For several seconds, no one moved.Beatrice stared at Lucy as if she had just heard the most ridiculous thing in the world, while Edward's face had gone completely red. Mary was still wiping the water from her face, her makeup streaked around her eyes, and the look she gave Lucy was full of resentment.Lucy glanced at the clock on the wall and said calmly, "You have less than a minute.""Don't think you can scare us!" Beatrice shouted. "We're Andy's family. What kind of trespassing are you talking about?"Lucy picked up her phone without changing her expression. "Then we can let the police decide whether being related to the owner gives you the right to enter his home without permission and refuse to leave after being asked."That finally made Beatrice hesitate.She looked at Edward, clearly hoping he would say something, but even he had lost some of his earlier confidence. They might have been shameless, but they were not stupid enough to want the police involved, especially with the

For a few seconds, I couldn't say anything.I stood beside the car with the phone pressed against my ear, wondering if I had somehow misunderstood what the nurse had said."She's awake?" I finally asked."Yes, Mr. Lambert. She's conscious now. The doctor is examining her, but her condition is stable. You can come over."I don't even remember hanging up properly.Lucy had already understood from my expression. She opened the passenger door and took the wooden box from my arms."I'll drive."I didn't argue.The entire way to the hospital, I kept thinking about my mother. For years, I had imagined this moment so many times that it had almost stopped feeling real. Sometimes I pictured her opening her eyes while I was sitting beside her. Other times, I imagined a doctor calling me in the middle of a meeting and telling me she had suddenly regained consciousness.I had rehearsed what I would say to her too.Now that it had finally happened, every sentence I had ever prepared disappeared from