As soon as the words left his mouth, the office door swung open, and in rolled Dn, casting a quick nce their way. ra stood by her desk, with Simon leaning against her, looking all toofortable. Dn''s fingers clenched slightly around the armrest of his wheelchair.


    ra suddenly wondered if Dn had orchestrated the beating Simon received. Simon had run his mouth in the office earlier-not as recklessly as Lincoln, who had outright threatened Dn—but enough to challenge Dn''s authority. Was this Dn''s subtle way of putting Simon in his ce? If Simon acted up again, would he end up like Lincoln?


    Dn wheeled himself slowly over to ra''s side. She swallowed, trying to keep her tone respectful. "Mr. Dn, I didn''t realize you were burning the midnight oil too."


    Dn''s eyes lingered on the hand ra used to steady Simon, and for some reason, ra felt her palm grow warm. Simon had nned to rile Dn up with a few choice words, but the pain he was in was no joke. He looked like he might pass out from it.


    "ra, I feel like I''m dying. Please, take me to the hospital," Simon pleaded.


    At first, ra thought he was exaggerating, but she could feel his body trembling slightly, like he was fighting off serious pain. It seemed like he really had made a break for it from the hospital.


    Taking a deep breath, she said, "Simon, are you a kid? Running over here like this -your mom''s gonna have a go at me again."


    Simon didn''t have the energy to argue and just muttered a weak, "I''m sorry."


    For a moment, ra didn''t know what to say. If Simon had thrown a fit like he did that morning, she wouldn''t have hesitated to give him a piece of her mind. But now, with him about to keel over, it seemed too harsh tosh out.


    She steadied him and nodded to Dn. "Mr. Dn, we''re heading out."


    She expected Dn to stay quiet, but he surprised her by repeating, "You two?"


    ra''s back went rigid, guilt creeping up on her. But remembering Dn''s attitude towards Eden, she straightened up and helped Simon to the elevator, leaving Dn behind.


    Dn sat there alone, looking a bit forlorn, but ra was too wrapped up in her own thoughts to notice. She helped Simon into her car and slid into the driver''s seat. Her phone rang-it was Z calling. She was in the middle of starting the car and couldn''t pick up.


    Simon, now as meek as amb, was sweating bullets in the passenger seat. Sometimes he''d gasp in pain, other times he''d ask if he was dying. It was clear his wound was infected, and he was likely running a fever.


    ra''s urgency spiked, and she blew through a few red lights to get him to the hospital. Once there, she found out the doctors had been searching for Simon; he had sneaked out just as they were about to treat him.


    With Simon in the care of the doctors, ra finally took a deep breath, sinking into a chair in the corridor. Her phone buzzed again in her pocket. She checked to see Z had called thirty times.


    Thinking it was something important, she quickly picked up. "Z, what''s up?"


    "I miss you. What are you doing?" he asked.


    There was no way ra could tell him the truth, especially since Z could get intensely jealous. Next time, he might very well keep her tied up in bed until she was worn out.


    "I''ve been at work all day, just got home. nning to shower and hit the hay," she fibbed, even letting out a yawn for effect.


    There was a pause on the other end before he quietly asked, "You''re not lying to me, are you?"


    ra sat up straighter, wondering if he somehow knew what she was up to. But Z lived way out in the sticks and spent his time working part-time at a club, so he couldn''t possibly know much about her life. He was like a loyal golden retriever, always waiting for her toe home.


    With that thought, she scolded herself for being so paranoid. "I wouldn''t lie to you."


    "Then I believe you, ra. I miss you."


    He always said those words, each time with such earnestness, as if he might not get another chance to say them.