Chapter 696 The Rise of a Leader

When I returned to Erewhon the next day, it all felt like a dream. I hadn't gone back to my home country—it was just a figment of my imagination. I dreamed Alisa had her baby, and I dreamed I was there. But when I turned on my phone and saw Jack's messages, reality came crashing back. Alisa had been hit over the head with a wine bottle by Amelia and still hadn't regained consciousness. The bleeding in her brain wasn't severe, and the doctors didn't recommend surgery, but no one knew when—or if—she would wake up. Staring at the photo Jack sent of Alisa hooked up to an oxygen mask, my chest felt tight like someone was squeezing my heart. Astrid tried to comfort me, patting my shoulder. "Don't overthink it. She'll be fine—she's tough. You know what they say—only the good die young. She's just taking a break. Give her a couple of days, and she'll be back to her usual loud self," Astrid added, her tone uncharacteristically serious. I wanted to believe her, but deep down, I kn