Adrian’s POV
The halls outside the OR were unusually quiet, save for the soft clicks of my shoes and the echo of distant beeping monitors. I needed air. Space. Something that didn’t smell like antiseptic and tension.
Elena was back in my private lounge. Safe. But barely. The confrontation with Nathan was still burning behind my eyes, the rage, the hurt in her expression, the way she clutched herself when she said it was all too much.
I wanted to storm back in and tell her everything would be fine. That I’d make it so. But words weren’t enough, not anymore.
“Hey.”
I turned at the sound of the familiar voice. Dr. Lila Monroe, head of neuro-research and the only person in this hospital I considered a friend.
“You look like hell,” she said, falling into step beside me.
I gave a hollow l
