Chapter 241

• Ryan woke in the middle of the night.
• Though he had stirred a few times earlier in a hazy, half-conscious state barely registering my presence beside him this time he opened his eyes fully. The soft, ambient lighting of the penthouse bedroom illuminated the sleek furnishings and warm décor. I had stayed up, sitting silently nearby, refusing to sleep until I saw those familiar eyes clearly.
• While he had been resting, I had gently cleaned his face with warm towels and a soothing lavender wash. Beneath the grime and exhaustion, his face had begun to emerge gaunt and pale, but unmistakably bearing his father’s features. The resemblance was uncanny. When Ryan saw me clearly at last, a tear rolled down his cheek, but this time it was paired with a faint, fragile smile. His dimples appeared, sharper now against his thin face.