Chapter 54

Emma froze as the door creaked open, her breath catching in her throat. She blinked through the haze of steam, her heart thudding painfully in her chest, trying to make sense of what was happening. The shower water still pounded down on her, but she could barely hear it over the racing thoughts in her mind.

Was she imagining things? Was her grief and exhaustion playing tricks on her?

But then, through the mist, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows.

“Victor?” Her voice was barely a whisper, choked with disbelief and hope.

He stepped into the light, his face etched with pain and exhaustion, but alive. His clothes were torn, and there was blood on his shirt, but his eyes, those intense, piercing eyes, were locked on hers.

“Emma...” he rasped, his voice rough and strained.

In an instant, all her fear, grief, and pain melted away. She was on him before she could even think, her body crashing against his as she wrapped her arms around him, her sobs muffled against his chest. She coul