Chapter 49 Under Careful Hands
“Stay put,” Roman said.
Evelyn didn’t move. She sat stiffly on the edge of the bed, trying not to look at the spots where her skin still burned. Every time she shifted, her palm throbbed, and the sting along her side and thighs flared like a warning.
Roman walked out.
For a few seconds, the room felt too quiet. Evelyn swallowed, forcing herself to breathe evenly. She hated feeling helpless. Hated waiting.
Then he came back.
He was carrying a hard, black case—bigger than any first aid kit she’d ever seen. The corners were reinforced, the latches silver, the whole thing looking more like medical equipment than something a normal person kept at home.
Roman set it on the bed beside her.
Evelyn sucked in a breath when he lifted the fabric of her clothes to expose the damage. Pain shot through her in hot, stinging waves. Her face scrunched. Her eyes watered instantly, lashes trembling as she fought not to make a sound.
“It stings,” she whispered, voice cracking.
“I know.” Roman’s brows pulled together. His hands didn’t shake. “Sorry, baby.”
He flipped open the kit.
And for a second, Evelyn forgot about the pain.
Her mouth fell open in a soft gasp.
It wasn’t a normal first aid kit at all.
Inside were compartments arranged with meticulous order, each holding medical tools she didn’t recognize—smooth metal instruments, dark glass pieces that caught the light, pen-like devices with narrow tips, small handheld tools with faint indicator lights along their sides. There were rows of tiny vials, clear liquid in some, faintly tinted in others.
And needles—so thin they looked almost invisible—sealed in transparent cases. Beside them lay patches like translucent film, folded perfectly, and strips of dark bandage material that looked nothing like gauze.
Evelyn swallowed, staring.
Roman didn’t hesitate. He reached in like he knew exactly where everything was.
“ Your hand,” he said softly.
He steadied her first, and wiped her palm slowly—clearing away grit, blood, and whatever had embedded itself in the torn skin. Then he leaned closer, eyes narrowed with focus, and used a slim metal tool to lift out the tiny shards of glass one by one.
Evelyn sucked in a sharp breath every time he pulled one out. Her fingers twitched, her whole body wanting to yank away, but he kept her steady.
“Easy,” he murmured, voice low. “I’ve got you.”
When he moved to her thigh, his touch softened even further—as if he could feel how sensitive it was. He cleaned the area thoroughly, jaw tightening every time she flinched. Then he removed the fragments lodged in her skin with the same controlled efficiency.
Watching him work so fast and efficiently, Evelyn remembered the news she’d seen online:
Roman Sinclair.
Course of study: Neuroscience and Experimental Medicine.
Then she asked a question that had been on her mind.
“Roman?” she said, watching him, her voice small in the quiet room. “If you were a doctor… why did you switch to business?”
His hands stilled for just a fraction of a second over the last shard. Then he continued, applying a cool, clear patch that sealed the small wounds with a faint adhesive smell.
He remained quiet.
Evelyn blinked, a little thrown off.
Maybe he hadn’t heard. Thinking he hadn’t heard, she opened her mouth to ask again.
“Ro—”
Ring ring ring!
Her phone vibrated sharply on the bedside table, its familiar ringtone filling the room.
Evelyn turned her head, spotting it immediately.
Roman immediately got up to help her get it. She didn't notice, but the moment the phone rang, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He handed it to her, and when Evelyn saw the caller ID, her mouth curved into a smile.
The voice at the other end called out hesitatingly.
Evelyn frowned slightly, because Lena was not one to say ‘hello?’ in a phone call. She just goes straight into any conversation.
Evelyn raised one of her eyebrows. “What happened to you?”
“Well,” Lena said, suddenly finding her voice, “look who decided to pick my call this time around.”
“Wh—”
Lena cut her off instantly. “Have you seen the news? Like… the latest news?”
Evelyn frowned, still confused. “Since when did you start watching the news…?”
A laugh crackled through the line. “Since Maya managed to make it onto national television, following her downfall and miscarriage.”
Evelyn’s eyes flew wide. She tried to stand up instinctively, but a warm, rough hand wrapped around her ankle, holding her gently in place. She looked over at Roman, who was calmly reorganizing his mysterious kit.
“Hello? You still there?” Lena pressed.
Yeah… sorry, what?” Evelyn managed, her mind reeling.
