The sound of the machines was the only thing breaking the silence.
Beep…
Beep…
Beep…
The hospital room felt cold.
Jade lay motionless on the bed, her body still, her face pale under the dim light. A white bandage was wrapped carefully around her head, traces of dried blood barely visible beneath it.
She looked… peaceful.
Too peaceful.
As if she were simply sleeping
But she wasn't.
Daniel stood beside the bed.
Unmoving, His gaze was fixed on her.
He hadn't left since they brought her in.
Not once.
His gaze never left her face.
Not even for a second.
His usual cold composure… was gone.
Replaced by something unfamiliar.
Fear.
His hand hovered slightly above hers… but he didn't dare to touch her.
"Sir…"
A nurse's voice broke the silence.
"You should get some rest."
No response.
Daniel didn't even blink.
"She needs you to stay strong," the nurse added gently.
Still nothing.
It was as if he hadn't heard her.
Or refused to.
The nurse went out then the door suddenly opened .
"Jade!"
Gabriel rushed in, breath uneven.
He had clearly come back when he heard the news, he took the first plane .
The moment his eyes landed on her—
He stopped.
His whole body froze.
"…what happened…?"
No answer.
The silence said everything.
Gabriel slowly turned toward Daniel.
And this time, there was no hesitation in his eyes.
"This is your fault."
The words were sharp.
Direct.
Daniel didn't react.
"You were with her," Gabriel continued, his voice tight. "You were supposed to be with her."
Still nothing.
Daniel simply stood there.
Accepting it.
Because he knew…
He had no excuse.
Footsteps followed behind.
"Jade…?"
Madame Lee.
Her voice trembled before she even saw her.
And when she did—
Her world collapsed.
"No… no… my child…"
She rushed forward, grabbing Jade's hand desperately.
"Jade… wake up… please wake up…"
Tears streamed down her face as her voice broke.
"You can't leave me like this… you can't…"
Gabriel clenched his jaw, looking away.
The room became heavy.
The door opened again.
Riguel stepped inside.
His gaze swept across the room before settling on Jade's motionless body… then on Daniel.
He walked forward, his expression serious.
"This isn't his fault," Riguel said firmly.
Gabriel immediately turned toward him, anger blazing in his eyes.
"What do you mean it's not his fault?"
Riguel didn't flinch.
"Jade didn't see the car. It was an accident."
Gabriel scoffed bitterly.
"You really believe that?"
His voice rose.
"Maybe she didn't see the car because of him!"
Riguel frowned.
"What are you implying?"
Gabriel stepped closer.
"Maybe he said something to her. Something that made her run like that!"
The tension in the room rose instantly.
"Enough!"
Madame Lee's voice broke through sharply.
Both men froze.
She turned toward them, her eyes filled with tears and anger.
"My daughter is lying there unconscious…" she said, her voice trembling, "and you're here arguing about whose fault it is?"
Silence fell immediately.
Daniel still hadn't said a word.
Suddenly—
Jade's body jerked.
Her fingers curled.
Her body began to convulse.
"Jade!"
Panic exploded in the room.
Daniel's eyes widened.
"Doctor!" he shouted, his voice breaking. "Call the doctor!"
Nurses rushed in seconds later, followed by the doctor.
"Everyone, please step outside!"
They were quickly pushed out of the room.
The door shut.
In the waiting area—
Silence, No one dared to speak.
Minutes felt like hours.
Then—
More footsteps approached.
Daniel's parents arrived.
Meredith rushed forward.
"Daniel…"
No response.
She looked at him, her heart tightening.
"How is she?"
Daniel didn't answer.
He just stood there.
Still.
Empty.
Riguel stepped in.
"She's still unconscious," he said quietly.
Gabriel clenched his fists, his whole body trembling with anger.
"If something happens to her…"
He suddenly grabbed Daniel by the collar.
"I swear—"
Daniel didn't resist.
Didn't react.
