The next day, Ember followed Sheng's advice, but her actions sent her parents into a panic. Overcome with worry, they rushed her to the hospital for a checkup, their voices filled with concern as they spoke to the staff.
Upon arrival, Ember was asked to enter the doctor's office alone. She stepped inside hesitantly, her heart pounding against her ribs. Keeping her gaze lowered, she avoided looking at the doctor, an uneasy feeling settling in her chest.
The doctor studied her carefully as he began his examination. His sharp eyes caught something unusual. "Have you been to the hospital before?" he asked gently, pointing to the stitches on her leg.
Ember's hands clenched the fabric of her dress, her knuckles turning white. "Yes," she admitted in a barely audible voice. "But... please don't tell my parents about the stitches. They don't know, and it'll only make them worry more." Her voice trembled, her unease evident in the way she refused to meet his gaze.
The doctor's expression grew serious, yet his tone remained gentle. "I understand your concern, but you're still a minor. I'm obligated to inform them."
A cold weight settled in Ember's chest. She bit her lip, struggling to explain. "I went to another hospital with a friend to get the stitches. My parents don't know. Please... they don't have to know." Desperation flickered in her voice, but it did nothing to change the doctor's decision.
Shaking his head, he finished re-bandaging her wound before stepping out to call her parents. Just as he was about to reveal the truth, he glanced back at Ember. She sat on the examination table, biting her nails so hard that one had started to bleed. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he hesitated.
Turning to her parents, he chose his words carefully. "The cut your daughter got was a bit deep, so we had to do stitches," he explained. "I've cleaned and re-bandaged the wound, and I'll prescribe some pain medication. She'll need complete bed rest until the stitches are removed, so please take good care of her."
As the doctor spoke, Ember finally looked up—and then she froze.
Ember had assumed the doctor would be an older man, perhaps in his forties, with graying hair and a stern expression. But the moment she laid eyes on him, every expectation shattered.
Standing before her was someone entirely unexpected. His finely sculpted jawline radiated quiet strength, a striking contrast to the almost ethereal softness of his features. His lips—faintly tinted and perfectly shaped—curved into a knowing smile, as if he carried untold secrets. But it was his eyes that truly stole her breath. Piercing green, deep as a forest after the rain, they shimmered with an unspoken allure that made her heart stutter.
Her gaze lingered, tracing the way his raven-black hair fell in effortless waves, framing his face with an elegance that seemed both natural and deliberate. The soft glow of the hospital lights accentuated his sharp cheekbones, casting a subtle radiance over his flawless skin. And then, there was his voice—rich, smooth, velvety—crafted to both soothe and captivate in equal measure.
Her heart fluttered wildly as she read the name embroidered on his coat: Dr. Zayne.
Zayne turned to her, tilting his head slightly. "Right, Ember?" he asked, a faint smile playing on his lips.
His voice jolted her out of her trance. Before she could stop herself, the words tumbled from her lips. "You're hot, doc—"
Horrified, her eyes widened as the realization hit. She slapped a hand over her mouth, her cheeks blazing with heat.
Zayne chuckled, the sound warm and low, as if thoroughly amused by her embarrassment. "She's so cute," he murmured under his breath, though the teasing curve of his lips made it clear he had enjoyed the moment. Meeting her gaze, he added, "Thanks for the compliment. If anything happens, don't hesitate to contact me."
He held her stare a moment longer, his expression unreadable yet undeniably captivating. Ember swallowed hard, managing a weak nod. "O-okay," she stammered before quickly retreating to her parents' side, her face still burning.
On the way home, her parents fussed over her, insisting she get plenty of rest. Ember complied, letting them tuck her into bed without complaint. But as night fell and silence wrapped around her, her thoughts drifted back to the doctor.
"He was kind of handsome," she admitted, rolling onto her back. Then she scoffed, shaking her head. "But my boyfriend is definitely way more handsome... and cuter." A satisfied smile tugged at her lips.
Yet no matter how many times she reassured herself, Zayne's face—his infuriatingly smug smile—kept creeping into her mind. She groaned, pulling the blanket over her head.
"Don't think about him," Ember muttered to herself, pulling the blanket over her head. "He's just a doctor. A really, really annoying doctor."
But even as she closed her eyes, the memory of his piercing green gaze lingered, haunting the edges of her dreams.
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At the Hospital
On the other side of the city, in the dimly lit hospital room, Dylan sat silently, watching over Ember as she slept. His gaze never wavered from her face, taking in every soft rise and fall of her chest, the peacefulness that sleep had granted her. But then, she stirred.
A faint murmur slipped past her lips. At first, the words were too soft to make out, but then, clear as day, she whispered a name.
"Zayne…"
Dylan's entire body tensed. His jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists. Another man's name—falling from Ember's lips while she dreamed. A deep, burning jealousy ignited inside him, twisting like a knife in his chest. His eyes darkened as he turned toward the window, exhaling a slow, heavy sigh in an attempt to steady himself.
A few moments later, Ember's eyelids fluttered open. Her sleepy gaze landed on Dylan, and for a second, a flicker of relief softened her features.
"Dylan," she murmured, her voice trembling slightly.
At the sound of his name, Dylan turned to face her, his expression unreadable. Ember sat up, and before she could stop herself, she open her arms hope he for a hug . He came close , by seeing her like this . Her arms wrapped around his torso as a wave of emotion crashed over her.
"I was so scared," she whispered, her voice breaking as she buried her face into his chest.
