*Elena's POV*
“You can’t marry her because…” Richard started, his voice trembling with effort.
He suddenly broke into a violent coughing fit. His whole body shook violently, the monitors were beeping wildly as he struggled for air. The cough sounded raw and painful, like it was ripping him apart from the inside.
“Dad!” Liam shouted, panic flashing across his face. He rushed forward and grabbed his father’s hand. “Dad, breathe! Just breathe! I’m here!”
The old man kept coughing, gasping for air desperately. Liam’s voice cracked. “Someone help! Nurse! Doctor! Hurry!”
Within seconds, two nurses and a doctor rushed into the room, pushing equipment ahead of them. They moved fast, as if they had been expecting this exact emergency.
“Step back, sir,” one nurse said urgently. “We need room t
