CHAPTER 170

Elijah’s POV

I stood outside Julia's hospital room, taking a deep breath before entering. My mind raced with thoughts of how to approach her delicately, how to reassure her that I cared deeply for her but only as a sister. It was a conversation I was dreading, especially now with everything she was going through.

As I pushed the door open, Julia's cries filled the room. She was inconsolable, her emotions swinging wildly from fear to anger to moments of sweetness. “Julia,” I said softly, approaching her bedside. “I'm here. It's going to be okay.”

She looked up at me with tear-streaked cheeks, her eyes filled with a mix of desperation and accusation. “You're tired of me, aren't you? You don't want to take care of me anymore,” she sobbed.

“No, Julia, that's not true,” I replied gently, sitting down beside her and taking her hand. “I care about you so much. You're like family to me.”

Her expression softened briefly, and she squeezed my hand. “I know you do, Elijah. I'm sorry for being lik