Mason's eyes remained locked on Cassandra's, both of them unwilling to break the silent tension that hung heavily between them.
After his firm statement, Cassandra huffed and finally stepped into the hospital room where the doctor and Laura were waiting.
"What's really going on here?" Cassandra demanded, her voice sharp and laced with frustration. "Why were they trying to stop me from coming in?"
The doctor raised his hands gently, trying to calm her down.
"Please relax, miss. These are Mr. Bernard's orders, and there's nothing I can do about them. If they believe Maria's life might be in danger by any means, it's my duty to follow the security measures put in place. I understand your concern, but please bear with the situation."
The doctor's calm explanation softened Cassandra's anger a little. Her shoulders dropped, though the heaviness in her chest didn't go away. Slowly, she walked closer to Maria's bed.
