Chapter 203

OLIVIA When I returned to Noah’s private room, he was already lying in bed, the steady rhythm of the IV drip the only sound filling the quiet space. I walked over and placed the necklace on the bedside table. Almost immediately, Noah opened his eyes. He hadn’t been asleep. It felt less like I had woken him and more like he had been waiting—waiting to see if I would come back, or if I had already left. He turned his head toward me, but the moment he did, his expression tightened as pain shot through his neck. I reached out right away, sliding my hand behind his neck to support him before the movement could strain him further. Then I adjusted the pillow beneath his head, making sure it supported him properly. He stilled slightly after that, his breathing easing, as if the tension in his body had finally eased. Noah tried to speak, but no sound came out. His brows drew together, and I could see the strain in his expression. A thin layer of sweat had formed along his forehead, and even the