The hospital became eerily quiet after Charles stormed out, his footsteps echoing in the corridor as the door swung shut behind him.
Nicole stood frozen, her emotions a tangled mess. Though her exterior remained calm, the storm within her raged.
Bella avoided her gaze, her expression a mix of guilt and uncertainty. Leo, however, stood steady, his protective instincts evident in the way his fists clenched and his jaw tightened.
From the hospital bed, the grandmother stirred weakly. Her voice, although no more than a whisper, held a strong appeal therein. "Stay together… family is everything," she murmured, her pale face creased with exhaustion.
Leaning closer, Leo and Bella reached instinctively for her hands. Nicole hung back, a pace or so away from them, and watched the family to wh
