Chapter 194
I arrived at the hospital, the sterile air doing little to mask the palpable sense of crisis. I pushed through the throng of worried faces, my heart a frantic drum against my ribs. The Minister... I had to see him. I had to know if my work had made a difference.
When I entered his room, the sight that greeted me stole my breath. He was sitting up, a ghost of a smile gracing his lips. It was a stark contrast to the deathly pallor I had imagined.
"Alayna," he rasped, his voice weak but clear. "Thank you for coming."
I did it? Had I actually pulled it off? Was the Minister truly on the mend? I looked to Armand, his face etched with a relief so profound it was almost painful to witness. I approached the minister, my voice filled with disbelief, "Mr. Minister! You're awake? How?!"
He managed a weak chuckle. "I wish I knew, Alayna. One moment, I was fading fast. The next, I'm... well, I'm here. Thanks to you, I understand."
