It felt as though something sharp something merciless had been driven straight through her chest, tearing her apart from the inside. The doctor's words echoed in her mind, each one cutting deeper than the last, leaving her shattered.
Before she could even process it, everything moved too fast.
Warriors flooded into the room, lifting Gérard carefully but urgently, rushing him out toward the ambulance waiting outside. Orders were given in clipped, controlled tones Alberto's voice firm as he commanded absolute silence about Gérard's condition. No one was to know.
Vittoria held Charlotte back, refusing to let her climb into the ambulance. Instead, she was ushered into a car, the distance between her and Gérard feeling unbearable as they sped toward the hospital.
The moment they arrived, Gérard was taken straight into the ICU.
And Charlotte was left outside.
