Raegan was found curled on the floor, enshrouded in the deep blue blanket Mitchel had previously used.

Suddenly, with a loud snap, power surged back throughout the building.

Gazing at Raegan's frail, pale figure on the floor stirred a sharp pain in Mitchel's heart.

He knelt down and gently lifted her, her body so cold and rigid that her legs wouldn't bend. She was still breathing, her furrowed eyebrows indicating distress.

Taking a moment to collect himself, Mitchel stood up carefully.

Without his cane, he was unsteady on his feet.

He carefully shifted his weight onto his stronger leg, crouched to retrieve his cane, and propped it against the wall for support.

Struggling with his own physical limitations, Mitchel couldn't carry Raegan in his arms. Instead, he draped her over his shoulder, supporting most of her weight, and used one hand to stabilize himself with his cane as they made their way to the elevator.

Inside the elevator, he pressed the button for the first floor.

As the elevator doors slid open, Matteo was already there with an ambulance team and a stretcher, prepared to assist.

The medical team quickly took charge of Raegan, transferring her to the stretcher as Mitchel looked on, following them out with heavy steps.

Matteo, trailing behind, was engulfed in silence, his face etched with guilt. It was his invitation to Raegan that had led to her accidental confinement in Mitchel's office amid plummeting temperatures. If Mitchel hadn't found Raegan, and if assumptions had been made that she wasn't in Mitchel's office, the consequences might have been dire, beyond any hope of timely rescue.

The ambulance reached the hospital where Aurora's medical facilities, well-equipped for frostbite, quickly set to work.

Using specialized equipment, they rapidly warmed Raegan's body, though stabilizing her temperature was only the first step. The recovery from frostbite was slow, and they had to remain vigilant for any signs of fever or other complications.

Erick rushed to the hospital soon after. Despite understanding that this was accidental, frustration and concern clouded his expression.

The thought of his sister suffering stirred deep anxiety. How would he ever explain such a situation to their parents?

Erick recalled the day Raegan was born. Their mother had gently linked his small hand with Raegan's, asking, "Erick, can you help me look after your sister?"

Gazing down at Raegan, then a tiny, endearing infant, Erick's heart had swelled with brotherly love. He had energetically nodded, vowing aloud, "I will protect my sister for a lifetime."

This was a promise Erick had always strived to fulfill.

Throughout the years of Raegan's absence, there wasn't a single day Erick didn't feel consumed by worry, nor could he truly find happiness. It was only upon being reunited with Raegan that he allowed himself a genuine smile, the first since her disappearance.