Chapter 71 Controlled Damage
For a moment, Evelyn just stared at the ceiling, disoriented. Then her gaze drifted slowly to the side.
To Roman.
There was a tear sliding down his face.
She froze.
Evelyn had never seen Roman cry. Not once. The sight shocked her so much it pulled her further out of the haze.
"Roman...?" Her voice came out rough. Her throat felt like sandpaper.
His head snapped up. He reached for her hand immediately, gripping it like she might vanish.
“I’m here.”
“What happened?” She tried to sit up, but her body wouldn’t cooperate. “I was at the hospital. Lena. I saw you and then…” Her brows knitted together. “I don’t remember.”
“You fainted.” His voice was calm now, though his eyes were still wet. “From stress and exhaustion. The flight was too much.”
She stared at him. Something felt wrong. Off. But she couldn't grasp what.
“There’s a tear on your face,” she whispered.
He wiped it away quickly. “I was worried.”
“You don’t worry,” she murmured weakly. “You’re Roman.”
A faint, fragile smile touched his lips.
“Even Romans worry sometimes.”
She wanted to argue, but her eyes were already drooping. The exhaustion was pulling her back under.
“Rest,” he murmured, brushing hair from her face. “I'll be here when you wake up.”
“But—”
“Rest, Evelyn.”
Her eyes closed.
Roman sat there long after her breathing evened out.
Behind him, on the floor, the crushed incense stick lay in pieces.
—
In the hallway, Lena pressed her back against the wall, hand clamped over her mouth. She'd come to check on Evelyn. She'd seen enough.
‘What the hell was he doing?’
She reached for the door handle.
"What are you doing?"
The voice came from behind. She spun around.
The young doctor from earlier stood there. Up close, he looked even younger. And annoyingly handsome.
But something about him tugged at her memory.
For a moment, she just stared. There was something familiar about his face, but she couldn't place it.
She shook herself mentally. ‘Focus, Lena.’
Theon moved quickly to block the door.
“What am I doing?” She crossed her arms. “That's my friend in there. What are you doing lurking around?”
Theon cleared his throat. "I'm a doctor. It's literally my job to be here."
"Then do your job somewhere else. I need to see her."
"You can't go in right now.”
Lena narrowed her eyes. “You’re all acting suspicious. I saw Roman take off her oxygen mask and light something. Move. I need to check on her.”
Theon didn't budge. “Doctors are always right. And right now, the right answer is no. She's resting. You look like you need about twelve hours of sleep yourself. Go home."
“Move.”
“No.”
“Move.”
“Absolutely not.”
Lena huffed. “You know, for someone who claims to be a doctor, you're really bad at bedside manner. Or hallway manner. Whatever this is.”
Theon raised an eyebrow. “And you're really bad at taking directions. Has anyone ever told you that?”
“Daily. I don't care.”
He stared at her, clearly trying to figure out how to handle her.
“What a hard nut to crack,” he muttered under his breath.
Then his eyes widened.
"Wait a minute” He studied her face more closely.
“…Aren’t you the blind girl who walked into my car a few months ago?”
Lena went still.
‘Oh.’
‘Oh no. That’s why he looks familiar.’
She quickly looked down, attempting to hide her face. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Theon's lips curved into a slow smirk. “Oh, you definitely do. That reaction says everything.”
“I said I don't—”
“You owe me a new bumper. And probably a therapy session for the emotional trauma of nearly running over a pedestrian.”
Lena's head snapped up. “Where’s your proof? You nearly ran me over! I was crossing legally!”
“Legally blind, maybe.”
“I am NOT blind! I just didn't see you because—” She stopped herself.
“Because?” He prompted, enjoying this far too much.
“Because your car is obnoxiously low to the ground and blends into the road, okay? Who even drives a sports car in the city? Are you sure you're actually a doctor and not just a model for those 'hot young physician' calendar shoots? Because you look like one.”
Theon blinked. Actually speechless.
Lena tried to dart around him at that moment.
He shifted instantly and caught her by the waist, dragging her back.
“What kind of feral creature are you?!” He hissed, trying to keep his voice down.
"Let go of me!" She wriggled, twisting in his grip.
He clamped a hand over her mouth. "Would you keep quiet?! Your friend is in there recovering, and her husband is with her. They're having a moment. Read the room."
Lena bit his hand.
He yelped but didn't let go. “Did you just bite me?!”
“You're kidnapping me in a hospital hallway! I have rights!”
“I'm not kidnapping you, I'm—” He stopped, realizing how this looked. “Okay, this looks bad, but I'm trying to protect you.”
“From what? The truth? I saw him lighting something. I saw him take off her mask. What was that?”
Theon's eyes flickered.
‘Damn it, Roman.’
She kept struggling. “Let me go or I'll scream.”
“Please don't—”
“HELP! SOMEONE—”
In one swift motion, he pressed two fingers firmly against a nerve at her shoulder.
Lena gasped.
Her legs weakened instantly.
“What—what did you do to me?” Her voice trembled as her body lost strength.
“I didn’t hurt you. It’s just pressure. Temporary. You’ll regain strength in a minute.” He said, catching her before she fell.
“I need you to calm down and listen. Can you do that? For your friend?”
He guided her to a chair nearby.
She slumped into the chair, breathing hard. Her limbs felt heavy, useless. “If you hurt her—”
“I'm not hurting anyone. I'm trying to help.” He crouched in front of her, meeting her eyes. “I need you to do something for me.”
“Go to hell.”
“Charming.” He pressed his lips together. "Evelyn... she didn't know she was pregnant."
Lena's face went still.
“She lost the baby out of stress.” He held her gaze. “She doesn't remember being pregnant. And I need you to keep it that way."
Lena stared at him. "You want me to lie to my best friend.”
“I want you to protect her from guilt she doesn't need to carry.” His voice was quiet, urgent. “Think about it. She's already dealing with a lot of stress right now. If she finds out she lost a baby she didn't even know she had—”
"She deserves to know.”
"Does she? So she can blame herself? Wonder if she did something wrong? Carry that weight forever?"
He shook his head. "The baby is gone. Nothing will change that. All that's left is whether she suffers more or less.”
Lena’s fingers curled weakly. Her throat felt tight.
“Let's make a deal," Theon said. “I’ll forget about my car. You forget about what you saw. She fainted from stress. That’s all.”
“Fuck you,” she spat. “You think I’d sell my friend out over a stupid car? What kind of hospital is this? What kind of doctors are you?”
"It's a very expensive car.”
"I don't care if it's made of diamonds and drives itself! You can't—I won't—”
She tried to stand again.
He gently pushed her back into the chair.
Theon dragged a hand through his hair, frustrated. "Why do you have to be so difficult?"
"Why do you have to be so shady?"
"I'm not shady, I'm—"
"You're literally covering up a miscarriage and. That's the definition of shady."
"I'm trying to protect people!"
"By lying to them? Great job, Doctor Morality.”
He opened his mouth to retort, but a cold voice cut through the hallway.
"What are you doing to her?"
They both turned.
Rhys was walking toward them, fury radiating off him.
He stepped forward and pulled Lena into his arms, holding her upright.
“What the hell are you doing to my woman? you psycho?”
The words echoed.
My woman.
Theon went still.
Something unpleasant twisted in his chest. Sharp, and unexpected.
Lena leaned heavily against Rhys, still weak and trembling.
Rhys's eyes went darker. "Explain. Now.”
Theon straightened, brushing off his coat. A slow, taunting smile spread across his face.
"Well, well. Cousin. Fancy meeting you here." He tilted his head. "I wonder how you got into this section. It's restricted, you know.”