CHAPTER 22 WAKING UP

The minutes dragged into hours, and the hours dragged into a full day, as Madison clung to life by a thread. Michael kept vigil by her bedside, his eyes fixed on her pale, motionless face as he silently pleaded for her to wake up. Outside, the city continued to buzz and hum, but inside the hospital room, time seemed to stand still. "She's still stable," the doctor said, his voice measured and serious. "It's too soon to say for sure, but she may be pulling through." While Madison fought for her life in the hospital, word of the events that had transpired in New York City spread like wildfire across the globe. In Ethiopia, Hunter was sitting in his office when he received a call from his assistant. "Hunter, there's been an incident," she said, her voice trembling with anxiety. "Madison O'Connor has been hospitalized. We're not sure what happened, but Michael Knight is there with her." Hunter felt his heart drop to his stomach. "Get me on the next flight to Ethiopia," he said, his