a's

tical condition. Every step felt heavier, her heart pounding in her chest as though it was trying to escape. She could barely breathe, her thou

avy front door, barely noticing Max following

m behind her, sharp but gentle. Sh

the door handle, her hands trembling. The sound of Max's footsteps was too clos

o go alone," Max said, his voice filled with genuine concern, but al

oice shaking. "I need to go. I can't

r, not saying a word as she started the engine, her mind whirling

every now and then, Lena could feel his gaze on her, though she didn't look at him. She couldn't afford to. The pressu

, her hands still shaking as she grabbed her purse and rushed out of the vehicle. She didn't wait f

face. The fluorescent lights were blinding as she hurried to the fr

a's voice faltered, but she forced the

xpression softening. "I'm so sorry. Your sister is in critical condition. She's

couldn't breathe. She didn't wait for the receptionist to f

ed her before she could hit the but

eyes. But she shook her head. She couldn't. She didn't want him to see her like this

h emotion. She didn't wait for him to respond before ste

ring down on him. He had told himself he wouldn't get involved. He told himself that he wasn't here to fix her problems or become a part of her life. But seeing he

's

r, to offer her comfort, but she had refused him. He understood-he had seen it in her eyes. She was carry

do more than just stand by and watch. He'd seen pain before, but Lena's was different. It wasn't just the fear for

Lena-so different from the polished, world-weary women he was used to-would affect him in the way she did. But

her vulnerability, hidden beneath layers of guarded silence. He h

wed her, not because he felt an obligation, but because something inside him to

it was like to carry the weight of those burdens. But there was something about Lena's pain that

to take a step forward when the nurse

"Visitation is limited to family

tood the unspoken connection between him and Lena. He coul

ice quiet but firm. "I'm

moment before nodding. "Alrigh

tance as he watched Lena sit at her sister's bedside. Her eyes were filled with a

gile in this moment of pain. It was a side of her he hadn't

t in her own grief. But Max couldn't stop himself. He gently placed his hand on he

der his touch. Slowly, Lena turned her head to look at him, her eyes filled with uns

whispered, her voice barely abov

too insignificant in the face of her pain. But he knew

softly, his voice a promise, even if it w

she didn't pull away. She just nodded, her hand still holding her si

hem. He didn't know what the future held or how they would navigate whatever