A cold wave of disbelief washed over Ethan. His chest felt tight, like someone had wrapped steel bands around his ribs and was slowly tightening them. His hands trembled slightly before he clenched them into fists, his knuckles turning white.“Everyone out,” he said to the medical staff, his voice barely controlled. "Now!"The doctors and nurses quickly filed out, leaving only Magnus lying unconscious on the bed, Ethan sitting rigidly in the chair beside him, and Lara standing across the room, watching his every expression.Ethan stared at Magnus’ pale face, his mind reeling. He couldn’t believe that all this time, his own father had been dying, and he had no clue. Not even the smallest hint.The doctor’s words kept playing over and over in Ethan’s head—Magnus had less than six months left to live. It was breaking his heart.He finally looked up at Lara, meeting her eyes for the first time since they’d been left alone in the room.“I just don’t get it,” he said, his voice hollow.

Lara's mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. “I… Ethan, I have no idea about any of this. I’m as confused and… and horrified as you are." But suddenly, something clicked in Ethan’s mind. His instinct, the one that had been gnawing at him to never fully trust her, flared to life. How could she know nothing about this? According to Magnus, she knew the ins and outs of Aurelius Conglomerate better than he did. His brows narrowed dangerously. "You really expect me to believe that?" he snarled. He scoffed. "You knew absolutely nothing about any of this?” Something in Lara flared at his accusation. “Are you really suspecting me right now?” She snapped back. "When will you finally stop doubting me?" she asked, her voice breaking. She was overwhelmed by everything—the way he’d hurt her at that restaurant, how he was always suspicious of her, and how he still didn’t trust her despite all the sacrifices she’d made. "What exactly did I do to you to deserve this... endles