Sophia Laurent stared blankly at the stark white ceiling, her eyes terrifyingly empty.

Ethan Sullivan studied her for a long moment before sighing softly and turning away.

In the hallway, his voice turned icy as he addressed the bodyguard. "Stand watch here. Twenty-four hours."

The bodyguard snapped to attention. "Yes, Mr. Sullivan!"

Inside the black Maybach, his assistant handed him a file. "We've apprehended her, sir. Scarlet Lombardi—Tony Lombardi's younger sister. She'd been posing as a food delivery worker, staking out the antique district for an entire week."

Ethan's elegant fingers tightened around the documents until they crackled.

"Take me to her."

In an abandoned warehouse, Scarlet was bound to a chair with ropes.

She lifted her head defiantly, her eyes mirroring her brother's vicious glare.

Ethan unbuttoned his suit jacket with deliberate grace and took a seat opposite her.

"Do you know why you're here?"

Scarlet spat. "That bitch got my brother locked up!"

Ethan suddenly grabbed the glass ashtray from the table and hurled it at her.

Crash!

Shards exploded in all directions.

Scarlet screamed as blood welled from her forehead.

His assistant kicked the back of her knees, forcing her onto the broken glass.

Her agonized shrieks echoed through the warehouse.

Ethan looked down at her impassively. "Was it this hand that touched Sophia?"

Understanding immediately, his assistant stomped on Scarlet's right hand with brutal force.

"Mercy! I was wrong!" Tears and snot streamed down Scarlet's contorted face.

Ethan adjusted his cuffs with slow precision. "Break it."

A sickening snap cut off Scarlet's screams—she'd passed out from the pain.

——

In the hospital room, Sophia curled into herself on the bed, her injured fingers swollen and shiny.

Ethan gently took her icy hand.

"Don't be afraid."

Suddenly, she clutched his sleeve like a lifeline.

That tiny movement sent a jolt through Ethan's heart.

He leaned down and pulled her into his arms. "I'm here."

An abrupt knock interrupted them.

Dr. Julian Evans stood in the doorway holding white roses. "I heard Miss Laurent was injured."

Ethan's gaze turned arctic. "Your concern is unnecessary."

Unfazed, Julian walked straight to the bed to examine Sophia's wounds.

"The淤血 needs draining." He produced a silver needle with professional efficiency.

Ethan seized his wrist. "You'd better have a medical license."

Julian flashed his credentials before skillfully treating Sophia's injuries.

"I'll return tomorrow to change the dressing." His parting glance at Ethan carried unspoken meaning.

——

Late at night, the hospital was silent.

Ethan wrung out a warm towel and gently wiped Sophia's face.

"I can do it..." She weakly tried to pull away.

"Stay still." His voice was firm yet tender as he held her in place. "Remember how you used to care for me?"

When the towel reached her waist, Sophia's ears turned scarlet.

Ethan chuckled low in his throat. "Shy?"

In the end, he called a female nurse to finish cleaning her.

——

At 3 AM, Sophia trembled from nightmares.

"Kyle..." she murmured unconsciously.

Ethan went rigid.

His arms tightened around her as he gritted near her ear, "You heartless little thing."

Moonlight slipped through the curtains, glistening on Sophia's tear-damp lashes.

Ethan watched her for a long time before finally sighing in resignation.