You look drained."

Gerard's deep-set eyes, shadowed by dark circles, glanced up. "I'm fine," he replied tersely.

Calvin hesitated again before speaking. "The headquarters at home has been seeking your guidance."

They had anticipated a brief trip, but circumstances had prolonged their stay, and pressing matters at the headquarters awaited Gerard's attention.

"If it's manageable online, then address it that way," Gerard instructed, his tone icy.

Calvin simply nodded in affirmation, stealing a glance at the unmoving figure of Lilah.

The weight of the situation bore heavily on him; he wondered how much longer they could sustain this vigil if she didn't awaken.

“Anything else?" Gerard's icy gaze met Calvin's.

Feeling the brunt of that cold stare, Calvin involuntarily shuddered.

"No," he quickly replied, "I'll be on my way."

Once outside the ward, Calvin took a deep breath. His boss was becoming more terrifying.

Lost in thought, Gerard barely managed to focus on the paperwork.

Every time he looked at Lilah's still form, a pang of pain shot through his heart. He wished desperately for some sign, any sign, of her waking up.

After what felt like hours, Gerard had barely sifted through a fraction of the paperwork.

The weight of his exhaustion became too much to bear by midnight. He tenderly held Lilah's hand for a while, his gaze lingering on her face. Eventually, he lay down beside the bed, hoping for a brief respite.

But even then, rest was elusive, as he felt a splitting headache.

Suddenly, he felt someone push him.

A surge of elation rushed through Gerard as he lifted his gaze to see Lilah trying to move.

"Lilah," he uttered, choked with emotion.

He ached to envelop her in a comforting embrace but hesitated, wary of causing her any further pain. “Lilah, how are you feeling? I've been waiting for you," he whispered, eyes moist.

She regarded him with gentle warmth, her hand reaching up to caress his face.

"I heard you calling out to me, which made it hard to remain asleep," she teased. Her touch was light, her smile brighter than ever. "It seems you've been keeping vigil for quite a while, haven't you?"

Gerard's voice wavered with emotion. "All that matters is that you're awake now."

As he spoke, he felt a gentle pressure against his lips. He was caught off guard.