Rose

"Rose, slowly… don't try to move too much."

Olivia instinctively reached out, wanting to stop Rose from sitting up, but despite her injuries, Rose somehow managed to push herself upright.

"Hey, you have back wounds," Olivia reminded her with concern.

"It's fine, Mother. I can't feel them… just numb. Anesthesia, probably," Rose said, forcing a small smile.

Olivia wanted nothing more than to pull her into a tight hug. But knowing her wounds could reopen, she hesitated.

"Are you alright? Any pain?"

"It's alright, Mother. Nothing happened to me."

Rose kept up her confident front, but her eyes they told a different story.

There was a weight behind them.

A hesitation.

She hadn't once looked around the room.

Not even a glance.

Her gaze was locked only on Olivia, as if she was deliberately avoiding someone.

Lucian.

He was in this room, standing right there.

And she didn't know how to face him.