Nicholas’s condition is deteriorating

Nicholas froze, his body stiffening as though an icy grip had seized him. For a moment, it felt as if his heart had stopped entirely, his ears filled with a deafening ring. The words Elijah had spoken echoed in his mind, each syllable cutting deeper than the last. This man—his so-called father—was asking him to exploit Ava for a business deal.

"That's why you're here," Nicholas hissed, the tremors in his hands betraying his mounting frustration. "Not to save me. Not because you care. But because you see me as a pawn in your schemes."

Elijah didn't flinch. He folded his arms across his chest, his expression impassive. "Think whatever you want," he said with a shrug. Help me, and I'll make sure you get a suitable donor."

The room seemed to grow colder as Elijah's words settled. Nicholas's breath hitched, his expression shifting from anger to something darker—a mix of fury and disgust.

"Do you even hear yourself? Do you understand what you're saying?"