Later, he just wanted to see her again and exchange a few words. Then, he wanted to hold her. A single day wasn''t enough; he wanted two, secretly wishing she could stay by his side forever.


    Human nature was funny like that give an inch, and they take a mile.


    Noreen Gilmore woke up in the hospital bed again on the third day.


    She was used to it by now, calmly getting out of bed to wash up.


    When she came out, the doctor was changing Seth Harcourt''s dressing. The doctor frowned at the freshly torn wound on Seth''s arm. "Why does this keep ripping open? If this continues, it''s bound to get infected."


    Seth remained silent, quietly taking the lecture.


    Once the doctor left, Noreen confronted him. "Did it tear again because you grabbed me?"


    "No," he denied. "I moved wrong and pulled it. It has nothing to do with you."


    "Do you really expect me to believe that nonsense?"


    Seth avoided her eyes, remaining stubborn. "I''m just telling you the facts."


    "You really don''t have to do this. I can sleep on the couch. I only stayed to take care of you because I owe you a favor. You know I don''t like owing you anything, and I don''t want you doing things for me. I just want us to be strangers who stay out of each other''s way."


    Her words were like a velvet-wrapped de, slicing ruthlessly through the most vulnerable part of his heart.


    Seth fell silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking up. "Do you think I want to do this?"


    Noreen''s thoughts stalled for a moment.


    "I can''t control myself."


    "I can''t just stand by when you''re in danger. My body reacts before my brain even catches up."


    "Noreen, I want to be a stranger to you, too."


    He let out a self-deprecatingugh.


    "I just can''t."


    Now that the truth was out in the open, a heavy silence settled over the hospital


    room.


    Noreen packed her things, her voice cold as she instructed the caregiver to look after Seth.


    Since he was out of danger, there was no reason for her to stay.


    The caregiver hesitated. "What if he still refuses to eat?"


    Noreen paused mid-zip, then snapped, "Then let him starve!"


    The caregiver didn''t know how to respond to that.


    Just as Noreen stepped out of the room, someone charged straight at her.


    The man collided with her, mming her hard against the wall.


    Her vision blurred, and the screams of bystanders echoed in her ears.


    When she regained her bearings, she realized her attacker was wielding a paring knife.


    His face was twisted in rage as he swung the de wildly, threatening everyone in the hallway "You people killed my dad. You''re going to pay for this, or I''ll kill you all!"


    There were already streaks of blood on the floor.


    Several nurses and patients had been shed and everyone els


    was scrambling away in term


    refusing to get anywhere near him.


    A realization hit Noreen like a truck.


    A violent hospital dispute!


    Instinctively, she tried to back into the room.


    But the moment she moved, the frantic man locked eyes with her.


    In that split second, she knew she was in trouble.


    The next instant, he lunged at her with the knife.


    She took a terrified half-step back—


    Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her waist, yanking her out of harm''s way with incredible force.


    Another round of shrieks erupted, followed immediately by a man''s agonized howl.


    When Noreen processed what had happened, she saw Seth He had disarmed the attacker barehanded


    3his good arm and kicked the


    man to the ground.  fo


    Now neutralized, the attacker was quickly subdued by security.


    But Noreen''s eyes were entirely fixed on Seth''s hand.


    He had just sustained yet another fresh wound.