ALEX

The walls of the hospital feel like they''re closing in.

The lights overhead are buzzing too damn loud, the sterile air stings my nose, and

the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall ws at what''s left of my sanity.

I don''t speak.

I haven''t said a word since we got here.

I sit, with my elbows on my knees, my fingers locked tight, and my jaw clenched

so hard it aches. Every part of me is burning, vibrating with a fury I''m barely keeping caged.

Not at the universe.

Not at fate.

At me.

I let this happen.

I let Leah get that close.

I fell for her lies.

Over and over again.

I believed her sob story. Let her manipte me. And in doing so, I said the unthinkable to Athena. For the past five years, I''ve felt indebted to her.

Not knowing I was a jackpot in her game. Pictures of me stered on the wall in her secret room are drilled in my fucking mind.

What a fool I''ve been.

Me!

Alexander King. Fooled from the word go and yed like fucking ping-pong.

I thought she saved me. Imagine how I felt when Luca showed me the footage from five years ago.

She fucking spiked my drink and pretended to save me.

Then I went on to torture Athena.

God, I can still see her face when I said those awful things. used her of killing

our child and called her unfit to be a mother.

I cut her deeper than any bullet ever could.

She constantly begged me to listen to her but I didn''t. I even thought I was punishing her when I gave Rayen that name.

Fuck!

I''m so angry I can''t think clearly. Athena asked me to let her take charge of the revenge and I Let her because it''s the least I can do topensate for my mess. Everything was going to wrap up as nned but then Leah fucked up again!

And now Sloane is in there, fighting for her life because she stepped between Athena and death like a damn shield.

The rage in my chest twists sharper.

Hotter.

My foot taps restlessly against the tile, echoing off the cold walls. Across the hall, Athena paces like a ghost, blood still smeared across her dress and arms, her eyes are ssy but dry.

She hasn''t looked at me once.

I don''t me her.

I wouldn''t look at me either.

"Do you think she will forgive me for what I said to her?" I ask Luca who is sitting next to me andn.

"She''s right there, why don''t you ask her?" He retorts and I fight the urge to knock him out.

I turn ton who has been staring at the emergency doors and waiting for Isabelle and the other doctors toe out.

"My wife to be" His voice echoes in my head.

When did he start dating Sloane?

The doors burst open behind us and mum, dad and Noah rush in.

“Athena!” Noah calls while rushing forward, his eyes are wild, and panic is etched across his face.

Where the fuck was he anyway?

"What happened?" he gasps. "Where''s Sloane? What the hell happened to my sister?!"

"Alex," my mother''s voice trembles as she finally reaches me. Pulling my gaze away from Athena as she sinks down beside me, her arms going around my shoulders as she presses her tear-soaked cheek to my neck.

"I will kill that little bitch myself..... how dare she? Oh God, please let Sloane be okay."

I wrap my arms around her in a firm grip.

"She''s pretty strong, she''ll make it." I say quietly, not knowing if I''m soothing mum or myself.

I should have taken that damn bullet. It should have been me in there. Then maybe, just maybe, Athena would look at me again.

I stroke mum''s hair gently as I give dad a respectful nod while he squeezes my shoulder.

The door to the operating room swings open with a jarring creak making us all rise and rush forward.ff1 The rightful source is FιndＮovel/ff1

"How is she?" Noah is the first to ask.

Isabelle sighs, "I have good news and bad news which one do you want to hear

first." She asks softly and my heart stops.

Noah steps forward, his voice ragged.

"Just say it. Please."

Isabelle''s eyes flick briefly to Athena, then to me, and finally rest on Noah.

"The good news is... she made it through the surgery. She''s stable."

The entire room exhales. Noah nearly sinks to the floor, catching himself on a nearby chair.

Athena holds her chest as her legs give out, making me move on impulse and holding her.

"She''s alive," she whispers. "Thank God." I tighten my hold on her shoulders.

But Isabelle doesn''t smile. Her hands are still in the pockets of her white coat as she studies us.

"The bad news is...... the bullet lodged dangerously close to her spinal cord. There''s significant nerve damage."

Athena''s breath catches audibly. I see her fingers tremble before she folds her arms to steady them.

"What does that mean?" I ask, even though I already know.

Isabelle keeps a straight face, "It means... when she wakes up, there''s a high chance she won''t be able to move her legs. We''ll only know for sure with time, but-"

"No!" Noah cuts in, shaking his head. "No, that can''t be. Sloane was fine. She ran

a marathonst year for God''s sake-"

"Oh my God!" Mum gasps as dad holds her.

shes in his eyes before he shuts it down and nods.

"Can we see her?"

"Only one at a time," Isabelle answers.

"She''s sedated, but-"

Before Isabelle can finish her sentence, Athena sways.

Then copses.