Daniel's eyelids fluttered slightly before finally opening. His breathing was heavy, as if every inhale required effort. The dim lighting in the room blurred his vision for a few seconds, until the silhouette in front of him slowly came into focus.
Valerie.
Instinctively, Valerie moved closer the moment she noticed the change. The chair beside the bed shifted softly as she sat nearer, her hand unconsciously reaching for Daniel's bruised arm.
"Noah… you're awake?" Her voice was low, careful, like she was afraid even her voice might hurt him.
Sebastian, who had been standing nearby, frowned immediately. One brow lifted slightly, clearly catching something off. "Noah?" he repeated under his breath, more to himself than as a question.
Daniel tensed.
