The doctor came and left.
The room returned to silence.
Lucy lay on the bed, still, her breathing steady but weak.
Her face was pale.
Tears still dried along her cheeks.
Adrian hadn't moved.
Not once.
He stood beside the bed at first.
Then slowly sat down.
Closer.
Close enough to hear every breath she took.
The doctor's words still echoed in his head.
"She is under a lot of emotional stress. You need to be careful with her."
Careful.
Adrian let out a quiet breath.
His hand rested on his knee.
Clenched.
Unclenched.
For once
he didn't know what to do.
The door opened softly.
Elena walked in.
Her heels clicked lightly against the floor.
Calm.
Unbothered.
She looked at Lucy first.
Then at Adrian.
"She fainted?" she asked.
Adrian didn't answer.
Elena stepped closer.
Her eyes moved over Lucy's face.
Observing.
Studying.
"She looks fragile," she said quietly.
Still no response from Adrian.
Elena crossed her arms slowly.
"You didn't tell me she was this… emotional."
That word lingered.
Adrian finally spoke.
"Watch your words, Elena."
His voice was low.
Controlled.
But colder now.
Elena raised a brow slightly.
"Oh? Now you care how I speak?"
A small pause.
She took another step closer.
Not afraid.
Never afraid.
"This is exactly what I meant," she continued.
"You've changed."
Adrian's eyes lifted to her.
Sharp.
"I didn't ask for your opinion."
Elena smiled faintly.
"You never do."
Silence filled the room again.
Her gaze returned to Lucy.
Then back to him.
"You know what people are saying?" she asked softly.
Adrian didn't respond.
But his attention didn't leave her.
"They're saying she's a weakness."
"That you're distracted."
Another step closer.
"That you're losing control."
Adrian stood up slowly.
The movement alone changed the air.
"Enough," he said.
Elena didn't step back.
Instead, she leaned in slightly.
Closer to his space.
"Is it not true?" she asked.
Adrian's voice dropped.
Lower.
More dangerous.
"Say one more word about her," he said quietly,
"and you won't leave this house the way you came in."
Silence.
For the first time
Elena stopped smiling.
She studied him.
Carefully.
Then she let out a soft breath.
"I see," she said.
A small nod.
"So it's like that."
She stepped back.
Slowly.
"I'll leave," she added.
"But this won't stay between us, Adrian."
She glanced at Lucy one last time.
"People are watching."
Then she turned.
And walked out.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
Adrian stood still for a moment.
Then slowly turned back to the bed.
Lucy hadn't moved.
Still lying there.
Eyes closed.
He walked closer.
Sat down again.
This time, closer than before.
His hand moved slowly.
Almost hesitant.
Then he brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
Soft.
Careful.
"You always cry too much," he muttered quietly.
His voice was different now.
"You don't even give me a chance to fix things."
A pause.
He looked at her.
Longer this time.
"You say I'm ignoring you…"
A quiet breath left him.
"…but you don't even know why."
His fingers lingered near her cheek.
Not touching fully.
Just there.
"If I stay away, you complain."
Another pause.
"If I come close…"
He stopped.
Didn't finish.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"I can't win with you, Lucy."
But his voice wasn't angry.
Just… heavy.
He leaned back slightly in the chair.
Still watching her.
"Do you even know what you do to me?" he asked quietly.
Silence.
He let out a soft, almost tired laugh.
"Of course you don't."
"I was trying to stay away."
He looked at her again.
"Because the closer I get…"
A pause.
"…the harder it is to let you go."
Silence filled the room again.
Lucy's fingers twitched slightly under the blanket.
Almost unnoticeable.