Chapter 193: A Mother's Heart, A Daughter's Duty
The stairs creaked beneath my weight, each step a small rebellion against the pain screaming from my ankle. I ignored it. I had no choice. The hospital awaited. Armand awaited. The Minister, the man whose life hung by the thread of my formula awaited.
Lives depended on me.
But I had barely reached the bottom step when a voice stopped me cold.
"Alayna. Where do you think you are going?"
My mother stood at the foot of the stairs like a sentinel at the gates of a forbidden city. Her arms were crossed, her brow furrowed so deeply it seemed carved by years of worry.
"The hospital, Mother." I kept my voice steady, though my heart hammered against my ribs like a prisoner demanding release.
Her eyes widened. "The hospital? Have you lost your mind entirely? Your ankle is swollen to twice its size! And you want to go out?"
