But just as Adrian was about to speak to Matteo, the hospital door swung open again.
The room fell perfectly still as everyone turned to look. Standing in the doorway, his expression etched with severe concern, was Adrian's father.
Maya murmured. "Father..."
Adrian's father stepped inside the hospital room, his commanding presence immediately altering the atmosphere. Maya walked forward to greet him, followed by respectful nods and quiet greetings from everyone else in the room.
The moment Matteo saw Adrian's father approach, he instinctively loosened his grip on Adrian's hand. He wanted to step back, to give the older man space to see his son and speak to him without any tension.
But Adrian tightened his fingers, refusing to let go of Matteo's hand. He held on as if Matteo were his only anchor in the dark.
Adrian's father stepped closer to the hospital bed. Before he even reached it, his cold, piercing gaze swept across the room.
