Nicole's blood ran cold. Nobody knew she was here. Nobody except...Rachel Fletcher.Had Xavier's mother been having her followed? Was this some kind of test to see if Nicole would really stay away?Before she could process this new complication, a soft sound from the bed made her look up. Her mother's eyes were fluttering, the first sign of consciousness Nicole had seen in weeks."Mom?" Nicole dropped the phone and leaned forward, taking her mother's hand. "Mom, can you hear me?"Her mother's eyes opened slowly, unfocused at first, then gradually finding Nicole's face. A weak smile crossed her lips."Nicole?" Her voice was barely a whisper, rough from disuse. "Baby, you came back.""I never left, Mom. I've been right here."Her mother's eyes roamed the room, taking in the machines, the hospital bed, the reality of her situation. But instead of fear, Nicole saw something that looked almost like relief in her expression."How long?" her mother asked."You've been unconscious for two we
Last Updated : 2025-09-25 Read more