ra pushed herself up, her eyes lingering on the face in front of her-so striking it almost didn''t seem real.


    Dn looked tense, lips pressed in a thin line, every muscle tight. He was nervous, she could tell.


    Suddenly, ra caved. "I''ll set up a little bed next to the master bedroom. For the next month, I''ll sleep there. Dn, just... give me a bit more time. I can''t right now..." Her voice trailed off.


    It was just too soon. Her boyfriend hadn''t been gone long, and climbing into another man''s bed-no matter what had happened between them recently-felt like a betrayal. In the harsh light of day, guilt crept up and made her heart heavy.


    Dn''s eyshes fluttered, his eyes darting up to her, wide with disbelief. Shock, hope, and something softer flickered across his face. Finally, he looked away and gave a deep, quiet, "Okay."


    ra had always been the type to take action. Within minutes, she had someone bring in a new bed-five feet wide-right next to his.


    Dn''s room was big enough that it didn''t even feel crowded with the extra bed. He sat there, watching her organize the room, directing the staff as if she owned the ce. She even had them set up a desk in the corner.


    Was she nning to work here too?


    Something warm and restless fluttered in Dn''s chest. He couldn''t look away.


    ra felt his gaze but didn''t meet his eyes. "You should get some sleep," she said, her tone gentle but firm.


    Dny back slowly, his heart thudding so hard he could barely breathe. He was nervous, sure, but underneath it all, he was happy in a way he couldn''t exin.


    About half an hourter, there was a soft knock at the door. Aiden stood outside, cheeks still flushed with excitement. "Ma''am, here''s everything you asked for. Ferguson Corporation has five projects going right now. The biggest one is with Warren Corporation. Richard won''t give us any trouble, just a few details to iron out. These are the files on the overseas execs-I marked up everyone''s personalities. Take a look when you have time."


    ra nodded, stepping into the hallway and closing the door quietly behind her. "Can you tell me why he can''t sleep?"


    Some of the excitement faded from Aiden''s face. "Just think of it as the boss being... unwell."


    ra knew he was holding back, but she didn''t push. "What about his leg?"


    Aiden hesitated. “When he was overseas, he kind of gave up for while. Stopped doing his physical therapy. The doctors had to use some pretty heavy meds-most people would''ve lost it from the pain, but he neverined. For two years, he hardly spoke. If he was awake, he worked. His insomnia just got worse and worse."


    ra felt her chest tighten. "Was that car ident really... my fault?"


    Aiden nced at her. "I don''t know the details, but it was definitely rted to you. The boss isn''t the type to let anything break


    him-unless it''s something about you. Only you could make him


    swallow all that pain and never say a


    word."


    His words hit ra like a punch to the gut, leaving her pale and shaken.


    Aiden


    here, I''m sure he''ll finally


    get


    Som Say anything else. "With I rest. I''m counting on


    ma''am."


    ra just nodded and quietly pushed open the bedroom door.


    Inside, Dn looked like he''d finally drifted off. She remembered he hated sleeping with the lights off, so she left amp on.


    She set the files down on the new desk, sat, and started reading in silence.


    But Aiden''s words wouldn''t leave her alone a dull ache throbbed in her chest.


    How could she have ever thought Dn didn''t love her? How had he managed to hold himself together all this time?


    She didn''t dare follow those thoughts any further. For now, the only thing she could do was help shoulder some of his burden.