Chapter 143

When Stefan pushed open the door to Mia's hospital room, the sight that greeted him broke something inside his chest. She lay there on the huge bed, looking so small and fragile against the stark white sheets.

Her skin was still pale, almost translucent, and there were dark circles under her eyes that hadn't been there this morning when they were laughing over breakfast.

The hospital gown made her look even tinier than usual, and Stefan could see the IV line snaking from her arm to the bag hanging beside the bed. The steady beep of the heart monitor filled the quiet room, a reminder that just hours...