Chapter 75 Almost Said
Roman immediately turned to look at her.
Her eyes remained closed, her breathing slow and even. She might have been talking in her sleep. The thought made something warm flicker in his chest.
He couldn't help the soft, helpless chuckle that escaped him.
“You’re really asking that now?” he murmured, amused.
His mood lifted slightly despite the exhaustion and weight in his chest.
“You held onto that question even through all this?”
He found it cute. He brushed his thumb gently over her knuckles.
“Has it been bothering you that much?”
No answer.
He studied her face, thinking she had finally drifted off.
He exhaled quietly.
But then her lips parted again.
“…Is she someone I should be jealous of?”
Her voice was faint. Fragile, but awake.
Roman’s expression softened.
A faint possessive light flickered in his eyes as he stared at her affectionately.
His free hand moved to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. He leaned down and pressed a slow, gentle kiss against her forehead.
“No,” he said quietly.
“She’s someone who no longer matters.”
Evelyn's breathing hitched faintly. Even half-asleep, her mind caught the implication.
"...That means she was once important to you.”
Roman’s lips curved slightly. He didn't deny it.
He adjusted the blanket around her shoulders again, his touch careful.
“Sleep,” he whispered softly. “We’ll talk about it when you’re stronger.”
Her fingers tightened faintly on his sleeve. As if afraid he might disappear.
Roman didn’t pull away.
After a few seconds, her grip loosened. Her face relaxed and her breathing deepened.
This time, she truly fell asleep.
Roman remained there, seated beside her bed.
His gaze dropped.
Whatever Victoria had been, she was the past.
Evelyn was his present.
And he would do whatever it took to protect that.
—-
When Evelyn woke later that day, her mind felt clearer. The fog had lifted, and though her abdomen still ached, it had dulled to a faint soreness. And she could think properly again.
She turned to find Roman in the same chair, with gold rimmed glasses, laptop balanced on his knee, brow furrowed at whatever was on the screen. He looked up immediately, as if sensing her gaze.
"Hey." He set the laptop aside. "How do you feel?"
"Better." She pushed herself up slowly, accepting his help. "More like myself now."
Roman studied her face, apparently satisfied with what he saw. "Good.”
“Roman. Is Father admitted here too?” she asked quietly.
He didn't hesitate. "Yes."
"I want to see him.”
His brows drew together.
“You’re not strong enough yet.”
“I am.”
“Evelyn—” He took off his glasses.
“I want to see him, Roman.” There was stubbornness in her tone.
He held her gaze for a long moment, then nodded. “Fine. I'll take you. But if you feel dizzy, we come back immediately."
"Deal.”
Five minutes later
He helped her into a wheelchair despite her glare.
When they entered Alexander’s suite, the machines were the first thing she noticed. The steady beeping, and the oxygen line.
Her heart dropped.
Alexander lay unconscious. He was too still.
“Why isn’t he awake?” she whispered.
Roman crouched beside her.
“He’s sedated. His body needs rest.”
“Is he really okay?” she pressed.
Roman met her eyes. “Yes.”
But she saw the exhaustion in his gaze.
"Roman." She reached up and touched his face. "When did you last sleep?"
He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. "I sleep.”
She wanted to push, and ask about the sabbatical, also…about Victoria.
But looking at him now—worn down, and carrying so much, she couldn't.
She reached for his hand.
“I’ll get better quickly,” she said softly. “So I can help you.”
His expression softened. “You don’t need to help me.”
She just wanted to see him smile. Really smile.
—
That evening, Lena walked through the door, and Evelyn's heart lifted.
"Lena!"
Her friend looked thinner. Pale. But her eyes were brighter than they'd been when she last saw her, and she moved with some of her old energy.
"Eve." Lena crossed the room and wrapped her in a careful hug. "You look terrible."
Evelyn laughed weakly. "Thanks. You look like you haven't eaten in a week."
"Touché.”
“Are you sure you're good?” Evelyn asked skeptically.
“I’m fine,” Lena insisted, avoiding her gaze slightly. “Father’s stable now.”
