Alejandro was gone for nearly twenty-four hours.

“Ours?” she repeated quietly.

At that moment, Carmen entered with a tray, interrupting the tension. Alejandro stepped aside, but his glance drifted toward the IV pump. Carmen noticed immediately.

“Please don’t touch the equipment.”

“Relax,” he replied stiffly.

Later that afternoon, Alejandro was summoned to the medical director’s office.