Chapter 16

The day of the surgery arrived before Serena knew it. She lay on the operating table, her body tense with nerves. Despite all her preparation, the anxiety still clung to her. She opened her mouth to speak but hesitated. Before she could say a single word, Julian stopped her. Smiling, he murmured, "Don't think about a thing. All you have to do is sleep." His words carried a strange comfort, as if laced with quiet magic. Serena nodded, drew a deep breath, and exhaled slowly, signaling that she was ready. The anesthetic seeped into her arm, and within seconds, a thick drowsiness enveloped her. Just before her vision darkened, she felt Julian lean in and kiss her forehead. He murmured something against her ear, but the words dissolved into haze as her eyelids grew too heavy to hold open. … When Serena woke, she was once again greeted by the familiar ceiling of Julian's home. Lately, it was the first thing she saw every time she opened her eyes. It meant that the surgery was finally