Zara’s POV

I slowly pushed the door open to my father’s room, my heart shattering into a million pieces. The soft beep of the monitors filled the air, each beep a reminder of how we’d both been deceived by those we thought loved us. My legs trembled as I moved closer to him, crossing the space to his bedside.

“Dad…” my voice trembled.

He lay there, still and asleep, his chest rising and falling faintly underneath the sheets. I sat down and reached out for his hand gently, trying not to wake him up. I gripped his arm as if I would be able to transfer ounces of strength onto...