When Dn came back to Palm Bay, he still smelled like the early morning- fresh, a little wild, as if he''d brought the outside in with him.


    The moment he stepped into the foyer, a servant hurried over.


    "Did she eat dinnerst night?" Dn asked, cutting straight to the point.


    "She ate a little," the servant replied.


    It was barely six in the morning. Upstairs, ra was still in bed.


    Dn shrugged off his coat and handed it over, keeping a bunch of flowers in his arms, their petals still dotted with dew. He started up the stairs, then paused and called back, "Bring a vase to the master bedroom."


    He pushed open the bedroom door, bouquet in hand. The bed covers were pulled up into a small mound ra, curled up tight. Just seeing her like that made something in his chest go soft.


    The servant arrived with the vase. Dn arranged the flowers, set them on the nightstand, and slipped into the bathroom to wash up.


    ra had heard the quiet whir of his wheelchair long before he came in. Truth was, she hadn''t slept at all. She justy there with her eyes shut, listening, pretending.


    After a few minutes, Dn returned. He lifted the edge of theforter, clearly intending to climb in. But the second she felt the nket shift, ra''s eyes snapped open. She sat up fast, yanking the entire nket with her, wrapping it protectively around herself.


    Dn paused, meeting her eyes.


    She stared back, guarded, tense. Then she slid off the bed and stood by the wall, putting distance between them.


    The room filled with the sweet scent of flowers, but ra just frowned, walked over, and pushed the window open for fresh air.


    Unbothered, Dn pulled the nket back, sat on the bed, and opened hisptop, already diving into work.


    ra pressed her lips together, said nothing, and walked straight to the bedroom door. But when she opened it, someone was waiting outside, blocking her path.


    She took a deep, frustrated breath and turned back, her patience gone.


    "Dn, what do you want from me, really?"


    Before, when she''d been stuck here, at least she could wander around the main house. Now, except for meals, she was locked in his bedroom. Anyone would lose their mind.


    He kept typing, pretending not to hear her.


    ra couldn''t take it. She marched over and mmed hisptop shut.


    There were still red marks on her wrist fromst night, peeking out from under her sleeve.


    "Dn!" she snapped.


    He caught her wrist, his touch surprisingly gentle. "Does it still hurt?"


    He started to lean over, probably to grab the ointment fromst night but ra jerked back,


    misunderstanding. She thought he was about to p


    something so she


    grabbed the vase and hurled it at


    him.


    The flowers and water went everywhere-petals and droplets scattering across the bed, sshing down his chest.


    ra twisted, trying to break free. "Let go!"


    He swallowed hard, then slowly released her. "Sorry," he said quietly.


    Her anger only burned hotter, almost suffocating.


    Dn set hisptop aside and left the room without another word. ra stood there, fuming.


    A few minutester, Dn returned, now in a crisp suit-ready for work. She tried to follow him out, but the same guard blocked her at the door. Watching Dn''s back as he walked away, she couldn''t help but call out, you really get kick out of tocking


    me up, don''t you?"


    He hesitated for a split second, but didn''t look back. He just kept walking toward the elevator.


    ra''s frustration boiled over. She mmed the door shut and stormed


    to the window. It was only about.


    twelve feet down-she didn''t even didn''teven


    think She just climbed out and jumped.


    Landing in the flowerbed, pain shot through her ankle, but she pushed herself up and started limping away, desperate to find any road that would take her out of Palm Bay.


    But no matter where she went, someone always appeared, polite as ever: "Ma''am, please,e back."


    She stopped, feeling like all her anger might burn her up from the inside out. Finally, she gave up and sat right there in the grass, refusing to move.


    Behind her, the quiet roll of a wheelchair sounded. The guards melted away. ra leaned against a tree, listening as the wheelchair stopped close by. She let out a bitterugh that didn''t really sound likeughter at all.


    Dn rolled up and reached for her leg, wanting to check her ankle.


    She tried to kick him away, but he held firm. His fingers pressed gently at her swollen ankle, making her wince.


    She looked at his face-still so striking, almost painfully handsome-and suddenly all her fight drained away. She just felt tired.


    She remembered meeting him for the first time after she lost her memory, how refined and kind he had seemed. How had he turned into this stranger so quickly?


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!