Selene walked into the house, Elvin close behind. Her mind was elsewhere—Zenon. How was he in the hospital? Was he hurt badly? The thought twisted her chest as she sank into a chair, staring blankly and whispering silent prayers.
Elvin, unbothered by her distress, removed his watch without a word. "Go upstairs. Your room."
She opened her mouth to protest, reminded herself he didn't own her, but swallowed the words along with her tears.
She trudged upstairs, let the water wash over her, and slipped into bed, her thoughts consumed by Zenon. When she awoke, darkness had fallen.
She crept downstairs. Elvin was in a Zoom meeting, his eyes locked on the screen, his tone clipped and businesslike. Selene lingered, then slipped away to the kitchen, finally coming out once he was done.
She gathered her courage. "Elvin… do you know what caused the accident?"
His gaze cut through her like ice. "You were the reason my friend was in danger."
"I just want to know…" Her voice trembled.
"The board wants to speak with you," he interrupted, cold and final.
Confused and hurt, Selene moved to the laptop. The words on the screen hit her like a slap: because of her husband's accident, someone had to run the company. She couldn't. Elvin would.
Frustration bubbled inside her, sharp and hot. She stormed out, escaping the house and into the streets. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about Zenon, fear, guilt, longing.
Then she saw him—or rather, she felt him before she fully saw him. A figure moving through the crowd, familiar in every way. His back. The way he carried himself. The way his hair fell, catching the light.
Her heart lurched. She bolted after him. "Wait! Hey! Stop!"
The crowd pressed around them, but she pushed forward, her voice raw, desperate. Narrow streets opened, people turning to watch her, but she didn't care.
Then a hand clasped over her mouth. A low, familiar voice whispered at her ear, sending shivers down her spine:
"Be obedient, flower… and turn around."
Her heart slammed against her ribs. She froze, then slowly obeyed.
And there he was.
Zenon. Alive. Unharmed. His eyes locked onto hers with a force that stole her breath.
Selene's knees threatened to give way.
"Zenon… you're… alive?"
His gaze didn't waver. "Of course. Did you really think I'd let anything happen to you—or to me—without fighting?"