ll, insistent ache behind my right temple. The familiar scent of

oncerned. His hair was slightly disheveled, his eyes a

e," he said, reaching for my

t sent a fresh wave of pain through my head.

o distraught. She said you grabbed her, and she pushed you because she was scared." He paused, a practiced sigh es

rry, found his. "K

But that doesn't give you license to attack Hailie. She's just a chil

e pushed me down a flight of stairs, Amir. And you s

ou doctors, you get so clinical sometimes, you forget about emotional fragility." He leaned closer, his voice dro

th. "Is that why you were with Hailie when he was dying,

Her cooperation was crucial for Keon's procedure. I had to ensure she was in the right he

h her brother, needing a heart, and I was with Keon, needing a heart. And only one

the window, towards the ceiling. He cleared his thr

numental effort. "Would you still choose the young, fragile artist? Or would you choose

t look at me. He couldn't answer. And in that agonizing

nced at the screen, a soft expression

e. "Yes, I'm still here. Don't worry, everything's fine." He listened, his brow furrowing slightly.

hat might have been guilt crossing his face. "Hailie

cold and hard. "Go to your li

expensive watch on the bedside table. "I'll be back,

urning my head away. "I t

ickly. As i

ed and battered, but it was my heart that truly felt broken. I returned t

ing," he announced, striding into my room, Hailie's perfume clinging to his ex

looking up from the medical

project a united front, especially after... everything." He sat on the edge of the bed, his w

for my arm. "Come on, Blake. It's just for a few hours. We'll show everyone we're f

l ached from the fall. I was

spered, defea