Chapter 11

Ivy's POV

“I can’t go with you.”

The words came out before I could rethink them, but it was firm enough that even I surprised myself.

Zayn paused.

For the first time since I met him, something subtle shifted in his expression. Not confusion exactly… but a slight narrowing of his gaze, like he was trying to understand what I had just refused.

We stood outside the compound.

“Why?” he asked calmly. “We aren't staying in the same room, and I don't mean any harm.”

“I know,” I said quickly, my fingers tightening around the strap of my bag. “And I’m grateful. I really am.”

His eyes didn’t leave me.

“But?”

That single word made my throat tighten.

I lowered my gaze slightly.

“I just… can’t keep depending on you, and it hasn't been long since I met you,” I admitted quietly.

A brief silence followed.

“I understand,” he said finally.

I gave a small, almost sad smile. “That’s what it looks like.”

His jaw tightened slightly, just for a second.

“I won't force you against your wish.”

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

His gaze held mine.

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe properly.

There was something about the way he looked at me, like I was not just another person passing through his world. Like my answer actually mattered.

It made me uneasy.

Because people like him didn’t usually care about answers.

They gave instructions, and expected obedience.

“I will not interfere in your life,” he said calmly. “But you need medical care. That is not optional.”

“I’ll figure it out,” I insisted quickly. “I’ve survived worse.”

A flicker crossed his eyes.

“Survival is not the same as living,” he said.

But I wasn’t someone who could just accept help from a stranger, even if that stranger had already done more for me than most people I had known my entire life.

“I appreciate everything you’ve done,” I said softly. “But I need to do the rest on my own.”

Silence again.

Then he exhaled slowly.

“Fine,” he said.

My eyes lifted slightly in surprise. I hadn’t expected him to agree so easily. He reached into his inner jacket pocket. Then he pulled out a card.

My heart paused a little.

He held it out toward me. “Take this.”

I hesitated. “I don’t need…”

“You will,” he interrupted.

His tone was calm, but there was no room for argument. I slowly reached for it, my fingers brushing his for the briefest second.

I pulled it back quickly, almost like I had been burned.

I looked down at the card.

Zayn Kane.

My breath caught slightly. So that was his name.

Zayn.

It didn’t feel like it belonged to an ordinary person.

“What is this for?” I asked quietly.

“If anything goes wrong,” he said, “you call me.”

My brows furrowed slightly. “Anything?”

“Yes.”

I let out a small, uncertain breath. “That sounds a bit dramatic,” I tried to joke softly.

He didn’t smile, not even a little.

My smile faded almost immediately.

“I’m serious,” he said.

The air between us shifted again, but this time, it wasn’t heavy.

Something inside me tightened slightly. “I’ll be fine,” I said, more softly now.

His gaze held mine for a moment longer, like he didn’t believe me. Or like he knew something I didn’t.

Then he nodded once.

“Good.”

He stepped back slightly. And for some reason, that small distance felt strange. Like something was being taken away.

Or maybe I was just imagining it.

“I have to go,” he said.

I nodded quickly. “Okay.”

He didn’t turn immediately. His eyes lingered on me for another second. Then he finally turned and walked toward the black car waiting nearby.

I stood still while watching his back, not sure why I didn't move. Not sure why I felt like something important was ending before it even started.

The driver opened the door for him, and he stepped in.

The car engine started softly.

And then, he was gone just like that.

I didn’t realize I was still standing there until the cold evening air reminded me. I exhaled slowly, gripping the card in my hand a little tighter.

Zayn Kane.

I repeated the name in my head. It didn’t make things clearer. If anything, it made everything more confusing. Why would someone like him care about someone like me?

I started walking slowly.

My steps were lighter than before, but my mind wasn’t.

I stopped walking for a moment and looked down at the card again.

A soft sigh escaped my lips. “I’m overthinking this,” I whispered to myself.

By the time I reached my small room, the sky had fully darkened. The street outside was quieter now, and dim lights flickered occasionally.

The usual sounds of life in the area continued faintly in the background.

But inside me, everything felt louder.

I closed the door behind me and leaned against it for a moment.

I dropped my bag onto the small bed and sat down slowly.

A long breath left my lips.

“I hope I did the right thing,” I whispered into the quiet room.

But there was no answer.