55. The Conflict Between Mother and Lover

The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, gently illuminating the hospital room. Lyla slowly opened her eyes, her vision still a bit blurry. However, a familiar figure was unmistakably visible—Carlo, slumped at her bedside, fast asleep. His furrowed brow and slightly parted lips showed exhaustion, while bruises and cuts marked his face, as if he'd just been in a fight.

She blinked, unsure if she was dreaming. Ever since losing consciousness from the beatings in prison, she hadn't fully woken up until now. She couldn’t understand how she was lying safely in a hospital bed, and even less so why Carlo was there. Her last memory before blacking out felt distant, and she struggled to recall anything that followed.

She tried to sit up, wanting to reach out and touch Carlo to confirm if this was real—after all, she had been dreaming about him constantly. But the moment she moved, a sharp, searing pain surged through her body. It felt as if someone had struc