felt like it was filled with rainbows. Then, nothing. No more seeing, no more feeling. When Emily woke up, her head felt heavy and her ankle felt tight. She tried to sit up, but her body felt so

her recovery? "It's good to see you awake, Emily," Alexander finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "I apologize for the delay. There were... business matters that required my immediate attention." His explanation felt off. John, the therapist, who had just left the room, had mentioned a big conference Alexander was supposed to attend in another country. Was that the "business matter" he was referring to? "How long have you been back?" Emily asked, her voice small. "I just arrived this morning," Alexander replied, avoiding to meet her eyes. The arrival of Isabella, all forced smiles and bitter sweetness, further strained the atmosphere in the room. Emily felt a wave of nausea rise in her throat. "Would you like some water, Mrs. Steele?" Isabella offered, her voice filled with fake concern. Emily shook her head, unable to trust herself to speak around Isabella. The woman's presence gave out a suffocating sense of power, a funny contrast to the kind, gentle nature of Sarah, the nurse, who had been Emily's constant companion. Days turned into weeks, and the tension between Emily and Alexander only grew. His visits were not frequent, his explanations brief. He spoke of demanding board meetings and late-night negotiations, but Emily couldn't shake the feeling that something else was going on. Meanwhile, Emily's recovery was slow but steady. With John's constant encouragement and her own determination, she learned to move the world on crutches. The frustration of being stuck to a bed gradually gave way to a newfound sense of accomplishment with each step she took. One afternoon, John brought in a walker, a metal frame with wheels that offered more support than the crutches. He guided Emily, her steps slow and shaky at first, then growing more confident with each rounds around the room. "You're doing great, Emily," John said with a warm smile. "It won't be long before you're walking unaided again." Emily felt a spark of hope fill her mind. The thought of returning to her normal daily life and routines, of maybe even visiting the cafe again, filled her with a sense of anticipation. Maybe, just maybe, life could get back to normal, even if the circumstances of her arrival in this grand house were anything but normal. The days that followed were a slow start between Emily and Alexander. John's visits brought a welcome break, his cheerful encouragement a bright spot in the annoying hospital room. But it was Alexander's presence that truly brought something within her. He started staying back longer after John left, his visits n