“Yes,” Lena confirmed with a snicker. “You heard me right. Apparently she fell down the stairs and lost her three-month pregnancy.”
Lena scoffed. “But considering your sister? I don’t buy that. She probably threw herself down when her little Sinclair-family trick didn’t work, and her lover boy went broke and abandoned overnight.” The last part came in a mocking baby voice.
Evelyn’s lips twitched, a smile fighting to break free.
“Wow,” she muttered. “Retribution going hard these days, innit?”
She wasn’t a saint.
And she wasn’t going to pretend to be one.
“Careful,” Roman said calmly without looking up. “Don’t move too much.”
Evelyn felt his gaze flick to her—sharp, and assessing—before returning to his work.
Evelyn cleared her throat, suddenly self-conscious. “Right. Sorry.” she said, lowering her voice instinctively.
On the other end of the line, Lena laughed. “Oop—am I interrupting something?”
“She is,” Roman said flatly, his eyes moving to her palm. As much as he felt slightly relieved for the incoming call, he couldn't help but feel slightly irritated when he remembered their quiet moments kept getting interrupted one way or the other.
The line went quiet for half a second.
“…Oh,” Lena said slowly. “I see.”
Evelyn shot Roman a look, which he ignored.
“Anyway,” Lena continued, amusement bubbling again, “girl, it’s the middle of summer and karma is out here serving freezing-cold dishes.”
Evelyn let out a breathy laugh. “You sound way too happy about this.”
“I am happy,” Lena snapped. “You need to get back online. The internet is on fire. Drama everywhere.”
Evelyn shook her head slightly. “I’ve been… kinda distracted from the internet.”
“Clearly,” Lena scoffed. “Because you missed the Hayes family imploding.”
Evelyn stilled. “Imploding how?”
“They’re in trouble. Investments crashing. Lawsuits left and right. Sponsors pulling out.” Lena paused like she was savoring it. “They’re bleeding money, Eve. It’s only a matter of time.”
Something tight in Evelyn’s chest loosened—just a little. She didn’t feel joy. But she didn’t feel sorry either.
“And before you interrupt,” Lena added smugly, “let me drop the final bombshell.”
Evelyn braced herself. “Lena—”
“Nathan,” Lena said, savoring the name, “is getting offers. From porn sites.”
Evelyn blinked once.
Then again.
“…You’re joking.”
“I wish.” Lena burst out laughing. “Apparently his ‘aesthetic’ is in demand because of the live porn video I released. At this rate, he’ll be filming by the end of the year.”
A laugh slipped out of Evelyn before she could stop it. She covered her mouth, eyes watering for an entirely different reason.
“That’s—wow. I never really thought you’d actually release it. I couldn’t!”
“That’s why you need a friend like me,” Lena declared proudly, still snickering. “And girl… I don’t know what you did.”
Evelyn’s gaze drifted to Roman.
He had paused.
He was watching her quietly now, expression unreadable, eyes dark and steady.
“But karma?” Lena continued. “Karma adores you.”
“Wha—”
Evelyn’s eyes drifted to Roman, who was now watching her silently, his expression unreadable.
At that moment, Roman walked over, popped a small pill into her mouth, and took the phone from her hand, ending the call mid-Lena.
“Painkillers. Swallow,” he said, handing her a glass of water. “It’s too early for that much gossip.”
“I’m not gossiping,” she protested. “Maya got into an unfortunate accident. She had a miscarriage.”
Her eyes gleamed when she said it—because she hated that part of herself, and also because she didn’t.
Roman took the glass from her. “Maya…” He frowned slightly. “Who?”
Evelyn stared, speechless.
“Maya,” she repeated slowly. “My stepsister. The one your nephew cheated on me with…?”
“Oh,” Roman said, his tone utterly dismissive. “That boy has bad taste in the kind of women he fucks with.”
Evelyn’s face heated instantly. Roman didn’t swear often around her—so when he did, it hit harder than it should’ve.
“Ahh—!”
She yelped as Roman suddenly lifted her up like she weighed nothing.
Evelyn’s leg instinctively wrapped around his waist, his hands firm under her bottom, cradling her like a baby .
Her breath caught. “Roman—!”
“Let’s get you freshened up,” he said, already walking toward the bathroom, calm as ever—like carrying her like this was normal.
She stared at him, stunned, heart thudding in her throat.
Roman didn’t even look at her shocked expression when he added:
“We’re going on our vacation today.”