Chapter 123

He was a man with deep roots and wide-reaching branches, and nothing could topple him—not an attack, not a shifting power dynamic, and certainly not the unseen enemies lurking in the shadows.

***

Denera stood in the hallway of the hospital, the sterile smell of antiseptic mingling with the muted hum of activity.

Nurses and doctors moved with purpose, their soft-soled shoes barely making a sound on the polished floors.

Denera’s heels clicked as she approached Sandra’s room, each step a reminder of the tension she carried with her.

The light from the overhead fluorescents cast a cold, clinical glow, contrasting sharply with the warm, morning sun streaming through the windows at the end of the corridor.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door to Sandra’s room. The air inside was tinged with the scent of fresh flowers and the beeping of monitors provided a steady, rhythmic background noise.

Sandra lay propped up on her bed, her eyes sharp despite the pallor of her skin.

“Dener