<em><b>Megan </b>and Leonard instantly understood what Lucas meant. </em>
<em><b>Megan </b><b>looked </b><b>at </b>her unusually hesitant cousin and actually found Im a little unfamiliar. </em>
<em>“Alright, Lucas, I get what you mean. Don’t worry<b>,</b><b>” </b>she said, waving him off. </em>
<em><b>“</b>If nothing else, I know how to handle this kind of thing. </em>
<em>“Besides, she just woke up–why would I bring up anything that might upset her? That’d be downright thoughtless<b>.</b><b>” </b></em>
<em>Hearing that, Lucas felt genuinely relieved. </em>
<em>Of course, as expected of his cousin, just a few words, and she alreally understood his intentions. </em>
<em>“Alright then, let’s go in.” </em>
<em>Megan didn’t think much of it, but Leonard saw through everything. </em>
<em>Lucas was clearly trying to hide what happened yesterday from Aurora. </em>
<em>They had gotten into a full–on fight right here in the hospital, and back then, Lucas‘ attitude was nothing like it was today. </em>
<em>Anyone could tell something was off, but Megan, bless her heart, waspletely oblivious and even thought Lucas made a good point. </em>
<em>After all, Aurora had just woken up–why stir up anything that might affect her mood? </em>
<em>Leonard, however, thought Megan was just too naive,pletely spun in circles by Lucas<b>, </b>that sly fox. </em>
<em>Because of this, Leonard saw a whole new side of Lucas–someone who couldpletely change his tone from one day to the </em>
<em>next. </em>
<em>It honestly caught him off guard. </em>
<em>Though he kept all theseints to himself, Leonard didn’t say a word because he still wanted to see Aurora. </em>
<em>And so, both Megan and Leonard followed Lucas into the room. </em>
<em>They were already emotional enough, but the moment theyid eyes on Aurora, their hearts started pounding wildly. </em>
<em>Megan was so overwhelmed with excitement she couldn’t stop screaming. </em>
<em>“Oh my god, Aurora, you’re really awake–I’m so happy! </em>
<em>Like a child, she rushed forward and threw her arms around Aurora, refusing to let go. </em>
<em>Aurora was just as delighted. </em>
<em>She had been sitting quietly on the bed. </em>
<em>Though she seemed calm on the surface, her heart had been anything but. </em>
<em>She’d been holding back her emotions. </em>
<em>It had been so long since she’d seen her best friend–how could she not be emotional? </em>
<em>But since she stillcked the strength<b>, </b>she had simply waited for them quietly on the bed, looking like a paintinge to life. </em>
<em>Aurora hugged Megan back just as tightly, her heart filled with warmth. </em>
<em>“I missed you too, Megan. I’m sorry for making you all worry during this time.” </em>
<em><b>Lucas </b><b>stood </b><b>nearby</b><b>, </b>watching the scene <b>with </b>a hint <b>of </b>jealousy. </em>
<em><b>Still</b>, <b>since </b><b>it </b>was his cousin after all, soincone with actual family ties to him, he managed to hold himself back. </em>
<em>Otherwise<b>, </b><b>he </b>really wasn’t sure he could’ve controlled his emotions. </em>
<em><b>Even </b><b>if </b>she <b>was </b>a woman, that possessiveness in him was hard to suppress. </em>
<em>But with Aurora just waking up and the fact that he still needed Megan’s help, Lucas forced himself to stayposed. </em>
<em>Leonard stood off to the side, watching the two girls hugging eachother, feeling genuinelyforted. </em>
<em>His heart finally eased. </em>
<em>It had been so long since he’d seen Aurora alive and well. </em>
<em>Thest few times, she had always been lying motionless in bed, lifeless and pale. </em>