Chapter 38

As Chloe’s eyes tried to open, she found herself lying in her own bed, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. Confusion clouded her mind as she tried to make sense of her surroundings; the events of the previous night were flickering in her mind when she felt the pain.

A gentle cough drew her attention, and Chloe turned to see a kindly-faced doctor standing by her bedside, his face lit with a warm smile. Relief flooded her at the sight of him, and her heart raced with a mixture of gratitude and apprehension.

“Good morning, Chloe,” the doctor said, his voice calm and reassuring. “I’m Dr. Reynolds. You’ve had quite a scare, but I’m happy to report that you’re going to be just fine.”

Chloe’s brow furrowed in confusion as she took in the doctor’s words. “What… what happened?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dr. Reynolds’s smile softened, and his eyes filled with compassion. “You were involved in a rather intense altercation last night