When Emily woke up—
She was in a hospital room.
Bright white lights.
Monitors beeping softly.
Her arm was bandaged.
Her head still spinning.
And Alexander—
Was sitting beside her.
Completely still.
Watching her.
"You're awake," he said quietly.
Emily blinked.
"What… happened?"
Alexander's jaw tightened.
"They tried to take you."
Silence.
Then:
"They failed."
Emily studied his face.
Something was different.
Not just anger.
Not just control.
This was something deeper.
Something darker.
"Alexander…"
He leaned closer.
And for the first time—
She saw it clearly.
Pure, unfiltered fury.
"This ends now," he said.
Not calm.
Not controlled.
But absolute.
And in that moment—
Emily understood something terrifying.
Whoever started this war…
Had just made the worst mistake of their life.