Chapter 177

After the doctor took Joxan away for the preliminary tests, and the nurses had all disappeared into the corridors, the hallway fell into a tense, quiet stillness. The soft hum of the emergency room lights buzzed above them. Austin stood beside Elyana, his hands tucked into his coat pockets, eyes heavy with unspoken thoughts. Once he was sure no one else was around, he finally spoke, his voice quiet but strained. “Why are you doing this, Elyana? He’s the man who broke you. And Joxan… he’s still just a kid.” Elyana didn’t look at him. Her gaze was fixed on the glowing red sign above the operating room door. Her hands were clenched tightly in front of her, knuckles white. After a moment, she murmured, almost like she was speaking to herself rather than answering him. “He can’t die. Not now… not like this. Jessica needs him.” Austin’s jaw tensed. He had known her long enough to recognize that distant look in her eyes. The one she wore when her heart was somewhere far away—somewhere it didn