The doctor stepped into the room quickly, his eyes going straight to Adrian's wound.
"Lay him back carefully," he instructed.
Lucy helped without thinking, her hands steady even though her heart wasn't.
Adrian sat down on the edge of the bed, his gaze never leaving her face.
"Sir, I need space to examine you," the doctor said.
Lucy stepped back slightly.
But not far.
The doctor reached for Adrian's shoulder.
"Let me see the wound—"
Adrian didn't move.
"Sir…" the doctor tried again.
Still nothing.
His eyes were on Lucy.
"Stay," he said quietly.
Lucy blinked.
"What?"
"Don't move," Adrian added.
The doctor paused, confused.
"Sir, I need her to step aside—"
"No," Adrian said calmly.
The room went silent.
Lucy looked at him, unsure.
"Adrian… let him treat you."
"I am letting him," he replied.
"While you stay here."
Her brows frowned slightly.
"You're being difficult."
A faint smirk touched his lips despite the pain.
"You're the one who started shouting earlier."
Lucy glared at him.
"That's because you came back looking like this!"
"Exactly," he said softly.
"And now you're not going anywhere."
The doctor cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Can we continue?"
Lucy sighed and moved just a little closer instead of stepping away.
"I'm here," she said quietly.
That was enough.
Adrian leaned back slightly.
"Go ahead."
The doctor finally began.
Lucy stood beside him, her eyes fixed on every movement.
Every touch.
Every reaction.
Her fingers tightened slightly at her side when Adrian's jaw tensed from the pain.
"Does it hurt?" she asked softly.
Adrian looked at her.
"It's nothing."
She didn't believe him.
"Stop lying," she muttered.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
The doctor continued cleaning the wound carefully.
"Deep cut," he said. "You're lucky."
Lucy's chest tightened at those words.
Adrian noticed.
"You're overreacting," he said quietly.
Lucy shot him a look.
"Say that again and I'll leave."
Adrian's expression changed immediately.
"You won't," he said.
She raised a brow.
"Try me."
After a while, the doctor finished bandaging the wound.
"You need rest," he said, packing his things.
"And no sudden movements."
Adrian didn't respond.
The doctor glanced at Lucy.
"Make sure he listens."
Lucy nodded slightly.
"I will."
The doctor left.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
Lucy finally exhaled and stepped back a little.
"You're impossible," she said.
Adrian leaned back against the bed.
"Took you long enough to notice."
She folded her arms.
"You almost died and you're joking?"
"I didn't die," he replied calmly.
"That's not the point!"
He looked at her.
Really looked.
"You called me your man," he said.
Lucy froze.
Her face changed instantly.
"Don't start—"
"So I heard correctly."
She turned away.
"You were half dead, you shouldn't even remember that."
The room fell quiet again.
Lucy focused on what she was doing, cleaning the dried blood from his arm like it was the only thing that mattered.
Not him.
Not the way he was looking at her.
Just the task.
"You're still here," Adrian said quietly.
Lucy didn't look up.
"Don't read meaning into it," she replied calmly.
"You're injured. That's all."
A pause.
Adrian studied her face carefully.
"You could have left."
This time she looked at him.
Her eyes were steady.
"I wanted to," she said.
That landed heavier than anything else.
"But I'm not heartless," she added.
"I won't watch someone bleed and walk away."
Her words were clear.
No softness hidden in them.
Adrian's grip on her wrist tightened slightly.
Not forceful.
But enough to stop her from moving away.
Lucy looked down at his hand.
Then back at him.
"Let go."
He didn't.
"Adrian."
His eyes stayed on hers.
"Say it again," he said quietly.
She frowned. "Say what?"
"That I'm not your man."
Silence.
Lucy's jaw tightened.
"That's not what I said," she replied.
"Then what did you say?" he pressed.
Her patience snapped slightly.
"I said don't twist my words," she said firmly.
"And don't act like one moment changes anything."
That hit.
But Adrian didn't show it.
Instead, a faint smile touched his lips.
"It changed something," he said.
Lucy pulled her hand away this time.
"No," she replied, standing up.
"It didn't."
She stepped back, creating distance between them again.
"You're still the same man," she continued.
"The one who does things without asking… without thinking."
Her voice dropped slightly.
"And I'm still the same person who didn't want things to happen like that."
Silence filled the room.
Adrian didn't interrupt her this time.
Lucy turned slightly, avoiding his gaze again.
"I'm only here because you're hurt," she said quietly.
"Don't expect anything more from me."
That line stayed between them.
Heavy.
Clear.
Adrian leaned back slowly, his eyes still on her.
"Fine," he said.
But his tone didn't sound like agreement.
It sounded like patience.
And that was more dangerous.
Lucy sat back down again, but this time with space between them.
She continued what she was doing.
Quiet.
Focused.