Isabelle’s expression froze, her breath catching as if the ground had shifted beneath her feet. For a moment, the hospital ward seemed too quiet except for the faint beep of the monitor and Ryan’s small, stubborn voice still echoing in her head.

She forced herself to keep her tone steady. “Ryan, don’t talk like that. This is something for adults to—”

But he cut her off, his voice rising in a wobbly cry. “No! You’re bad! Mommy Tiffany’s nice to me, and you’re always ...