Zayden's POV
The hospital walls were too white. Too clean. Too quiet. But inside his chest, everything felt loud—chaotic.
Elena had been unconscious for two days now.
Two days since he found her collapsed in the elevator, her skin pale, lips trembling, body limp in his arms. He hadn't known fear until that moment. Not like this.
He sat by her hospital bed, still in his crumpled office shirt, his fingers gently wrapped around hers—just in case she moved. Just in case she squeezed back.
Machines beeped steadily, mocking his every hope. The IV line fed slowly into her arm, her head bandaged from where she must have hit it during the fall.
"Why did you stay back, Elena?" he whispered, his voice hoarse. "Who told you to? You were supposed to go home..."
He brushed a strand of her dark hair off her face. Even like this—unmoving, barely breathing—she looked beautiful. Too precious. Too fragile.
A nurse walked in, quietly checking vitals. Zayden stood immediately. "Is she… is there any change?"
The nurse hesitated. "Her condition is still unstable, sir. We're monitoring her closely. She suffered trauma from the stress, and her body went into shock. The next 24 hours are crucial."
Zayden closed his eyes. Nodded. Sat back down.
He looked at Elena again and leaned closer. His forehead brushed against the back of her hand.
"You promised me you'd stay," he said softly. "You told me you were starting to trust me again. So why the hell does it feel like you're leaving?"
His throat burned.
"I'll protect you, Elena. I swear on everything I have—if you just open your eyes."
He pulled out his phone and dialed.
"Get me the security footage from last night. All floors. Especially the elevators," he said, voice sharp, deadly calm. "Someone did this. I want to know who."
As he hung up, a faint tremble came from the bed. Zayden's eyes shot to her fingers.
Did she just move?
"Elena?" He leaned in.
Her lips parted slightly. She let out a soft exhale but didn't wake.
Still, it was something. A flicker. A sign.
Zayden reached forward and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead. "I'm not leaving this room. Not until you wake up and yell at me for fussing over you."
His heart thudded painfully in his chest as he whispered one final plea.
"If you don't wake up, Elena... I won't know how to breathe without you."
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