The nurse was helping Diana feed the soup. Max stood beside her, tense and silent, having been rebuffed earlier when he tried to feed Diana himself. Diana had clearly told him no, and so the nurse stepped in to assist. The atmosphere in the room was thick with unspoken tension. The nurse, a silent witness, had arrived just after Max and Diana had a heated exchange, and now the air was heavy with discomfort.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Ben entered the chamber. His presence ...