**Elena’s POV**
The hospital smelled strongly of chemicals and fear as I sat on the cold bench, my hands trembling in my lap. Every time the operating room doors slammed shut, a surge of anxiety hit my stomach, making me feel sick.
Lucia stayed beside me, her arm around my shoulders, whispering words of encouragement. “He will come out alive,” she kept saying, her own voice sounding strained. “Your father is strong. Don’t worry, Elena. He will be fine.”
I desperately tried to believe her, but I couldn’t. My throat was raw, and every breath was painful. I kept seeing his face — the last time I saw him, two days after my wedding, when Stefano took me home, the disappointment in my eyes mirroring the hurt in his.
Then Elario appeared before me, his face tense with panic even as he tried t
