The weather was cool and it was drizzling by the time Cyrus stepped out of the car, but the unease in his chest had nothing to do with the weather. He took out his umbrella and opened it.He stared at the hospital entrance, the glass doors reflecting a man he barely recognized. Camilla's words haunted him. “Not for her. Not even for me. For you. Pretend all you want, you know the truth, deep down.”His fists clenched at his sides. His jaw tightened. Every instinct told him to turn around. Walk away. Keep the armor on.But his foot had a mind of its own, and he’d promised her. And a promise to Camilla wasn’t something he wanted to risk breaking.The hallways smelled like antiseptic and something faintly floral. It made his stomach twist. Hospitals are least of places he'd want to stay. They reminded him of things he tried hard to forget — loss, helplessness, words unsaid.A nurse recognized him and offered a polite smile. “Room 309,” she said, almost too gently.He gave her a curt nod
The room was bathed in soft light as the early morning rays peeked through the curtains. Camilla stretched out next to Cyrus, her cheeks rested against his chest, listening to the slow and even thud of his heart. He was silent, his fingers trailing the length of her spine in idle, peaceful and gentle strokes. The air was thick with the intimacy they shared, the kind that existed even without words.“What's going through your mind, right now?” Camilla broke the silence, her voice teasing and muffled against his chest.“How to take you again and again, until you're unable to get off the bed.” he teased, his voice near hoarse and throaty.Camilla's heart skipped, heat crawling down her spine.“Oh Cyrus, don't be a fiend.” “Congratulations, you've successfully turned me into one. I'm shamelessly a fiend, for you.”“Get off me!” She laughed, slightly hitting his chest.His lips carved up slightly, as his chest made a deep, low rumble. Not quite laughter — just the kind of sound only Cami
Inside the room was silent, except for the steady and slow hum of Cyrus and Camilla’s breathing. Camilla was tucked by his side, their legs tangled as they faced each other—forehead pressed together.“I didn’t know it could feel like that,” Cyrus whispered, voice still wrecked, eyes lost in hers.Camilla brushed a kiss over his lips, smiling softly. “Neither did I. Not like this.”He kissed her again—slower this time, the kind of kiss that made her feel like he was trying to memorize her. But when their lips parted, her expression shifted, a quiet seriousness settling behind her gaze.Cyrus noticed immediately. He leaned back slightly, studying her face. “Angel?”She raised her soft gaze at him, meeting his blue worry-laced ones. “Do you trust me?”His brows furrowed, “Of course I do, why would you even ask that?”Camilla hesitated, then breathed, “I feel like you don’t.”Cyrus sat up slightly, his grip tightening on her wrists. “Don’t feel that way,” he said, firmly. “I do trust you,
The room was dark, quiet except for the steady rhythm of Cyrus’s breathing. But Camilla wasn't asleep, she turned slowly, propping herself up on her elbow, watching Cyrus. The moonlight casted soft shadows across his face—so beautiful, so unaware, so charming. A lump rose in her throat again. She had to reach him–feel him. To Let him know she was there for him.She leaned in, kissed his jaw gently, then traced her lips down to his neck, feeling the heat of his skin. Cyrus stirred faintly but didn’t wake up–still on the edge of sleep, his body warm beneath the sheets. Camilla’s hands slid under the covers, found him already half-hard—his body responding to her before his mind even caught up. A slow smile curved her lips as she kissed down his chest, her tongue teasing over the ridges of his muscles.Cyrus groaned low in his throat, eyes fluttering open. “Camilla?” His voice was thick, husky with sleep.“Shh….” she whispered, her mouth brushing against his ear. “Don’t say anything. J
The moment Camilla stepped out, the sterile air of the corridor felt thicker, heavier. Her feet moved, but her chest was tight–tight from the tears she hadn’t cried, tight from the truth she now carried like a ticking clock in her hands. Cyrus spotted her from the corner seat and stood up. He looked worried, but trying not to show it–arms crossed, jaw tense, eyes dark.Camilla forced a smile, as soon as she noticed him. Her heart ached for him with tender sorrow, knowing he had no idea what had befallen him. “How is she?” he asked, immediately she was close to him.Seeing him up close, she was suddenly hyper-aware of the features he shared with Margret—the resemblance was too glaring, even the way they both tried to mask their pain. “Camilla?” he called when he got no response from her, his voice, now firmer.“She's ... .tired,” Camilla said carefully, not meeting his gaze, her voice softer than intended. Cyrus tilted his head slightly, suspicion rising in his eyes. “Is she okay o
Camilla blinked, unsure she’d heard correctly. Her stomach twisted, the words sinking in slowly—less than a month.She stood rooted to the floor, her expression masked with horror. She couldn't believe her ears.Her mouth opened, then closed.She was Margaret Sterling. They have resources, power, access to the best doctors and everything at their fingertips. And yet—how could it… get to that point?”How's that even possible?“It was too late when I found out,” Margaret said, as if reading Camilla's thoughts. “I overlooked the symptoms because I was still in grief about the loss of my husband. The symptoms became severe a few months ago, I had to visit the hospital, and that was when I knew about it.” Camila's eyes stung, the sterile hospital room suddenly felt colder, the white walls pressing in around her. “Oh my god, I—I—I’m so sorry—” her voice trembled, and her throat burned as she blinked hard against the tears. She sat on the edge of the bed, unable to keep her hands from reac