Chapter 1810:


    Then the room came into focus — white walls, the quiet hum of medical equipment, the unmistakable stillness of a hospital ward.


    A wave of pure, overwhelming relief washed over her.


    She was alive. She had made it through.


    She would still be there for Adide. She would get to watch her daughter grow up.


    Tears gathered in her eyes, spilling over before she could stop them, born not of grief but of profound gratitude simply for the fact of breathing. She shifted her fingers slightly and felt the warm, solid weight of a hand wrapped around hers. She turned her head.


    Alban was asleep in the chair beside her bed, his head tilted forward, his hand still holding hers.


    Gillian couldn’t understand why Alban was in the room. She tried to work out whether he had truly stayed by her side the entire time she had been in the hospital. The realization left her momentarily still, her heart in quiet turmoil.


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    The Martels and the Joneses were bitter rivals. She knew she had to remain loyal to Christina and keep her distance from Alban. Yet here he was, and here she was, and the line between duty and feeling had never felt so difficult to hold.


    While she was lost in thought, Alban stirred and opened his eyes. The moment he saw hers were open, his face broke open with undisguised shock and relief.


    “Gillian!”


    He nearly lurched forward to hold her, but caught himself — terrified that even the gentlest touch might aggravate her injuries. Instead, a wide, helpless grin spread across his face, impossible to contain.


    “I am so relieved you’re finally awake,” he said.


    Seeing how genuinely d he was only deepened her confusion. She fought the pull toward him, pressing down the old feelings that were beginning to surface.


    She opened her mouth, intending to tell him he should leave.


    Before she could form the words, Alban was already on his feet. “I’ll go get the doctor. Don’t eat or drink anything yet — I need to find out what’s safe for you first.” He was moving with the careful urgency of someone terrified that a single wrong step might cost everything.


    “Okay,” Gillian said, the response slipping out before she had time to think.


    By the time she caught herself, he was already out the door.


    She looked down at her hands, unable to quiet theplicated feelings rising inside her. She had meant to end things, to put distance between them once and for all — and instead she felt a deep, aching longing. Watching him care for her so genuinely made her want to lean into it, and she hated herself a little for that. She wanted to be close to him, but fear held her back. She wanted to say the words that would set them both free, but she couldn’t find the courage.


    She had already chosen to stand with Christina, which meant a future with Alban was simply not possible. Their families were on opposing sides. She knew where her loyalty had to lie — and it wasn’t with the man her heart kept reaching toward.


    By the time the sun was nearly down, the mood in the room had softened into something quieter.


    “What are you in the mood for tonight? I’ll go pick it up for you,” Alban said gently.


    Gillian pressed her lips together and looked away, searching for the words to tell him to keep his distance. But when she thought of everything he had done — the vigil by her bedside, the careful notes, the way he looked at her — she couldn’t bring herself to say any of it.


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