Didn't even look at him.
That only made Gabriel angrier.
But before he could do anything—
Riguel stepped in and punched him, Hard.
Gabriel staggered back.
"Don't you see?" Riguel snapped. "He's more affected than you!"
Gabriel wiped the corner of his lip, ready to strike back—
But security rushed in and restrained both of them.
"Stop!"
Meredith's voice cut through the chaos.
"If you don't have respect for Jade…" she said, furious, "then at least have respect for her mother who is suffering right now!"
Silence fell again.
Breathing.
Tension.
Meredith turned and walked toward Madame Lee.
Her expression softened.
"I'm Meredith… Daniel's mother," she said gently. "I know this doesn't ease your pain… but I am truly sorry."
She pulled her into a comforting embrace.
Madame Lee broke down again.
Daniel slowly stepped away.
No one stopped him.
He walked without direction through the hospital corridors.
Step after step.
Until—
He reached the small chapel.
He pushed the door open.
Silence.
Peaceful.
Empty.
Daniel walked in and sat down on one of the benches.
For a moment…
He said nothing.
Then quietly—
"I've never prayed to you."
His voice was low.
Almost distant.
"I never even believed in you."
He let out a slow breath.
"But…"
His hands slowly clenched.
"If you can hear me…"
His voice broke for the first time.
"Take my life instead."
Silence filled the chapel.
"I want her to live."
His eyes closed.
"I'd rather be the one to die."
.
.
The chapel remained silent.
Daniel sat there, head slightly lowered, hands clenched.
The weight on his chest hadn't eased.
Not even a little.
Soft footsteps echoed behind him.
"Daniel…"
Sophia's voice.
He didn't turn.
She walked closer and stopped beside him, her eyes softening when she saw his state.
She had never seen him like this.So… broken.
Her heart tightened.
"I've been looking for you," she said gently.
No response.
Sophia hesitated for a moment… then slowly sat beside him.
"It's not your fault," she whispered.
Still nothing.She looked at him more carefully.Her fingers tightened slightly on her dress.
A faint shadow passed through her eyes.
She hated this.Seeing him like this.Caring like this.For another woman.
But even with that…
She couldn't leave him like this.
Before she could say anything—
The chapel door opened.
Riguel stepped in.
His expression was serious.
"They're calling us."
Daniel immediately stood up.
"What happened?"
Riguel looked at him.
"The doctor has something to say."
They quickly returned to the waiting area.
Everyone was already there.
The atmosphere was suffocating.
Then—The doctor finally came out.
All eyes turned to him.
Daniel stepped forward.
"How is she?"
The doctor adjusted his glasses.
"We were able to stabilize her condition."
A wave of relief spread instantly.
Madame Lee broke down in tears again.
"Thank God…"
Gabriel let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
Even Daniel's shoulders relaxed slightly.
But—The doctor didn't leave.
His expression remained serious.
There was more.
And everyone felt it.
"However…" he continued.
The tension came back immediately.
"Due to the severity of the shock and the head trauma…"
He paused.
Jade's mother clutched her chest.
"Your daughter has fallen into a coma."
Silence, heavy.
"What…?" Madame Lee whispered, her voice breaking.
The doctor continued carefully.
"We cannot determine how long it will last."
Daniel's eyes darkened.
Gabriel's fists clenched again.
"There is a possibility she may wake up soon…"
A pause.
"But there is also a risk…"
His voice lowered.
"…that she may not wake up at all."
The words hit like a blow.
Madame Lee collapsed into Meredith's arms.
"No… no… my daughter…"
Gabriel turned away, unable to look.
Riguel remained still, his jaw tightening.
Sophia's eyes flickered toward Daniel.
But Daniel…
Didn't move.
Didn't speak.
His gaze was fixed on the ground.
Empty.
For the first time…
The reality truly settled.
Jade wasn't just unconscious.
She was… trapped.
Between waking up—And never coming back.