Chapter 693

Madelyn's emotions were a tangle of confusion and dread as she pushed through the door into the sterile hospital room. The sharp scent of disinfectant assailed her senses, heightening her unease.

The moment the door swung open, she saw a man lying on the hospital bed, his face obscured by a respiratory mask. He was emaciated, still in a coma. His hand bore a large, discolored patch of burned skin. He seemed devoid of any signs of healthy flesh.

If Madelyn hadn't known that the man before her was Ethan, she might not have recognized him at all. She clamped a hand over her mouth, unable to hold back her silent tears.

'How did things get to this point?' she thought. Her legs felt like they were made of lead; she wanted to approach him but couldn't summon the strength.

'Is all of this my fault?' swirled through her mind.

A voice inside her resonated with guilt: 'This happened because of you. He was in that accident searching for you. If you hadn't run away, he wouldn't be in this cond