Aylin tried to push through the doors, but a nurse stopped her. "Family only.

"I’m her sister," Aylin said firmly.

The nurse took a quick look at her clipboard, nodded, and stepped aside.

Aylin rushed in, with Zayden and Liam tagging along, even though the nurse said only family was allowed.

They found Ayla behind a curtain, all hooked up to monitors and still out cold. A middle-aged doctor who looked pretty capable was going over some charts nearby.

"Are you family?" the doctor asked Aylin.

"Yeah, I’m her sister. What’s going on?" Aylin said, her voice full of worry.

The doctor’s face got serious. "Your sister had a major nervous breakdown. Her vital signs are stable now, but when she came in, she was in really bad shape. Her heart rate was way too high, she was hyperventilating, and she didn’t respond at all to anything around her."

"But why did this happen?" Aylin asked, pushing for answers. "She was fine this morning."

"That’s what worries me," the doctor said. "This kind of reaction doesn’t usually happen out of nowhere. Something set her off, something that caused a huge psychological response." He paused to choose his words. "It looks like a PTSD reaction, especially the kind we see when old traumatic memories suddenly pop back up."

Zayden stepped in. "What does that mean, exactly?"

"It means," the doctor said slowly, "that your sister saw or went through something today that felt like an immediate threat to her, something that connected back to a past trauma she might not have even realized until now."

Aylin’s thoughts raced. "Ages ago, after our mom passed, Ayla was in our dad’s office when Mom... when it happened. She was only nine. The doctors mentioned she had blocked most of it out. They explained it was a way to protect her since she was so young."

"That happens a lot with childhood trauma," the doctor confirmed.

"Kids often shut away memories that are too hard to deal with. But sometimes, a trigger, a specific person, a certain sound, or even a place that feels similar, can break down those walls. When that happens, the memories come rushing back, and it feels like the person is living through the trauma all over again."

"Will she be okay?" Liam asked, his voice thick with feelings.

"Physically, yes. She’s already getting better." The doctor had a serious look on his face.

"But when it comes to her mental state? That’s not really my area. I strongly suggest getting her a psychiatric evaluation right away. She needs to talk to someone who specializes in trauma recovery to help her work through whatever she remembers in a safe way. Because if she doesn’t, "

"She could have another breakdown," Aylin finished, her voice sounding empty.

"Or even worse," the doctor said gently. "If childhood trauma like this doesn’t get treated, it can show up in some dangerous ways: self-harm, dissociative episodes, and in serious cases, a complete break from reality."

Aylin moved to sit next to her sister’s bed, holding Ayla’s limp hand. "We’ll get her the help she needs. The best therapists, whatever it takes."

The doctor nodded in approval. "Good. I’ll arrange for Dr. Rivera, our trauma specialist, to consult. She’s excellent and has a lot of experience with PTSD and repressed memories."

He jotted it down. "In the meantime, when your sister wakes up, she might be disoriented and scared. The memories will feel fresh. Just keep her calm. Don’t force her to talk about what happened; let her share in her own time with professional support."

"Got it," Aylin replied.

The doctor left, closing the curtain behind him for some privacy.

Aylin sank into the chair by Ayla’s bed, still holding on to her hand. "What did you see, little sister? What made everything come rushing back?"

Zayden placed a hand on Aylin’s shoulder, providing some comfort. "Whatever it is, we’ll face it together."

Liam stood at the foot of the bed, guilt all over his face. "I should’ve been closer. I should’ve noticed something was off before she collapsed—"

"This isn’t your fault," Aylin said firmly, looking at him. "Something stirred up a memory she had buried. It’s something none of us could have predicted or stopped."

But deep down, a troubling suspicion was forming in her mind.

What if Ayla saw him? Alexander. What if he was around campus, and she recognized him from... from when Mom passed away?

That thought sent a cold shiver down Aylin’s spine.

She looked down at her sister’s pale face, at the monitors beeping away, tracking her vital signs.

"Ayla was there," Aylin said softly, the realization crashing over her. "When Mom died. She was in Dad’s office. She was only nine."

She turned to Zayden, her golden-brown eyes wide with fear. "What if she saw Alexander? What if he was around when he poisoned Mom, and Ayla saw it?"

Zayden’s face hardened right away. "If she can point him out—"

"She becomes a witness," Aylin jumped in. "A liability he’ll want to take care of."

Liam looked pale. "You think he’ll come after her?"

"If he knows she remembers him?" Aylin’s tone was serious. "Yeah. Definitely."

Zayden was already pulling out his phone. "I’m ramping up security. We’ll have guards posted at the hospital room 24/7. No one gets in or out without my say-so."

"And what about when she’s released?" Liam asked.

"She’s staying at the mansion," Zayden replied firmly.

"With all-day protection. Emilia will be with her, and we’ll have armed guards on rotation. We have to treat this like Alexander could strike anytime."

"Because he could," Aylin said quietly.

She turned back to her unconscious sister, squeezing her hand. "I’ve got you."

She whispered fiercely. "Whatever you saw, whatever you remember, I’m here for you. We’ll make sure he can’t hurt anyone again."

Ayla’s fingers twitched a bit like she was responding to her sister’s voice.

But she didn’t wake up.

If Ayla wakes up, will she be brave enough to speak, or too terrified to survive?