“Sophie!”

Sebastian's expression changed instantly. He shoved Xavier aside and bent over me, steadying my shoulders.

“Stop trying to remember. Look at me.”

I shook with pain, tears falling beyond my control.

“My head hurts...”

“I know. Don't be afraid.”

He pressed the call button and supported the back of my neck, drawing me securely against him.

The voice that had been so cold moments earlier was now painfully hoarse.

“The doctor is coming. Listen to me. Breathe slowly.”

Xavier stepped forward.

“Sophie...”

“Shut up!”

Sebastian snapped his gaze upward.

His bloodshot eyes burned with the ferocity of an animal defending what belonged to it.

“She's just had surgery. The doctor has repeatedly said she mustn't be upset. If you care about her, you won't do this to her now.”

Xavier froze.

The head of neurosurgery arrived quickly with a nurse.

After an urgent examination ruled out further bleeding and identified a temporary fluctuation in intracranial pressure brought on by the distress, the tension eased a little.

The neurosurgeon put away his penlight, his tone grave.

“Her brain is still healing. Intense emotion can trigger headaches and vomiting, and in serious cases affect her recovery.”

“Don't force her to remember. Don't argue in front of her. Whether her memories return, and when, needs to happen naturally.”

Sebastian adjusted my blanket.

“I understand.”

Once the doctor and nurse had left, he looked at Xavier.

“Outside.”

Xavier didn't move.

“She needs rest,” Sebastian said quietly. “Or do you need to see her in pain again before you're satisfied?”

I lay asleep on the bed, my brows still tightly drawn.

After a moment, Xavier finally turned and went out.

The corridor was quiet except for the faint hum of equipment.

He stopped and looked back at Sebastian.

“Don't think coming outside means I'm backing down. Her forgetting doesn't erase what happened.”

“You know better than anyone why she left.”

Sebastian stood outside my door, his fingers slowly clenching beneath his coat.

“That's between her and me.”

The two tall, imposing men confronted each other, neither willing to yield.

Passing nurses kept glancing at their handsome faces.

Xavier's usual gentleness gave way to a cold sneer.

“You and Sophie are over. What kind of man refuses to leave her alone?”

Sebastian laughed without warmth.

“As long as she still wants me, we're not over.”

So he was refusing to let go. What of it?

How else was he supposed to get his wife back?

He went into the room and closed the door firmly.

My eyes were open. I was pale, with a fine sheen of sweat on my forehead.

He came to the bedside and used a cotton swab dipped in warm water to moisten my dry lips.

“Does it still hurt?”

I didn't answer.

I caught the edge of his coat, gripping tightly as though afraid he'd pull away.

“Why did Uncle Xavier say we'd broken up?”

Sebastian looked down at me.

He knew the right thing was to give her back the truth.

But he had already lost her once.

The stripped apartment, the words you're free, had lodged in his bones like a rusted nail.

He couldn't endure it a second time.

After a moment, he took my cold hand and answered slowly and clearly.

“Because he's in love with you.”