ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY NINE

GRAYSON'S POV

The blinding flashes of cameras from the next morning were relentless as Sylvia wheeled me out of the hospital. The paparazzi were swarming, eager to capture every moment of my departure. I could almost feel Alice’s presence in the chaos, a twisted sense of retribution for tossing her out of my hospital room. It was like she always had to balance the scales whenever she felt slighted.

Rex and Paul worked hard to fend off the crowd, creating a path for us. Sylvia, her face set in determined lines, guided me to the car. As soon as we were inside, she opened the door and helped me settle into the back seat. Paul took the wheel, while Rex sat beside him, their expressions a mix of concern and frustration.

“Thanks for getting me out of there,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the pain.

Sylvia nodded, focusing on keeping the car moving smoothly through the throng of flashing cameras. “We’ll get you home soon. Try to relax.”

As we drove away, I glanced back at the