Chapter 201: A New Understanding

The clock on the wall ticked slowly, each passing minute stretching into an eternity as Mariana and Drew's parents waited anxiously outside the operating room. Eight hours had elapsed since Drew had been wheeled into surgery, each moment filled with a sense of apprehension that hung heavy in the air. Just as the tension threatened to become unbearable, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. Drew's agent, a tall, wiry man with a perpetually harried expression, appeared, his presence a brief flicker in the otherwise static scene. He exchanged a few hurried words with Charles and the others before rushing off, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions. A collective sigh of relief swept through the hallway as the doctor emerged, her expression weary but triumphant. "The surgery was a success," she announced, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Drew is stable and resting comfortably." Mariana felt a wave of relief wash over her, threatening to engulf her in