chapter 93

Lyra's POV

I sat in the cold, sterile hospital reception, twisting my hands together anxiously. The events of the day replayed in my mind like a broken record, each moment more surreal than the last. My wedding was supposed to be happening right now, but instead, I was here, waiting to see the man who almost died trying to stop it.

The nurse's words echoed in my head: “James is awake. He’s asking for you." I knew this would be difficult, but deep down, I also knew it was something I couldn’t avoid. Not anymore. We had to face this head-on.

I sighed deeply as the doctor appeared, motioning for me to follow. My feet felt heavy, each step toward his room weighed down by memories of a time I thought would never end. But it did. And now I had to make him understand that.

As we reached the door to James’s hospital room, Alice, his mother, was there. She stood like a gatekeeper, her posture stiff and her face pinched with anger. The moment her eyes landed on me, they hardened.

"You’ve got so