Chapter 19

Elena’s POV

My hands felt numb, trembling as I sank into the cold, hard chair outside the ICU. The sterile, white walls pressed in on me, and every sterile beep and whirr from the machines inside only added weight to my chest. If it hadn’t been for Lucas... I’d be the one in there, lying broken and battered. Someone had targeted me, but why? And who could be behind it?

Tears blurred my vision, spilling over as I buried my face in Jason’s shoulder. I clutched him tightly, desperate to ground myself as I sobbed. He gently rubbed my back, murmuring, “It’s going to be okay, Elena. You’ll be okay. I’m here.”

But nothing felt okay. Not when I was responsible for this. Lucas was fighting for his life in there because of me.

The doors to the ICU burst open, and Mrs. Brown rushed in, her eyes red and frantic. Her gaze landed on me, and anger darkened her face as she stormed over, her voice trembling with fury. “You... you did this to him! My son is lying in the