Dylan hesitated for only a second before he pulled her close, his strong arms encircling her as though he could shield her from whatever had shaken her so deeply. He felt the warmth of her tears soaking into his shirt, but he didn't mind. He just held her, letting her cry, offering her the silent comfort she needed.
For a long time, they stayed like that, the room filled only with quiet sniffles and the soft rhythm of their breathing.
Finally, Dylan pulled back slightly, brushing a strand of hair away from Ember's face.
"I'll go get you something to eat. You haven't had anything since yesterday," he said, his voice softer now.
Ember nodded, wiping the last of her tears as she watched him leave the room.
Not long after, a gentle knock came at the door. Adrien stepped inside, his warm smile easing the lingering tension in the air.
"How did it go with your parents?" he asked, sitting beside her.
Ember let out a small sigh, her voice still carrying the remnants of her earlier fear.
"They were so scared. They took me to the hospital just to make sure everything was okay. I was terrified, but... the doctor helped me. Everything went according to plan."
Adrien nodded, his expression thoughtful. But as Ember spoke, her mind drifted for a split second—to the doctor who had helped her. To the name that had slipped from her lips in sleep.
To Zayne.
And for reasons she couldn't quite understand, her heart beat just a little faster.
Adrien raised an eyebrow, studying Ember carefully.
"What did he tell your parents?"
"He said he did stitches on me and that I need to rest until it heals completely," Ember replied, her fingers idly tracing patterns on the bedsheet.
Adrien tilted his head, observing her reaction. "Is he a friend of yours?"
"No," Ember said quickly, shaking her head. "I didn't know him. I was so scared he might tell my parents the truth. But… he cooperated."
Adrien's expression turned skeptical. "It's unusual for a doctor to hide something so important from a patient's guardians. Why would he do that?"
Ember hesitated for a moment before a small smile tugged at her lips. "I don't know," she admitted. "But you know… I thought the doctor would be an old man. Instead, he was this really handsome, young guy. He was too handsome—I couldn't take my eyes off him. But…" Her eyes glimmered with mischief. "He had the most annoying smile. He wouldn't stop smiling at me until I left his office. His name was Zayne."
Unbeknownst to Ember, Dylan had just returned and stood frozen outside the door, listening to every word.
Hearing her talk about another man with such admiration sent a sharp pang through his chest. His fists clenched at his sides, his breathing growing heavier. Without another second of hesitation, he turned and walked away, his steps quick and heavy as he made his way toward the emergency stairs.
His heart pounded. His blood boiled. The thought of Ember looking at another man like that, talking about him with that soft admiration—it was unbearable. Reaching the stairwell, Dylan let out a frustrated breath before slamming his fist against the cold, unforgiving wall. Pain shot through his knuckles, but he didn't stop. He punched again. And again. Until blood dripped from his hand.
Gritting his teeth, he muttered under his breath, "Ember is injured. I can't let my jealousy hurt her again."
Meanwhile, back in the room, Ember was laughing softly as she continued talking to Adrien. "But no matter how handsome Zayne was, Dylan is still the most handsome man I've ever seen."
Her face lit up with a bright, affectionate smile.
Adrien chuckled, shaking his head. "You're really in deep, aren't you?"
Ember's cheeks flushed, but she nodded. "Yeah, I guess I am."
Adrien gave her a knowing smile. "Alright, let me check your wound."
A few minutes later, the door creaked open, and Dylan stepped inside with a tray of food. But the moment Ember looked at him, her heart skipped a beat.
Something was off.
He was smiling—but it wasn't his usual, easygoing smile. It was forced, a mask. And his eyes… his eyes told a different story.
Something simmered beneath the surface. Something dark. Something unspoken.
They ate in silence, the tension between them growing heavier with each passing moment. After Ember was discharged, Dylan quietly brought her back home. The quiet between them lingered, unsettling Ember. She wondered if he was still blaming himself for her injury. Deciding to give him space, she refrained from pushing him to talk.
When they arrived, Dylan helped Ember to her room and left without a word. Watching his retreating figure, a pang of worry settled in Ember's chest. Something was wrong. Determined to talk to him, she tried to get up, but pain shot through her legs, forcing her back down in frustration.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from Dylan's room. Her heart pounded. Ignoring the pain, Ember forced herself up, stumbling toward his door. She knocked urgently. "Dylan!" she called.
The door swung open. Dylan stood there, his face dark with anger and something else—pain. His room was a disaster. Furniture was overturned, shards of glass littered the floor. Ember took an instinctive step forward, but the fire in his eyes made her freeze. It was a look she had seen before—one that sent a chill down her spine. A shadow from the past she couldn't quite grasp.
Her strength wavered, and before she could steady herself, her legs gave out. A sharp cry of pain escaped her lips as she collapsed.
"Ember!" Dylan's voice was filled with panic as he rushed forward. He reached for her, but she smacked his hand away, her breathing ragged. He hesitated for a second before trying again, this time more gently. Ember didn't resist. Letting out a deep breath, she allowed him to lift her carefully and lay her back onto the bed.
"I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" Dylan asked, his voice tight, but the anger hadn't fully left his eyes.
Ember reached up, cupping his face in her hands. "It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong," she whispered, searching his gaze. "I'm right here by your side."
Something in her words shattered the last thread of restraint Dylan had been holding onto. His grip tightened slightly before he suddenly pushed her back onto the bed, caging her between his arms.
Ember's breath hitched, but she didn't panic. Instead, she held his gaze, her fingers brushing against his cheek. "Dylan, what's wrong?" she asked softly. "We promised we'd tell each other everything, remember?"