Chapter 25

ALEXANDER

Liam waking up was unexpected, a miracle wrapped in fragile hope. Relief and panic tangled in my chest as I grabbed my car keys and bolted. I’d just retired to bed when Dominic’s call came through, his voice urgent but steady. At first, I thought it was about the project, but the moment he said Liam’s name, everything else blurred into insignificance.

The drive to the hospital felt endless, my thoughts a mess of guilt and desperation. The image of Liam’s tiny frame, hooked up to machines, flashed in my mind, followed by the sound of his voice—a voice I hadn’t heard in years. My hands gripped the wheel tightly, knuckles white. How did we get here? How did I let it get this far?

When I arrived, I sprinted through the sterile halls, ignoring the curious glances from nurses and visitors. My breath caught when I entered Liam’s room. There, by his bedside, was Raina, her shoulders shaking as sobs wracked her body. She looked so small, so broken, clutching Liam’