Leila awoke to the distant beeping of machines, the faint hum of medical equipment pulling her from the depths of unconsciousness. Her body felt heavy, her mind foggy, as she struggled to orient herself. The sterile smell of antiseptic and the soft rustle of hospital sheets told her where she was before she even opened her eyes.
She blinked against the harsh fluorescent light, her vision slowly sharpening. As her senses returned, so did the memories—the gunshot, the chaos, Marcus’s cold, unyielding face, and Isabella's cryptic words before everything went black.
"You're awake."
The voice was soft but firm, and Leila turned her head to see Ethan sitting beside her bed. His eyes were bloodshot, the shadows under them evidence of long hours without sleep. Relief flooded his expression as h
