Alicia POV

Maria helped me freshen up and change into a fresh set of clothes.

The doctors said I would probably be discharged later today.

After she finished helping me, she stepped outside to handle the paperwork.

I lay back against the pillows, staring blankly at the white ceiling.

My mind felt empty.

A moment later, I heard movement near the door.

Assuming it was Alexander, I didn’t bother looking.

The person entered quietly.

The mattress dipped slightly beside me.

"Alicia, are you feeling alright?"

The familiar voice caught me off guard.

I turned immediately.

"Uncle Steve?"

I tried to sit up.

He quickly reached over to support me.

"Careful."

"I’m sorry, Uncle."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"You thought I was Alexander?"

I lowered my eyes.

The silence was an answer itself.

Steve sighed softly before taking my hand.

"I only found out what happened after Angela told me you were hospitalized."

His expression became more serious.

"Alicia, didn’t I tell you not to take Angela’s words to heart?"

Tears immediately burned behind my eyes.

"I tried, Uncle."

My voice trembled.

"I really tried."

"But then Lilian called me..."

Steve’s expression darkened.

"She called you?"

I nodded.

"She said the same things Aunt Angela said."

The tears I had been holding back finally spilled over.

"She said Grandma died because of me."

"She said if it wasn’t for me, none of this would’ve happened."

"She said Nana choose to meet her because of me."

Steve’s grip on my hand tightened slightly.

"Alicia."

His voice was firm.

"That was exactly what Lilian wanted."

I looked up at him.

"What do you mean?"

"She wanted you to blame yourself."

"She wanted you to fall apart."

His expression hardened.

"What if something had happened to you yesterday?"

"What if something had happened to the baby?"

I lowered my head.

The guilt felt unbearable.

"I’m sorry, Uncle."

"You don’t owe me an apology."

His tone softened.

"Alicia, listen to me carefully."

"Your grandmother’s illness didn’t begin that night."

"What happened that night wasn’t your responsibility."

"The person who made the choice to confront Lilian was your grandmother."

I understood what he was trying to say but deep down the guilt was still there

"We’re all hurting." He added

"I lost my mother."

"Alexander lost his grandmother too."

"You lost the woman who loved and protected you."

He paused.

"But hurting yourself won’t honor her memory."

Fresh tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Nana wouldn’t want this."

"If she truly stood up for you that night, then the last thing she would want is for you to destroy yourself because of it."

My shoulders began to shake.

For the first time since everything happened, I cried openly in front of him.

Steve gently pulled me into an embrace.

"It’s okay."

"You don’t have to carry all of this by yourself."

But the tears didn’t stop.

I had let Nana down.

Even if what Lilian said was true—even if Alexander was still protecting her—I should never have reacted the way I did.

What if something had happened to the baby?

My hand instinctively moved to my stomach.

The memory alone made my chest tighten.

Uncle was right.

If something had happened yesterday, then Nana’s sacrifice would have meant nothing.

And what about the promise I made to her before she passed away?

Seeing my tears fall again, Uncle Steve slowly pulled me into his embrace.

"Shh," he murmured, gently patting my back. "Don’t cry anymore, good girl. I know this wasn’t your fault. Just don’t let it happen again."

I nodded against his chest.

"I promise, Uncle."

"Good."

He smiled faintly before helping me sit upright.

"When everything settles down, I’ll be leaving again. But if you ever need someone to talk to, call me. Anytime."

"Alright, Uncle."

"And stop crying."

He wiped away the remaining tears from my cheeks before his expression gradually turned serious.

"There is something I need to give you."

I blinked in confusion.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small set of keys and placed them gently in my palm.

I stared down at them.

"These..."

"Your grandmother asked me to make sure you received them."

My fingers tightened slightly around the keys.

Uncle Steve looked at me quietly before continuing.

"She said that if there ever comes a day when everything feels out of control... Or if you don’t feel safe anymore..."

His voice softened.

"...go to the mansion."

My breath caught.

"Go to her room. Open the bedside drawer. You’ll find a box there."

He paused.

"And I think you’ll know what to do next."

For several seconds, I couldn’t speak.

I simply stared at the keys resting in my hand.

A warm ache spread through my chest.

Grandma Roseline wasn’t related to me by blood.

Yet from the moment she entered my life, she had done nothing but protect me.

Guide me.

Love me.

And even now...

Even after she was gone...

She was still looking after me.

I closed my fingers around the keys and nodded.

"I understand."

No matter what happened in the future, I wouldn’t let her down.

I would protect my baby.

I would live well.

And one day, when my child was old enough, I would bring them to visit Nana’s grave.

Uncle Steve smiled, seemingly relieved.

After reminding me once again to take care of myself, he stood up.

We exchanged our goodbyes.

I watched him walk toward the door.

Then my gaze shifted beyond him.

And froze.

Alexander was standing there.

I didn’t know how long he had been outside.

I didn’t know how much he had heard.

For a brief moment, neither of us moved.

Uncle Steve noticed him as well.

The two men exchanged a quiet look.

Then Uncle Steve stepped forward and patted Alexander’s shoulder.

A silent gesture.

A warning.

Or perhaps encouragement.

Maybe both.

After saying a few quiet words, Uncle Steve finally left.

The door still open behind him.

The room fell silent.

Alexander remained where he was, as though unsure whether he was welcome.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then, slowly, he stepped into the room.