Damian sat in his study, staring blankly at the glass of whiskey in his hand. The fire in the hearth crackled softly, but it did nothing to ease the storm raging in his mind. His conversation with his father still echoed in his ears, every word fueling his anger.
The sharp ring of his phone broke the silence. He grabbed it off the desk, his brows furrowing as he saw the number. It was the hospital. His heart skipped a beat, and his grip on the phone tightened.
“Damian,” he answered, his voice cold and tense.
“Mr. Damian,” a nurse’s voice came through, soft but serious. “This is Nurse Claire from St. James Hospital. I’m calling about Miss Aurora.”
Damian’s body stiffened, and he stood up, pacing the room. “What about her?” he demanded, his voice sharper now.
“There’s been a development in her condition,” the nurse said, her tone cautious. “We need you to come to the hospital as soon as possible.”
His heart pounded. “Is she awake?” he asked, his voice quick and desperate.
The nurse hesitated. “I can’t discuss details over the phone, Mr. Wolfe. But I assure you, it’s important. Please come immediately.”
Damian hung up without another word. He grabbed his coat and stormed out of the room, his steps heavy as he made his way through the mansion. The maids and guards quickly moved out of his way, sensing the tension radiating off him.
As he reached the front door, Lina appeared at the top of the staircase. Her face was pale, and her eyes were red from crying.
“Where are you going?” she asked, her voice shaky.
“To the hospital,” Damian said curtly, not even glancing at her.
“Is it about Aurora?” Lina pressed, her voice growing louder.
Damian stopped, turning to face her with a glare that made her shrink back. “Stay out of this, Lina,” he growled. “You’ve done enough damage.”
Without waiting for her response, he slammed the door behind him and got into his car. The engine roared to life, and he sped off, his thoughts racing as fast as the car.
The drive to the hospital felt like an eternity. Damian gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white. The nurse’s words played over and over in his head.
“There’s been a development.”
What did that mean? Was Aurora awake? Was she worse? The uncertainty clawed at him, making it hard to breathe.
When he finally pulled into the hospital parking lot, he didn’t bother finding a proper spot. He parked near the entrance and rushed inside, his coat billowing behind him.
The receptionist looked up as he approached, her eyes widening slightly at the intensity in his expression.
“I’m here for Aurora,” he said, his voice sharp. “Where is she?”
The receptionist typed quickly on her computer. “Miss Aurora is still in the ICU. I’ll call for Nurse Claire to come and speak with you.”
“Hurry up,” Damian snapped, his patience wearing thin.
A few moments later, Nurse Claire appeared, her face calm but serious. She gestured for Damian to follow her down the hall.
“How is she?” Damian asked immediately, his voice tense.
“She’s stable,” the nurse said carefully. “But her condition hasn’t improved as much as we’d hoped. The doctor will explain more.”
Damian frowned, his jaw clenching. “Why did you call me, then? What’s going on?”
“We’ve started to see some minor changes in her vitals,” the nurse explained. “It’s too soon to tell if it’s good or bad. That’s why the doctor wants to speak with you.”
Damian nodded, his mind racing as they reached Aurora’s room. The glass wall showed her lying on the bed, still hooked up to machines. She looked so small and fragile, and it made his chest tighten.
The doctor stepped out of the room, greeting Damian with a nod. “Mr. Wolfe,” he said, his tone professional.
“What’s happening to her?” Damian asked without preamble.
The doctor gestured toward a nearby seating area. “Let’s sit down for a moment,” he said.
“I don’t want to sit,” Damian growled. “Just tell me what’s going on.”
The doctor sighed, folding his arms. “Miss Aurora’s vitals have shown slight fluctuations in the last few hours. Her heart rate has increased slightly, and her brain activity has spiked at times.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Damian asked, his voice sharp.
“It could be,” the doctor admitted. “But it could also be a sign of stress or pain. We’re monitoring her closely to determine what’s causing it.”
Damian’s hands balled into fists at his sides. “You called me here for that?” he snapped. “She’s the same as before!”
“No, she’s not,” the doctor said firmly. “These changes could mean she’s trying to fight her way back to consciousness. But it’s critical that we remain cautious. Her body is still weak.”
Damian rubbed a hand over his face, his frustration boiling over. “How much longer will it take?” he demanded.
“There’s no way to know,” the doctor said, his tone calm but firm. “Every patient is different. We’re doing everything we can to help her, but it’s a waiting game now.”
“That’s not good enough,” Damian growled.
The doctor met his gaze evenly. “I understand your frustration, Mr. Wolfe. But we have to let her body recover at its own pace.”
Damian’s shoulders sagged slightly, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He glanced through the glass again, his eyes softening as he looked at Aurora.
“Can I go in?” he asked quietly.
“Yes,” the doctor said. “But keep it brief. She needs rest.”
Damian stepped into the room, the beeping of the machines the only sound. He stood by Aurora’s bedside, his eyes taking in every detail of her pale face.
“You have to wake up,” he whispered, his voice breaking slightly. “I need you to wake up.”
He sat down beside her, his hand brushing against hers. Her skin was cold, and it sent a shiver through him.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “For everything. For not protecting you. For letting them hurt you. I swear, I’ll make it right. Just… come back to me.”
The machines beeped steadily, but Aurora didn’t stir. Damian stayed there for a long time, watching her and silently willing her to wake up.