Chapter 166

Chapter 166
{Lisa’s POV}

‘Ouch.’ I flinched as the sharp end of the needle pierced and exited my skin. I never liked injections, and the universe tortured me by making it a must to take three shots every single day.

“Your next shot will be in eight hours.” The nurse said as she exited the room.

It had been a week since the accident, though to me it felt like years had dragged themselves across my body. The walls of my room had become both sanctuary and prison, the doctor’s words echoing every time I so much as shifted too quickly. “Rest, Lisa. You need to put minimal strain on yourself.” Dr. Johan’s instructions had been repeated so often that I swore they were carved into the wood of my bedposts.

Ronan obeyed those orders as if they had been laws passed down by the heavens themselves. Which was cuteeee.

He rarely left my side. If he wasn’t sitting at the edge of the bed watching me like a hawk, he was stationed by the door, working through calls, his voice spilling through the cracks. Even when he lowered it, I could sense the tension in every muscle. He thought he was being careful not to disturb me, but I always heard.

This morning was no different. His tone rose from the other room, rough and frayed with anger. I couldn’t hear the words clearly, but the volume, the clipped edge of each sentence, told me enough. Something was wrong. Something was weighing on him heavily, and he wasn’t sharing it with me.

I lay against the pillows, eyes shut, feigning sleep as the door opened. His steps were steady, but the scent of his cologne announced him before that of the meal on the tray he carried.

The rich smell of buttered bread and eggs filled the room. He set the tray carefully on the side table and leaned over me, brushing the back of his fingers against my arm.

Before he actually woke me up, he whispered and I could swear he said. “I wish you could see how beautiful you become every single day.”

After a brief silence, he cleared his throat and whispered. “Grand rising sleepy head. Time to wake up.”

I blinked slowly, stretching as if coming out of a deep dream, then turned to him with a faint smile. “Oh, breakfast in bed? You’re spoiling me.”

“You deserve it.” He helped adjust the pillows behind me, sliding the tray closer. “Eat something. Johan will hunt me down if you don’t.”

I chuckled lightly, taking a bite. The warmth from the food spread through me, soothing, but my eyes stayed on him.

My precious husband. The man that was always there for me no matter what. The one that gave me love and care even when I was being silly.

His attempt at casualness was too deliberate today. He asked about the baby, about whether I slept well, about whether I needed more blankets. The small talk only made the knot in my chest tighten.

Not because he was doing anything wrong but because I wasn't doing enough to help him calm down too.

Finally, I set the fork down and tilted my head. “Ronan, is everything okay at work?”

He froze for half a second, then gave a smile too smooth to be genuine. “Yes. I’m just under a little pressure.”

“Pressure?” I repeated carefully.

“It's nothing—” He started. But I cut him off.

“Ronan.”

He nodded, dragging a chair closer. “Damon hasn’t shown up with Calista… I sent him on that mission over a week ago. And it didn’t even need him doing that much… He’s not picking my calls either.”

My brows furrowed. “That doesn’t sound like Damon. Maybe something came up? Like Calista holding him back for one reason or the other?”

“Well that's possible. But he should at least contact me, no?”

“I get that… maybe Anya being with him is more than he expected. You know kids. She could be running him ragged.”

That pulled a laugh out of him. A real one, the kind that lit up his whole face. “Damon, playing house? Poor man. He probably doesn’t even know how to braid hair.”

“Exactly.” I smiled, relieved to hear him laugh. “You should leave him alone for now. He’s probably learning the art of bedtime stories.”

Ronan shook his head, amusement lingering. “I almost want to see it.”

“Or,” I said slyly, “you could send someone to pick up Anya. Bring her here. She could spend time with Heri. That way, you’ll know Damon’s situation without prying too hard.”

He leaned back, studying me as if I’d solved a riddle. “That’s… actually a good idea.”

“I have them sometimes,” I teased.

His expression softened as he reached out and brushed his thumb across my hand. “Promise me something, Lisa.”

I tilted my head, curious. “What?”

“Promise you won’t run away from me again. Don’t leave me and Heri, or Damon, Colt, Sean, Mrs. Jocelyn, Petra… it's a long list.” His tone carried weight, as though the thought of it still haunted him.

My chest tightened, guilt pressing against my ribs. I swallowed hard and nodded. “I promise.” Then, to lighten the moment, I added with a playful grin, “But you have to admit, me running away did have one good outcome.”

He arched a brow. “What outcome could that possibly be?”

“It made you pay more attention to me,” I said, poking his chest gently.

He let out a full laugh, shaking his head. “If it’s attention you want, then you’re going to get sick of it.”

“Try me,” I smiled.

Without another word, he climbed into bed beside me, his weight sinking into the mattress. He snatched the remote from the table and switched on the television, settling against the pillows as if this was the most natural place for him to be.

I looked at him, warmth spreading through me despite the stiffness in my body. “What are we watching?”

His grin widened mischievously. “Ohh. SINNERSSSS.” He dragged the word out theatrically, making me laugh even though my side ached a little from it.

I leaned into him, resting my head against his shoulder as the screen flickered to life.

“Don’t be pissed… buttt I watched it without you.” He teased and I laughed well into the start of the movie.

“Oh God, Ronan. You're insufferable.”