doctors say it was caused by stress. All of this… everything that’s been happening…”
Zane cursed under his breath, his jaw tightening as he rubbed a hand over his face. “What do they mean ‘stress’? This isn’t just stress—this is Damian’s fault. He’s pushed Dad too far.”
“Zane, stop,” Alessia said sharply, her voice trembling. “Let’s just focus on Dad right now.”
Victoria wiped her eyes, her voice cracking. “The doctors are running more tests. They say he’s stable, but they need to monitor him closely. He hasn’t woken up yet.”
Alessia stepped closer to the bed, her heart breaking as she looked at her father. Zayden was always the strong one, the one who held their family together. Seeing him like this was almost too much to bear. “We’re going to get through this,” she said softly, as much to herself as to her mother and Zane. “He’s going to be okay.”
Victoria nodded, though her expression remained tense. “He has to be.”
While they waited, the minutes stretched into what felt like hours. Zane paced back and forth, his agitation clear in every movement, while Victoria sat quietly, gripping Zayden’s hand as though it would keep him tethered to her. Alessia sat nearby, her phone clutched tightly in her hand, her thoughts racing.
A flicker of movement caught her eye through the emergency room’s glass door. She glanced up and froze. Christian. He was walking briskly down the hallway, his posture as confident as ever, but something was off.
“Christian?” she whispered, frowning. What’s he doing here? How does he even know I’m at the hospital?
She stood abruptly, her curiosity and unease pushing her toward the door. But before she could step out, she noticed something strange. Christian didn’t head toward the emergency room. He went the opposite way, disappearing down a corridor marked “Specialist Wing.”
Her heart sank, confusion giving way to suspicion. “What is he doing here?” she muttered to herself.
“Alessia, what’s wrong?” Zane asked, stopping mid-pace to look at her.
She shook her head quickly, forcing a small smile. “Nothing. I thought I saw someone I knew, but… it’s nothing.”
Zane didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t press further, returning to his restless pacing.
Alessia’s mind raced as she sat back down, her thoughts now split between her father and Christian. Why is he here? Why didn’t he come to see me? The memory of the text message from that morning—“Are you coming tonight, my love?”—flashed through her mind, sending a chill down her spine.
She couldn’t let it go.