TOO LATE TO APOLOGIZE?

TOO LATE TO APOLOGIZE?
Charles's POV

It had been a week since the nightmare with Seth and Anna unfolded, and things were looking grim for Xender. A full week since he was shot and slipped into a coma right after his emergency surgery, and still, there was no sign of Alda.

She hadn't shown up even once to check on him. It made me wonder if she had ever really cared about Xender at all, but who was I kidding?

I let out a heavy sigh, gathering a few essential items from Xender’s wardrobe before heading toward the front door. My phone buzzed in my pocket—it was Emily.

“Hey, Em.”

“Are you currently with Xender?” she asked, her voice strained like she’d spent another sleepless night worrying.

“No, I stepped out to pick up a few things he’d need. But I have Mike watching him until I get back, since they moved them into the same ward together,” I explained.

Emily released a heavy breath. “A patient watching over a patient?”

“How is your mum holding up?” I asked. Mrs. Armstrong had fallen ill over her son's condition and his complete lack of progress.

“She’s still refusing to eat anything. It took everything we had to stop her from coming back to camp at Xender’s bedside,” Emily replied softly.

“And Elara?”

“She’s about the only thing putting a smile on Mum's face right now. Her husband is doing everything he can to help, but it seems like all she really wants is Xender,” Emily said.

“I’m so sorry, Emily. I’m sorry I wasn't there to stop things from escalating,” I said, guilt weighing heavy in my chest.

“This isn't the time for self-blame. Just get back to the hospital. Elara and I will join you soon—the doctor said having more interaction around him might improve his chances of waking up.”

“Okay. I’ll see you at the hospital then,” I said, just as the doorbell rang downstairs.

“Who’s at the door?” Emily asked from the other line, catching the chime.

“I don't know. I’ll check in a second, okay?”

I ended the call and walked over to the monitor screen. The face displayed on the video feed was none other than Alda’s.

Finally. She was here.

Alda’s POV

I waited outside, anxious to see Xender, but filled with a quiet relief. I didn't care if he was still angry with me for my outburst before I left. I just needed him to hold me, to make all of this feel real.

The front door pulled open, and I was met with Charles’s surprised expression.

“Alda,” he breathed.

I didn't even register his initial reaction. I immediately looked past his shoulder, expecting Xender to come walking down the stairs any second. But the house behind Charles was dead silent.

“Xender... where is Xender? Did he leave early for work?” I asked.

Charles just stared at me, his gaze unmoving, as if he couldn't comprehend what I was saying.

“Charles, I really need to speak with—”

“Where the hell were you?” he snapped, catching me completely off guard. “It’s been a whole week, and you just show up out of nowhere?! Is this how you treat him after everything he’s done for you?!”

I shrank back, staring at him in total shock. “Why are you so angry? Did I do something wrong?”

“Like you don't actually know what happened? Have you not been paying attention to the news at all?!” he barked, his frustration boiling over.

What news?

“Charles, I’m so sorry if I did something wrong, but I’m confused. What news are—”

“Xender was shot.”

It took a few agonizing seconds for his words to sink in. Before I could stop it, a horrified scream tore from my throat.

Xender was what...?

“You’re joking... right?” I whispered, my voice trembling violently as I reached out to grab the front of Charles’s shirt. “Please tell me you’re joking!”

My knees buckled beneath me, but Charles didn't offer a single word of comfort. He just stood there, a look of profound sorrow fixed on his face.

“At least tell me he’s going to be okay!” I begged, choking on my own tears.

“He’s been in a coma for over a week, Alda.”

My breath caught in my chest, turning ragged and uneven.

Why does this keep happening? Why do I keep losing everyone I love? Was I cursed? Was I some kind of plague on the people around me?

Then, a sudden, blinding fury surged through my veins.

“Who did this to him?” I demanded, hot tears scalding my cheeks as my voice hardened. But even without Charles answering, I already knew. There was only one person capable of this monsterous act. “Seth did this, didn't he?”

Charles didn't need to speak; his silence confirmed it.

“I’m going to kill him!” I screamed, a raw rage burning right under my skin.

Without another word, I spun around to storm toward the driveway, ready to track Seth down myself. But Charles grabbed my arm, wrenching me back.

I snapped around, yanking my hand free from his grip to push past him, but his next words stopped me dead in my tracks.

“He’s dead, Alda! Seth is dead—and so is Anna!”

I stared at him, my mind spinning into complete chaos. “What...? Seth and Anna... are dead?”

A tidal wave of overwhelming emotions crashed over me. I didn't care about their lives, but why couldn't they have just left Xender out of it?! Why did they have to drag him down with them?!

They should have come for me instead. Maybe I never should have left. I never should have said those harsh, cruel words to him before I vanished. The overwhelming joy that had followed me all the way from Álfheimr vanished into ash.

For a brief moment, I had actually believed I could finally be happy.

“Take me to him,” I choked out.

Charles gave a solemn nod and quickly led the way to his car. As we sped toward the hospital, I found myself clutching my wrist where the faintly glowing mark of the Gem Animal rested, begging whatever divine power brought me back to save Xender's life.

Mike’s POV

“I can't believe I was only knocked out for three days, only to wake up and find out you went and took a damn bullet,” I muttered, looking at Xender’s unmoving, peaceful face.

“You really need to wake up and compensate me for getting stabbed. I never thought I’d end up hospitalized, let alone have you joining me in the exact same boat,” I said, waiting for a response that never came. The heavy silence of the hospital room was my only answer.

“The only doctor we ever agreed to see was a therapist, just to process what we went through with Alda’s case. We didn't agree on joining our ancestors just yet. So you better open your eyes, or I’ll personally convince your dad to shut down your company. And I’ll happily sit back and watch Alda walk down the aisle with another man.”

Just as the words left my mouth, the door burst open.

Alda rushed into the room, gasping for breath, leaving me completely stunned.

She... was back.