**Stefano’s POV**

For three weeks, the hospital room had been our entire world. The doctors told me Elena was ready to go home after the first ten days, but I refused to believe them. I couldn't take any chances with her life, not again. I paid for the best suite in the building and hired a round-the-clock guard in the hallway. I needed to be absolutely sure she was fully healed before she stepped back into the outside world.

I sat in a chair by her bed, focused on a small bowl of fruit. "The ...