Emily lay still as the specialist examined her, the soft beeping of medical equipment filling the quiet space. She hadn't woken up again, but her breathing was steady—stable, for now.
Meanwhile, Kia paced the length of Ryan's office, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her worry was palpable, her movements restless.
Ryan stood just beyond the door, his posture composed but his ears tuned in to every word spoken inside. The specialist's voice was low, discussing Emily's vitals, possible triggers, and the long-term effects of her condition. He didn't want to miss anything.
Kia did.
She stopped mid-step, her eyes narrowing slightly before she turned and marched toward him.
"You know eavesdropping isn't exactly polite," she said, crossing her arms.
Ryan met her gaze evenly, unbothered by her pointed remark. "I have a right to know what's happening in my home."
Kia scoffed. "Please. You don't just want to know what's happening—you want to know everything about Emily."
Ryan tilted his head slightly, a smirk ghosting his lips. "And if I do?"
Kia's expression hardened. "Then I'd like to know why."
Silence stretched between them before Ryan finally spoke, his voice cool and measured. "She interests me."
Kia exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Interest? Ryan, this isn't some casual fascination. Emily has been through hell. She doesn't need someone hovering around her like an experiment."
His smirk faded. "I don't see her as an experiment."
Kia studied him for a long moment, searching for something beneath his perfectly composed exterior. She had known Ryan long enough to recognize when he was hiding something, and right now, his obsession was bleeding through the cracks.
"You like her," she stated, but there was no excitement in her voice—only wariness. "And not in a normal way."
Ryan's jaw tightened slightly, but he didn't deny it.
Kia sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. "Look, Emily doesn't need complications. If you're planning on getting close to her, you better be damn sure you're doing it for the right reasons."
Ryan's gaze darkened. "And if I am?"
Kia held his stare. "Then don't hurt her."
A beat of silence passed before Ryan finally nodded. Not a promise. Not an agreement. Just acknowledgment.
Because what Kia didn't know was that Ryan had already decided—Emily was his.
And nothing would change that.