Jonathan had been about to warn Zacharias, but when he saw him sitting motionless on the floor, it was like the life had been drained right out of him.


    Jonathan lost all interest in speaking further.


    There was nothing left in Zacharias worth his attention.


    Disdain flickered through his eyes as he turned, opened the hospital door, and stepped back inside.


    The door clicked shut behind him. Zacharias didn''t move. His shoulders started to tremble, barely at first, then harder, though no sound came from him.


    Only the soft stter of tears hitting the floor broke the stillness, unnoticed by anyone.


    Inside the room, Anneliese sat by the bed, her hand still holding Nishay''s.


    When she heard the door open, she turned and pressed a finger to her lips, signaling Jonathan to stay quiet.


    "Is she asleep?" Jonathan whispered as he approached.


    Anneliese nodded. "She''s exhausted. I''ll stay with her tonight. You should get some rest. You barely sleptst night."


    Jonathan shook his head. "I''m fine. I''ll stay."


    Then, a faint voice broke the silence. "You both should go. I''m fine..."


    Anneliese turned quickly. "Grandma, you''re awake!"


    Nishay''s eyes opened, dull and heavy with sadness. "The nurses and attendants will take care of me. I just want some time to myself. Go on."


    She patted Anneliese''s hand gently.


    Anneliese hesitated, clearly reluctant to leave. Then, Nishay''s tired gaze shifted to Jonathan. He stepped closer and ced a steady hand on Anneliese''s shoulder. "Anne, if that''s what she wants, maybe we should let her rest."


    Sometimes, he thought, it was easier for someone to breathe when everyone else stepped away.


    Anneliese rose from her chair. "Get some rest, Grandma. Tell me what you''d like to eatter, and I''ll bring it to you."


    Nishay''s eyes drifted, her voice faint. "Vegetable pie."


    Anneliese froze mid-motion, her fingers still holding the nket. Her throat


    tightened, and heat welled behind her eyes.


    "Alright," she whispered. "I''ll make it for you."


    ...


    When she and Jonathan stepped out of the hospital room, Zacharias was gone from the hallway.


    Anneliese didn''t care where he had gone. She walked beside Jonathan, his handced with hers, until they reached the elevator. Then something struck her and sh looked up.


    "Can you send a couple of guards to watch the hospital? I''m worried Zacharias might try toe back."


    Zacharias might have been awful, but his loyalty to his mother and sister had always been real.


    With Melody now facing prison, if he could convince the family to forgive her, it could make a huge difference in her sentence.


    Who knew if he woulde back to beg—or if Lenora might show up and cause a scene?


    Jonathan nodded. "Alright. Don''t worry. But I want two people with you too. If he loses it, I don''t want you anywhere near him."


    Anneliese didn''t want him to worry more. She almost brushed it off, then changed her mind and nodded quietly.


    He guided her into the elevator. Seeing the tension on her face, he gave her hand a light shake.


    She looked at him, puzzled.


    Jonathan smiled. "Did you catch that Nishay told me to take you with me?"


    She blinked, only now realizing what he meant.


    "She told me to take you with me. That basically means she''s handed you over to me. So, does this mean I finally got official approval, honey?"


    Anneliese blinked again, amused. "I guess it does."


    When she saw how his eyes lit up, she couldn''t help but smile. "Or maybe she''s just too tired to fight you right now," she teased.


    Jonathan gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "You really know how to kill the mood."


    Annelieseughed. "You want her approval that badly? You already have me. Isn''t that enough?"


    He slipped an arm around her waist and looked down at her. "Of course it matters. Nishay''s your only family. Our marriage deserves her blessing I want you to feelpletely safe being with me."


    "Okay," she murmured. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face to his chest, listening to his heartbeat thudding through his shirt.


    They stayed quiet, wrapped in soft warmth as the elevator hummed around them.


    Then, Anneliese suddenly gasped.


    Jonathan looked down. "What happened?"


    Anneliese groaned, smacking her forehead, "I told Grandma I''d make her vegetable pie! But can I even find


    the ingredients right now? I might be too early in the season.


    Jonathan stared for a second, then almostughed. For a moment, he''d thought it


    was something serious.