Aurora slowly opened her eyes, blinking a few times as the bright hospital lights blurred her vision.
The steady beeping of a heart rate monitor and the soft drip of an IV filled the room.
The familiar voice of Ava reached her ears, pulling her out of the haze.
"Ms. Aurora," Ava called softly, her voice trembling slightly with concern.
The sound of her name snapped Aurora back to reality.
She remembered everything—Lucas, the evidence.
Her eyes flew open in panic, and she tried to sit up, her muscles sore and her energy drained.
Ava quickly approached, her expression alarmed as she gently pushed Aurora back down onto the bed.
"Ms. Aurora, please, you need to rest," Ava urged.
Aurora’s body ached, but her mind raced.
"Lucas... the evidence..." she mumbled, trying to push herself up again.
She couldn’t afford to be lying here; she had to make sure everything was in place for Lucas.
Before she could say more, Dr. Evans, who had overheard the conversation from the neighboring ward, stepped into the room.
His calm presence filled the space as he walked over to Aurora’s bedside.
"Ms. Aurora," Dr. Evans said in a soothing tone, "you need to prioritize your health—and that of your babies. Stressing yourself right now won’t help anyone."
Ava nodded in agreement, standing beside the doctor.
The mention of her babies made Aurora pause.
She blinked, realizing she was not only responsible for her own wellbeing but for other lives.
With a sigh, she reluctantly lay back down, her mind still racing but her body too weak to fight.
The doctor continued, "You collapsed from exhaustion and were unconscious for two days."
"Two days?" Aurora gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her mind immediately went to Lucas.
She turned to Ava, her heart pounding. "Lucas... what happened? Did they get the evidence?"
Ava quickly reached for the remote, turning on the TV across the room.
"It’s been taken care of," Ava assured softly, trying to calm Aurora. "You should see for yourself."
The screen flickered to life, revealing a news broadcast.
Aurora’s heart skipped a beat as she saw Lucas standing confidently outside the courthouse, surrounded by reporters and his legal team.
"Lucas Rossi Exonerated: ’Truth Always Prevails,’" the headline read.
Lucas stood tall, a proud smile on his face as he addressed the press.
"It’s an incredible feeling," he said, "I knew the truth would come out. I’m grateful for the justice system and my legal team."
A female reporter stepped forward, microphone in hand. "What was going through your mind during the ordeal, Mr. Rossi?"
Lucas exhaled, his confidence firm. "I never lost faith. I knew I was innocent, and the evidence would prove it. I’m thankful for my family’s unwavering support."
Aurora’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of his family.
Was he talking about her?
For a moment, her chest swelled with hope, but she quickly pushed the thought aside.
It didn’t matter.
What mattered was that Lucas was free.
Another reporter chimed in, pressing for more. "Mr. Rossi, what’s next for you?"
Lucas’s expression grew more determined. "Rebuilding my life, clearing my reputation, and moving forward. This experience has made me stronger."
Aurora watched as Lucas stood tall, his body language exuding strength and composure.
The reporters continued to pepper him with questions, but he remained unshaken, handling each one with grace and assurance.
The broadcast cut back to the newsroom as the headline remained: "Lucas Rossi Exonerated: ’Truth Always Prevails.’"
Aurora turned to Ava, still processing everything. "How... how did Lucas get the evidence?" she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Ava smiled, sitting down at Aurora’s bedside. "Sophia found it. She had a meeting with Hades, and during their conversation, he let the truth slip. Sophia recorded everything. That recording cleared Lucas."
Relief flooded Aurora’s entire body.
She relaxed into the bed, finally letting go of the fear and uncertainty that had been gripping her since the trial began.
As her thoughts drifted, Dr. Evans cleared his throat, drawing her attention back to the present.
"Now that this is resolved," Dr. Evans said, a small smile on his face, "can we focus on you and your babies?"
Ava, sensing the moment, quietly excused herself from the room, leaving Aurora and the doctor alone.
Dr. Evans turned his attention back to Aurora, his tone serious yet kind.
"You need rest, Ms. Aurora. Your body is exhausted, and the babies’ health depends on your recovery," he explained. "We’ll monitor you closely for a few more days, but you must avoid any strenuous activities. Hydration, rest, and proper nutrition are key."
Aurora listened carefully as the doctor laid out her recovery plan: more rest, regular checkups, and monitoring the babies’ health to ensure everything was progressing well.
She nodded, agreeing with every point, though the exhaustion was starting to weigh her down again.
She couldn’t deny that her body needed this.
Dr. Evans chuckled lightly, "You seem to understand. Now please follow through with the instructions."
Aurora gave a small, tired smile. "I will."
With that, Dr. Evans excused himself, leaving her alone in the quiet room.
Aurora placed her hand gently on her belly, feeling the flutter of lives within her.
She breathed deeply, allowing herself a moment of calm after the whirlwind of recent events.
As she rested her head back on the pillow, her thoughts wandered.
A memory floated to the surface—Sophia’s note.
Aurora had read it carefully after she saw it on Sophia’s bed.
It was then that she’d discovered something shocking: Lucas had marked her.
The bite she barely remembered, hidden on the delicate skin of her neck, had faded without her noticing.
But Sophia’s note revealed the truth—that was why she’d recovered so quickly after the previous accident.
Her fingers instinctively touched the spot where Lucas had marked her.
The skin felt smooth now, but the emotions the mark carried were still fresh, still alive within her.
A soft blush crept onto Aurora’s cheeks.
She wasn’t sure what to make of it.
Lucas had marked her, claimed her in a way that was permanent, even if the physical mark had vanished.
She hadn’t even realized it until reading Sophia’s note.
A strange warmth bloomed in her chest, and she felt her heart race slightly.
Aurora finally let herself unwind, her mind gently releasing the burden she had been carrying.
Lucas was free. And though her fight wasn’t over, she knew that for now, she could rest.
Her hand remained on her belly, the connection to the lives growing within her grounding her.
She closed her eyes, letting the feeling of relief and the faint flutter inside her soothe her to sleep.