He bent closer immediately, his tall frame folding over hers, his hand tightening around hers in return while his thumb moved over her knuckles in slow, grounding circles that never quite stopped.
“I’m here,” he said, leaning in so closely his breath brushed her skin. “I’m not leaving you. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
But Juliet didn’t seem to truly register it. Her lashes fluttered weakly, her breathing coming in uneven, broken pulls of air, as if her mind kept slipping in and out of something darker than the room around her. She only held on tighter whenever her body jolted, her fingers refusing to release him even as her strength faded further with each passing second.
The stretcher moved under harsh hospital lights, the sound of hurried footsteps and rolling wheels filling the corridor as they rushed her forward.
A doctor walking beside them studied her briefly, then looked toward Cassian with a sharp, assessing glance as if trying to piece together the source of her panic.
“Did you break up with her?” he asked bluntly, his tone clipped with urgency. “She keeps saying you’re leaving her.”
Cassian’s head snapped up instantly.
The question hit something raw. His expression shifted at once, jaw tightening as disbelief flashed across his face, followed immediately by something protective and sharp. His grip on Juliet’s hand instinctively tightened.
“What?” His voice came out low at first, controlled by sheer restraint, but it hardened as he stepped closer without realizing it. “No. I’m not leaving her. We didn’t break up. I’m never breaking up with her.”
His eyes flicked back to Juliet’s face at once, taking in how pale and exhausted she looked, her lashes wet against her cheeks, her lips trembling slightly even as she drifted in and out of awareness.
The doctor held his gaze for a brief moment, then gave a short nod and signaled the team forward. Without further delay,the stretcher was pushed into the emergency room, the doors swinging open as bright white light swallowed Juliet away from view.
Chapter 26 A Dream
When Juliet finally stirred again, it was not sudden but slow, like she was rising through something heavy and distant that didn’t want to release her. Her lashes fluttered once, then again, before lifting fully as she drew in a faint, unsteady breath, her senses struggling to settle into the unfamiliar brightness above her.
The ceiling was white. Clean.
Her head turned slightly on the pillow, heavy and disoriented, and it took her a moment too long to understand where she was. The faint scent of antiseptic, the distant beeping of machines, the soft rustle of movement somewhere nearby—all of it slowly pulled her back into awareness.
Hospital.
Confusion crept into her expression as her gaze drifted sideways, unfocused at first, then slowly sharpening.
A few feet away, Cassian stood beside one of the chairs, completely unaware that she was awake. He had just grabbed a shirt from the back of the chair and was pulling it on, his broad shoulders flexing as he slid one arm and then the other into the sleeves.
Juliet's sleepy eyes instantly widened.
The morning light streaming through the window fell perfectly over him, outlining every hard line of his tall, muscular frame. His arms stretched as he adjusted the shirt over his shoulders, the movement making the muscles beneath his skin ripple effortlessly. A thin trail of dark hair disappeared beneath the waistband of his pants, drawing her gaze lower before she could stop herself.
Heat rushed to her face.
Cassian began buttoning his shirt, his long fingers moving from one button to the next with practiced ease. Juliet watched every movement, her heart beating a little faster despite herself. Annoyance and anger still lingered inside her, yet none of it stopped her from appreciating the unfairly attractive man standing in front of her.
As if sensing her gaze, Cassian tucked the last part of his shirt into his pants and turned around.
Their eyes met.
He immediately stilled.
For a brief second, neither of them spoke.
Then, to Juliet's immense satisfaction, a faint flush crept across his face.
"You're awake already," he said, clearing his throat.
Without waiting for her response, he quickly turned away and busied himself adjusting his cuffs, acting as though she hadn't just caught him half-dressed.
Juliet bit the inside of her cheek, barely stopping herself from laughing at his obvious embarrassment.
