Victoria's POV
The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air as I stepped into Dominic's hospital room. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor provided a strange sort of reassurance; he was here, alive, safe. But the sight of him lying there, pale and vulnerable, stirred something deep within me that I wasn't ready to confront.
Caleb was seated by his bedside. A faint smile curved her lips when she saw me, and she stood up and made her way over. Giving my hand a gentle squeeze, she nodded once before leaving quietly.
Her eyes had said everything she hadn't: he was all right, she was glad I was also alright, and she trusted me to stay with him.
Dominic's eyes fluttered open as I moved closer, his gaze meeting mine with a tired but warm expression. "You didn't have to stay," he murmured, his voice rough with exhaustion.
I pulled the chair closer to his bedside and sat down. "You saved my life," I said softly. "The least I can do is stay with you while you recover."