Relief washed through Evelyn.
They settled into the familiar rhythm of their friendship, and talked about random things. Evelyn shared different stories from her trip.
"Souvenirs!" Lena slapped her knee all of a sudden . "You brought souvenirs, right? Tell me you brought souvenirs."
Evelyn winced. "We left in a hurry. Everything's still at the last villa."
"Eve!"
"I know, I know." Evelyn held up her hands. "I'll send Leo to get them. He can handle it.”
Somewhere across the hospital floor, Leo sneezed violently mid-conversation with Roman.
Roman slowly turned to look at him.
“Take a break,” he said flatly. “And stop spreading bacteria in my presence.”
Leo blinked. “…Yes, sir.”
Back in Evelyn's room, she studied her friend.
"So. Rhys." Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "How is he? Really?"
Lena shrugged, but there was a softness in her eyes she couldn't quite hide. "He's... Rhys. Cold on the outside. Surprisingly not terrible on the inside. We're figuring it out.”
Evelyn nodded thoughtfully.
Then Lena hesitated. “Have you heard about the sabbatical news?”
Evelyn nodded.
“He hasn’t talked to me about it yet,” she admitted quietly. “He looks exhausted. I’ll ask him when we’re home.”
Lena forced a smile.
“Don’t overthink it. Your husband can handle himself.”
Evelyn smiled at that.
Lena suddenly straightened. “Speaking of things you should know, the Hayes family—"
The door opened.
Both of them turned.
Theon stood in the doorway, a pleasant smile on his face.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," he said smoothly.
Evelyn shook her head. "Not at all. Come in.”
Theon had been her doctor throughout her stay. He was professional, thorough, and always seemed to appear when Roman was away.
Evelyn had found him vaguely familiar at first, but assumed it was because she'd seen him around Alexander's room.
He moved to her bedside, checking monitors, asking questions. His manner was easy, reassuring.
Lena, however, had gone rigid.
Her eyes followed his every movement, practically drilling holes into him with her glare.
When he prepared an injection, Lena spoke sharply.
"What's that for?” She couldn't trust this shady doctor.
He glanced at her. "Medication. For recovery."
"She's been recovering fine without whatever that is."
"She's been recovering because of whatever this is." He held up the syringe. "Would you like to trade places? You can be the doctor, and I'll sit there making uninformed comments."
Lena's eyes narrowed. "I'm just saying, maybe you should explain things instead of stabbing her with mystery drugs."
"Mystery drugs." Theon's tone was flat. "From the hospital pharmacy. Administered under my license. But by all means, continue your medical expertise."
"You know what I mean."
"I really don't.”
Evelyn watched them, head swiveling back and forth. She frowned.
“…Do you two know each other?”
“No!”
Both answered immediately.
Their eyes locked briefly for a while, before snapping away.
Evelyn stared at them. “…Did I miss something?”
Theon shot Lena an irritated look.
“I’m done here,” he said smoothly, finishing the injection.
"Try to rest.” He said walking out.
The silence he left behind was loud.
Evelyn turned slowly toward Lena.
“Lena.”
Lena examined her nails with intense focus.
“Lena.”
“What?”
“You’re avoiding eye contact.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
Lena swallowed.
“You did the same thing when you came in,” Evelyn continued. “The moment I looked at you.”
She paused. “Did something happen?”
Panic flickered across Lena’s face.
She turned to look directly at Evelyn—too directly.
“There’s nothing going on, Eve,” she said with a stiff laugh. “See? I’m looking at you.”
She said, her eyes wide and unblinking, it looked almost painful.
Evelyn stared at her.
"Lena."
"What?"
"That's creepy. Stop it."
Lena's face fell. "I'm trying!”
"Trying to what?” Evelyn crossed her arms. "Something's going on. What aren't you telling me?"
Lena felt her chest tighten. Guilt rose like bile.
She couldn’t take it.
This was Evelyn. Her best friend.
She opened her mouth.
“I need to tell you—”
The door to the suite opened again.