No need to apologize

Vespera made her way to the hospital room and struggled to pull the blanket over herself as she lay in bed. Looking at her heavily bandaged hands, she let out a resigned sigh. She couldn't understand how she had ended up in this situation.

Just a few days ago, she had firmly told Cheryl that she barely knew Alaric. Yet here she was, rushing to his side with just one phone call. And now, she was lying in a hospital bed, covered in injuries, while Alaric had been calling out Elowen's name.

Vespera thought to herself that a man like that was simply not worth it – someone with another woman etched so deeply in his heart was nothing but trouble. Besides, she really disliked how Elowen always seemed to be at odds with Aurora.

The pain in her palms kept Vespera awake until the early hours of the morning when she finally dozed off. Meanwhile, Alaric, aided by alcohol, slept soundly through the night. He only woke up when he rolled off the couch and hit the floor.

Seeing Abby standing in front