"He''s in aa," the doctor continued gently. "We can''t say for certain when or if he will wake up. It could be days, weeks, or even longer. But he''s stable for now, and that''s a good sign."


    ire felt her knees buckle slightly, and she grabbed the nearest wall for support. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over as the weight of the doctor''s words hit her like a freight train.


    "Aa?" she whispered, her voice cracking.


    The doctor nodded, his tone sympathetic. "It''s too early to tell what the long-term prognosis will be. Right now, we''re monitoring him closely."


    ire wiped her cheeks hastily, though the tears kepting. "Can I see him?"


    "Of course," the doctor said, stepping aside.


    ire pushed the door open slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. Matthewy on the hospital bed, pale and still, with various monitors beeping softly around him. Tubes and wires surrounded him, a sight that made ire''s chest ache even more.


    She approached the bed, her hand trembling as she reached out to touch his. "Matthew," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You better wake up, you hear me? You''re not allowed to leave me like this." Her tears fell freely now,nding on the edge of the nket. "You''re my right hand. My partner. My-" Her voice cracked again, and she shook her head. "You''re my best friend, Matthew. You''re not allowed to give up. Not now."


    Behind her, Officer Daniels stepped into the room quietly. "Ms. Peterson, I understand this is overwhelming, but if you''re ready, I''d like to exin what happened."


    ire straightened, her jaw tightening as she swiped at her cheeks. "Fine. Talk," she said, her voice firmer now.


    The officer nodded. "From what we''ve gathered, Matthew''s car was run off the road. It wasn''t an ident -it looks deliberate."


    ire''s eyes widened. "Deliberate? Are you saying someone tried to kill him?"


    "It''s a strong possibility," Daniels admitted. "We''re investigating leads now, but we wanted to inform you as soon as possible, given your close rtionship with him."


    ire clenched her fists, anger bubbling beneath her grief. "Who would do this? Do you have any suspects?"


    Daniels hesitated. "We''re looking into it. I can''t disclose too much at this stage, but we''ll keep you updated."


    ire turned back to Matthew, her gaze softening again. "Matthew, you idiot," she muttered, though her tone wasced with affection. "Always in the middle of something dangerous."


    Daniels cleared his throat. "We''ll leave you to have some time with him. If you think of anything that might help our investigation, please let me know."


    ire nodded absently, not taking her eyes off Matthew. As the officer left, she pulled up a chair and sat beside the bed, gripping Matthew''s hand tightly.


    "Remember that time you told me I worked too hard?" she said softly, her voice trembling. "You said I needed to take a break before I burnt out. And I told you I couldn''t because someone had to keep things running. Well, guess what? I need you now, Matthew. I can''t keep things running without you."


    The room was silent except for the steady beeping of the monitors. ire sat there for what felt like hours, her thoughts racing between anger, fear, and determination.


    She leaned in closer, her tears drying as resolve set in. "Whoever did this to you, Matthew, they''re going to pay. I promise you that."


    ire didn''t know who was behind it yet, but she would find out. And when she did, they''d regret ever crossing her. For now, though, all she could do was sit by Matthew''s side and hope he''d wake up to see the n she was already forming.


    ire hadn''t left Matthew''s side for


    the entire week. She''d practically set up camp in his hospital room, only. leaving to grab coffee or take a


    moment to collect herself in the.


    hallway. The rhythmic beeping of the monitors had be her


    background music, a constant


    reminder of the situation she


    couldn''t escape.


    For the first day, she ignored Adrian''s calls? Not because she wanted to, but because she couldn''t handle exining everything-not yet. The moment she saw his name light up her phone, guilt crept in. Adrian deserved to know, especially after everything they''d been through.


    By the second day, her resolve broke. When Adrian called again, she sighed and picked up, her voice barely above a whisper.


    "ire?" Adrian''s familiar voice came through, filled with concern. "Why didn''t you answer my calls? I''ve been worried sick."


    "I''m sorry," ire said, her voice shaky. "It''s... Matthew. He got into an ident. He''s in aa."


    There was a pause, and ire could practically hear the gears turning in Adrian''s head. "What? Matthew? How... how did that happen?" His voice was thick with disbelief, mixed with a hint of panic.


    ire swallowed hard, her eyes darting to Matthew''s still form on the bed. "It wasn''t an ident," she said after a moment. "At least, not the kind you think. Someone''s trying to kill him. This... it was nned." Adrian''s sharp intake of breath made her stomach churn. "You''re sure?"


    "Yes," ire replied, her tone firm. "And before you ask, yes, the police are investigating. But let''s be honest-" she let out a humorlessugh, "-they''re not going to find anything. Whoever did this knew what they were doing.


    Adrian let out a string of muttered curses under his breath. "I can''t believe this. ire, are you okay? How are you holding up?"


    ire hesitated. "I''m fine. I mean, as fine as I can be given... this." Her gaze softened as she looked at Matthew. "He''s tough. He''ll pull through."


    "I wish I was there," Adrian said, his voice tinged with regret. "I''m in the middle of a flight to Italy right now. I''lle back as soon as I can."


    "No, don''t," ire said quickly, surprising herself with her firmness. "You have work. Focus on that. I''ve got it handled here."


    Adrian didn''t reply immediately, and she could tell he wanted to argue. She preempted him. "Adrian, please. Don''t fight me on this. You''ll only make things harder for both of us."


    "Fine," Adrian finally relented, though his voice was reluctant. "But if anything changes, you call me. Promise me that."


    "I promise," ire said softly, her eyes still locked on Matthew. "Take care of yourself, Adrian." "You too," he said. "And ire... I''m sorry. For everything you''re going through." "Thanks," she whispered before ending the call.


    She sat in silence for a while after that, her phone still clutched in her hand. The weight of the situation bore down on her like an anchor, but she pushed the feeling aside. Matthew needed her to stay strong, and she wasn''t about to let him down.


    As the day wore on, the hospital room grew quieter, the hum of machinery bing almost soothing in


    its monotony. A nurse eventually approached, her expression kind but firm.


    "Ms. Peterson," the nurse said gently, "visiting hours are over."


    ire nodded, grabbing her bag from the chair beside her. She stood, smoothing down her zer as she looked back at Matthew. His face was peaceful, almost as if he were just sleeping. "If anything changes, anything at all, call me immediately."


    "Of course," the nurse replied with a reassuring smile.


    ire hesitated before leaving, her fingers brushing against Matthew''s hand. "Hang in there," she whispered, more to herself than him. "We''ll figure this out. I promise."