Page 101 of The Broken Keys

Nothing about this makes sense, and everything about it has me bracing for the worst possible situation.

Is this where she tells me I don’t stand a chance? Is this where she tells me goodbye?

Jaxon growls low as the doctor motions forward.

“Yeah.” The word scrapes out, and I nod. “I’m ready.”

Dr. Smith pushes the door open and gestures for me to enter. I step into her room.

Jaxon moves into the opening behind the curtain. His expression is unreadable, but his arms cross over his chest and he glares my way.

Our eyes meet for half a second, and something passes between us. Maybe it’s mutual understanding that Livianna’s health matters more than whatever war we’re waging.

The room is dim, clean, and overwhelming. Machines hum quietly in the background. The blue drape Dr. Smith mentioned surrounds her bed like a shield, blocking her from view.

My boots are heavy against the linoleum as I cross the space between the door and where she lies. My pulse hammers as I reach the edge of the fabric and pull it aside just enough to slip through.

The sight of her steals my breath and shatters what’s left of my composure. I have to take a deep breath to steady myself.

Livianna lies motionless in the hospital bed, her face pale and bruised. Dark lashes rest against her cheeks. Bandageswrap around her head, and an IV snakes from her arm to a bag hanging beside her.

She’s so small, so breakable, like one wrong word could ruin her. The air in my lungs leaves me as I move closer.

This situation is gonna break her. God, I hope she doesn’t ask me about her baby. I pray she doesn’t collapse like she did when she lost ours.

No. Don’t go there. Not now.

I sink into the chair beside her bed and reach for her hand. Her skin is cool beneath my palm, soft and still. I brush my thumb over her knuckles as I lean forward, bringing her hand to my lips.

“I’m here, Lily.” The words come out rough and broken. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

Her eyelids flutter.

My pulse picks up as her lashes lift, revealing those blue eyes I’ve been drowning in since we were kids. Confusion clouds her gaze as she blinks up at the ceiling, then at me.

“Callum?” Her voice is hoarse, barely above a whisper.

“Yeah, it’s me.” I tighten my grip on her hand, terrified she’ll slip away again. “You’re okay. You’re safe.”

Her brows furrow as if she’s trying to process where she is. “Did I miss your birthday party?”

Her question has my thoughts tripping over each other, and my mind scrambles to make sense of it.

Birthday party? My birthday was in December and it’s late April. What the hell is she talking about?

“Why would you think you missed my party?” I keep my voice gentle, careful not to let the confusion bleed through.

“Because I’m in the hospital and you were having a twentieth birthday party.” Her fingers squeeze mine weakly. “Bren and I planned to surprise you, but I ruined it, didn’t I? I was supposed to meet you in Jersey, in your hotel suite, and now I’m here instead.”

Jersey. My twentieth birthday. That was over five years ago.

My stomach drops, but I force my expression to stay neutral. “Lily, you didn’t ruin anything.”

“I did, though.” Her eyes well up and a tear slides down her temple. “I wanted to do something special for you, but now everything’s messed up. Are you missing concerts because of me? Is Leon pissed I’m in Jersey?”

Leon. She’s talking about Leon Baker like we’re still under his label, like I didn’t get him off my back with my secret blackmail I have over him. She doesn’t know anything about Leon, but she knows I started my own label.

What the hell is going on?