The Snake. Lila pov

Fiona was off the respirator now. She could breathe on her own, much to my relief. The rhythmic beeping of the monitors was a stark reminder of how close she had come to death, and every shallow rise and fall of her chest reassured me that she was still fighting.

Outside the hospital ward, Leo and Mario lingered, giving me space. I knew Leo wanted to be in here with me, but he respected my need for privacy. Instead, Grin Hilda and I stepped inside together, moving cautiously toward Fiona's bedside.

A bouquet of red and white roses rested in my arms, the petals delicate yet full of life. I placed them gently on the stand beside her bed, careful not to disturb the wires and tubes still attached to her.

Grin Hilda clicked her tongue. "She looks… dead."

I clenched my jaw, pressing Fiona's cold, fragile hand between my own. "She's alive," I murmured, my voice thick with emotion. "She saved me. Mason would have killed me if it weren't for her."