Chapter 58

• The hospital room was filled with the soft warmth of morning light, the air still thick with tension from the last few days. Liana lay in the bed, slowly regaining color. Amara sat beside her, never removing her eyes from her daughter's face. Leo stood by the window, his hands deep in his pockets, his eyes on the floor.
• Liana stirred, her eyes struggling to open. She looked around the room, her little face creasing into a smile when she saw Leo. "Daddy," she whispered, her voice empty but firm.
• Leo's heart missed a beat at the one word. He turned slowly, his eyes meeting Liana's. "Hey there, buddy," he said gently, his voice thick with emotion.