Vaughn's weak but reassuring smile couldn't mask the tension in the room. "Hey," he said softly, his voice filled with warmth. "You should be sleeping."
Eliza returned his smile, her heart swelling with love. "I could say the same to you," she teased, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead.
Just then, Vaughn's phone rang, shattering the moment of peace.
He glanced at the screen and saw it was a call from home... his mother. A worried expression crossed his face.
"Is everything alright?" Eliza asked, noticing his change in demeanor.
Vaughn nodded, though his eyes betrayed his concern. "Yeah," he said, picking up the phone. "Hello, Mom."
His mother's voice, filled with emotion, came through the speaker. "Hello, Vaughn. Are you alright?"
Vaughn glanced toward the door, guessing that Alexei or Nikolas must have informed his parents about the accident.
His expression darkened.
