I stood frozen as Dr. Harris approached, his surgical cap clutched in his blood-stained hands. My last hope was slipping away with each step he took toward me.
"Mrs. Monroe," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Gregory Morgan is conscious."
My breath caught. "What? But you just said—"
"His condition is deteriorating rapidly. We've done everything possible, but his injuries are catastrophic." Dr. Harris glanced over his shoulder. "He's asking for you specifically. Says he has something important to tell you before he dies."
Hope surged through me like an electric current. "Take me to him. Now."
Tristan touched my arm. "Aurelia, I should come with you."
I shook my head. "No. This might be my only chance to hear the truth. I need to do this alone."
Dr. Harris led me through a maze of sterile corridors to the ICU. The antiseptic smell brought back painful memories of Violet's final days. I pushed them aside, focusing on what lay ahead.
