Chapter 54

• Lucian’s POV
• After an exhaustive day of fruitless searching for a solution, we returned to our hotel room. The weight of our failure was palpable, and my mother’s dejection was overwhelming. Her movements were sluggish and uncertain, compelling me to support her as we walked.
• I slid the plastic card into the slot and, with a decisive yank, disengaged the lock. As the door creaked open, I ushered Mom inside and promptly opened the thick drapes, letting the city lights flood the room.