AUTHOR’S POV
Mika quietly thanks Channing's father for the cup of coffee. The waiting room is tense, with murmurs and the occasional clink of cups. Channing is still in the OR, and they are all waiting—holding onto hope that everything will be okay.
The door opens, and Lucas walks inside. He had stepped out earlier to tend to Nina, but as far as everyone knows, he stepped out to tend to a patient. Now he is back, his expression unreadable as he scans the room before sitting next to Mrs. Sullivan, who quickly fills him in on everything he missed.
They are still talking when the door opens again and the doctor steps out. Everyone immediately rises to their feet, anxious eyes fixed on him.
"The procedure was successful," the doctor says. “We removed the bullet, and he’s expected to mak
