LII

Hurried footsteps padded across the squeaky clean floor, the noise echoing and bouncing off the walls of the hospital's hallway as Emerald ran down the long and broad space with Jordan in tow, their flip flops slapping against the shiny white tiled floors.

They paid no heed to one of the rules held with utmost importance in the hospital; no running in the halls.

Unruly strands of Emerald's hair wisped into her eyes from her loosely tied up messy bun as she raced down the hallways in nothing but her silk pajamas with a thick trench coat thrown over and towards the pacing figure of her stepfather, who was being calmed and assured by her stepsister — an action that didn't seem to be helping much as Luca continued to pace, even going further to chew on his fingernails.

Finally approaching the duo, Emerald came to a sliding halt, only distractedly giving Jordan a grateful yet absentminded pat on his arm, which he had sw