Grace POV

Ethan leaves me to rest. His footsteps fading down the corridor. The door closing softly.

Finally alone. Finally safe. Finally able to stop holding myself together.

Exhaustion crashes over me. Complete. Overwhelming.

The battle. The injury. The revelation about my parentage. The reconciliation with Ethan.

All of it drains away the last reserves of energy I've been running on.

I collapse into bed. Don't even remove my clothes ...