– Hazel —
A light tap on my shoulder wakes me up.
"Miss?" a soft voice says.
I blink a few times, my vision blurry .The nurse is standing beside me, clipboard in hand and that overly cheerful smile nurses seem required to wear.
"You're stable now. Vitals are all clear. You're free to go whenever you're ready."
My body aches in quiet, unfamiliar places. Not broken… but shifted.
All I knew was—I wanted my bed. My sheets. My window. And quiet. A real kind of quiet, not the kind hospitals give you where everything hums and smells like bleach and regret.
The car ride was quiet, which I was grateful for. I leaned my head against the window and watched the city. I felt relieved when we pulled up to my apartment building. But instead, I saw a man standing outside the entrance—tall, dressed in all black, arms crossed like those bouncers you see in movies.
I narrowed my eyes. "Who's that?"
The driver cleared his throat. "Mr. Ace sent security for you."
So that's his stupid ass name Ace huh? I thought to myself.
I sat up. "He what?"
"Your protection detail," he added quickly like I should be grateful.
The door opened before I could respond, and the statue came to life.
"Ms. Hazel," he said. "I'm Cassian. Mr. Ace assigned me to ensure your safety."
"Why?" I asked flatly. "Do you think someone's trying to assassinate me because I signed a contract?"
He didn't blink. "This is just precautionary. I'm here to make sure you're safe and comfortable."
Safe and comfortable. I let out a sharp laugh. "You can't be serious."
"I'm not authorized to leave your side," he added.
Oh, of course. Of course, a man with such wealth would pull this kind of stunt. Send a guard like he expected me to faint at the sight of money wrapped in black leather and silent obedience. What did he think—that I'd be impressed? That I'd fall to my knees in gratitude because the mighty billionaire was offering protection?
Or maybe he thought I was the kind of girl who'd run straight into wealth like it was a warm bath.
I stared at Liam. "Go home. I don't need a babysitter."
He gave the faintest shake of his head. "If you have an issue, you'll need to take it up with Mr. Ace."
Like what the hell?
Yeah, right. Like I'd call him. Hi Ace, it's your uterus on the line—please stop pretending I'm some kind of glass egg.
I rolled my eyes. "Fine. I'm going to see my mother. If you're going to stand around anyway, you might as well drive me."
He opened the door without comment. I got in and pulled, it shut harder than necessary.
We stopped at a little grocery store on the way. I wanted to get fruit and snacks for Ma, maybe some dried hibiscus she liked. The second I stepped inside, I felt the shift. People turned to look. Not at me, but behind me—at Cassian.
It was like walking in with a neon sign flashing MONEY and SECRETS over my head. I hated it.
I didn't even want to imagine what they thought. Probably some sugar-baby arrangement. Or worse—a bodyguard for hire because I had problems.
I paid fast and got out even faster. He helped carry the bag like a butler. It annoyed me more than I could say.
Ma looked better today—her cheeks were still pale but not as drawn. Her eyes lit up the second I walked in, and suddenly, all the snarks in me deflated like a popped balloon.
"Hey, sweetheart," she said, smiling weakly.
I sat beside her bed and took her hand.
"Hi, Ma."
She studied me closely like she was checking for something. "You did it."
I didn't answer. I just nodded once.
She pressed her lips together and blinked fast. "You didn't have to."
"I know," I murmured. "But I did."
Her thumb brushed my knuckles. "I'm so sorry it came to this."
"It didn't come to anything," I said quickly. "It was my decision. Mine. I didn't do it because I had to—I did it because… because I couldn't just sit there and watch you suffer anymore."
Her eyes watered. "You've always been too good for this world."
"I'm just tired, Ma."
She nodded slowly. "I can't wait for the day we both get to be happy. Not just surviving."
I smiled a little. "That's the goal."
We told jokes for a few minutes. Then she pointed towards the door.
"Who's the man standing outside?"
I groaned. "That's Cassian. My… bodyguard."
Her eyes widened. "Your what now?"
"Ace thought I needed to be protected. Offered me his second estate to recover in. Second, Ma. Not the main one. Like I'm a little too 'middle class' for his primary mansion."
She chuckled weakly. "Did you go?"
"No. I told the hospital I was going home. When they told him, he sent Cassian instead."
Her brows shot up. "Maybe he's trying to take care of you in his weird way?"
"Or maybe he assumes every woman would jump at the idea of playing princess in a guarded castle."
"Well," she said slowly, "he's not wrong about some women."
I sighed. "I'm not some woman."
"I know." She smiled again.
By the time I left the hospital, the sun had died down. I looked at Cassian and said nothing. He opened the door and I got in.
I wasn't sure what Ace was trying to do—buy my silence? Earn brownie points?
But if he thought this meant I owed him something more than what I'd already agreed to, he was sorely mistaken.
He'd get what he paid for. Not an inch more.Not my mind. Not my time. Not my heart. Not now. Not ever.