Snow's heart pounded as the doctor's words echoed in her head.

Lost? What is he talking about?

Her thoughts spun in circles.

She tried to make sense of what he meant, but her mind kept pulling back to the countless times he had said strange things to her, things she had brushed aside.

Now, as they walked together down the long hallway, every pair of eyes followed her. The air was heavy, thick with whispers and pity. She felt it pressing against her skin, crawling into her chest.

Why are they staring at me like this?she thought, her chest tightening.

Ignacio, her father, walked beside her stiffly, his face unreadable, but even he felt the tension in the room.

People couldn't help but murmur as they passed.

Chattering… murmurs…

"She finally woke up," one voice whispered.

"What is she going to do now?" another asked.

"I heard her brother took over everything."

The words cut like knives, even the ones they didn't say aloud. Snow could hear them all, every whispered word, every unspoken thought, pouring into her head like water from a broken dam.

She tried to shut it out, to push their voices away, but her abilities didn't work like that.

Filtering thoughts was impossible.They invaded her whether she wanted them or not.Her hands clenched at her sides, her jaw tight, but she said nothing.

When they finally reached the exit, her eyes caught sight of something that made her stop for a second.

Her father's car. Snow blinked hard.

He owns a car?

That wasn't possible. He had never owned one before. The only thing they had was the small, cramped mansion she had shared with her eleven siblings.

Ignacio could barely feed them all, and after her stepmother gave birth to the twelfth child, money had run out almost completely.

He had struggled to provide for his own flesh and blood, let alone her, the adopted one.

Her eyes scanned the sleek car again, her thoughts racing.How could he afford this? What changed?

Ignacio still hadn't said a word to her. His silence burned hotter than any insult could. His face was tight, full of disappointment, like she had failed him simply by breathing.

Then his phone rang. The screen lit up with a name she recognized instantly.

Adrian.

Her brother.

Snow's breath caught.

Adrian had always been her father's favorite, the golden child who could do no wrong.

Her father's face softened at the sight of his son's name. A small smile tugged at his lips as he answered.

"Adrian,"

he said warmly, his voice suddenly lighter, more alive.

"We'll be there soon."

He paused, then added,

"Tell your mother as well."

His eyes flicked to Snow briefly, cold and distant, before he hung up.

Snow's chest tightened again.Maybe he's taking me back to the competition.

she thought hopefully.

Maybe all this strangeness would make sense.

But when the car stopped, Snow's heart sank. She didn't recognize the place at all. It wasn't her school.

The unfamiliar building loomed over her, strange and unwelcoming.

Where… where is this place?

Waiting outside were two figures she knew too well, Kendra, her stepmother, and Adrian himself, standing proudly with a baby cradled in his arms.

Snow froze.

Kendra looked older, lines of time etched into her face, but her eyes were as sharp as ever.

Adrian, too, had changed, he looked taller, stronger, older, but the smugness in his expression hadn't faded.

"Welcome home," Kendra said smoothly, Snow's eyes darted between them.

Her stomach twisted.

"You're finally awake,"Adrian said suddenly, his voice carrying an edge she couldn't ignore.

Finally?

The word made her heart skip. She turned slowly, her wide eyes locking onto her father.

Adrian smirked faintly, studying her.

"You haven't changed a bit," he added.

Snow's head spun as she looked around again, trying to ground herself.

Her gaze drifted back to the baby in Adrian's arms.

The little one's soft face was unfamiliar, its tiny fists curling gently against Adrian's chest.

She had never seen this baby before.Her stare lingered too long, and Adrian noticed. With a proud smile, he decided to explain what she hadn't asked.

"This is AJ," he said softly, glancing down at the child with a tenderness Snow had never seen in him before.

He adjusted the baby gently in his arms.

"My son."

Snow's lips curved into a bitter smirk.

Her chest ached with something sharp.

Father has a car now and Adrian has a son.

Everyone has something new…Adrian's voice cut back into her thoughts.

"After you didn't wake up, we had to move on with our lives." His smirk deepened, like her confusion amused him.

Snow's stomach dropped.

Didn't wake up?

What is he talking about?

I just fainted a few minutes ago.

How could...Her father stepped forward, his tone heavy.

"We can talk about this later."

Snow reached out instinctively, grabbing at the air, her hand trembling.

She looked at Adrian again, her eyes demanding answers he had no problem giving.

Adrian chuckled darkly.

"It's all in the past now. Ten years of being in a coma is nothing compared to the humiliation you'll face from here on out."

He took a slow step forward, his smirk cutting into her like a blade.

"But don't worry. I'm here for you, dear sister." Snow's entire body froze.

The world around her blurred, the sounds fading into a dull hum.

Ten years…Her lips parted, her breath trembling.

"I was in a coma?"

she whispered in her thoughts, the weight of the words crashing down on her like an avalanche.

For ten years?Her knees weakened, her hands trembling so badly she could barely hold herself up. The baby let out a soft cry in Adrian's arms, but Snow hardly heard it.