The sun filtered gently through the sheer curtains of the VIP suite, casting golden light across the polished floors and soft beige walls. The beeping machines were gone now, replaced by a peaceful hum of quietude.

Katherine, seated in a cushioned chair by the window, sipped slowly from a cup of tea while staring out at the New York skyline. Her face, once marred with bruises and swelling, had begun to regain its natural shape. A faint scar lingered at her temple, subtle yet permanent. ...