Chapter 22 Twenty Two

• Elena's POV
• As I stepped into the ICU, the sterile air thick with the scent of antiseptic, my heart twisted at the sight of Lucas lying still, fragile against the white sheets. His once-vibrant features seemed drained, yet his eyes—pale but intensely focused—found mine the moment I entered.
• “Elena,” he murmured, his voice raspy but warm. The hint of a smile touched his lips, though it couldn’t mask the pain he was in.