Chapter 20: A Bittersweet Reunion

Rachel's heart skipped a beat as she walked into the hospital room. She had been waiting for what felt like an eternity to see Alex again, and finally, the moment had arrived.

As she approached the bed, Alex's eyes lit up with a warm smile. "Rachel," he whispered, his voice weak but full of emotion.

Rachel's eyes welled up with tears as she took Alex's hand in hers. "I'm here," she said, her voice trembling. "I'm so glad you're awake."

Alex's gaze locked onto hers, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Rachel could see the love and adoration in Alex's eyes, and it filled her heart with joy.

But as they hugged, Rachel couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Maya was standing in the corner of the room, her eyes narrowed into slits.

"Maya, what's wrong?" Rachel asked, sensing the tension in the air.

Maya's smile was cold and calculating. "Nothing's wrong," she said. "I'm just happy to see Alex awake and well."

But Rachel knew that Maya was lying. She could see the anger and resentment simmering beneath the surface. And as they left the hospital room, Rachel couldn't help but wonder what Maya had planned next.