Chapter 10: Stay Alive
826 Words
The first thing Regal felt was pain.
Dull.
Heavy.
Everywhere.
Then—
voices.
Soft.
Distant.
“…she’s stabilizing.”
“…lucky we caught it early…”
“…keep monitoring—”
Regal’s fingers twitched slightly.
Her lashes fluttered.
Light flooded in.
Too bright.
She winced.
“Easy.”
The voice was familiar.
Low.
Controlled.
Close.
Regal blinked slowly, her vision adjusting.
And then she saw him.
Sebastian.
Sitting beside her bed.
Not standing.
Not distant.
Sitting.
Watching.
Relief flickered across his face the moment her eyes opened.
Quick.
Almost invisible.
But she saw it.
“You’re awake,” he said.
Her throat felt dry.
“Feels… like I got hit by a truck,” she murmured weakly.
Sebastian exhaled softly.
“That’s not far from the truth.”
She tried to smile.
Failed.
“Still funny,” she whispered.
“You’ll live,” he replied.
A pause.
Then, quieter—
“You don’t get to die on my watch.”
Something about the way he said it, made her chest tighten.
⸻
He reached for the glass of water on the table.
“Sit up.”
She frowned slightly.
“I can try—”
“I wasn’t asking.”
There it was.
That tone again.
But this time, it didn’t feel controlling.
It felt… careful.
He moved closer, sliding one arm gently behind her back.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Like he was making sure not to hurt her.
Regal stiffened slightly at first.
Then relaxed.
He helped her sit up.
Every movement careful.
Every touch measured.
“Drink,” he said, handing her the glass.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she took it.
The water helped.
A little.
“Thanks,” she murmured.
Sebastian nodded once.
⸻
A tray of untouched food sat nearby.
He glanced at it.
Then at her.
“You need to eat.”
She gave him a look.
“I can barely breathe.”
“And you think starving will help?”
She didn’t answer.
He didn’t wait.
Sebastian picked up the spoon.
Regal blinked.
“You’re not serious.”
“I am.”
“You’re going to feed me?”
“Yes.”
She stared at him.
“You’re a whole lawyer.”
“And you’re a whole problem,” he replied calmly.
That made her huff a weak laugh.
Which hurt.
“Careful,” he said, already bringing the spoon closer. “Unless you want to make things worse.”
She hesitated.
Then—
opened her mouth slightly.
He fed her slowly.
Patiently.
Like it was the most normal thing in the world.
No rush.
No awkwardness.
Just… quiet care.
⸻
For a moment—
everything else faded.
The case.
The danger.
The fear.
It was just, this.
⸻
“You don’t have to do this,” she said softly after a while.
Sebastian paused.
“Yes, I do.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
A beat.
Then
“Because no one else is.”
Simple.
Honest.
And heavier than anything else he could’ve said.
⸻
After a while, he set the tray aside.
His gaze shifted to her arm.
The bruising was visible.
Darkening.
Ugly.
His expression hardened slightly.
“Does it hurt?”
She let out a soft breath.
“Everything hurts.”
He reached for the small medical kit nearby.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Fixing what I can.”
Before she could protest, he gently took her arm.
His touch was firm.
But careful.
He cleaned the area slowly, applying ointment with quiet precision.
Regal watched him.
Confused.
Curious.
“You’ve done this before,” she said.
“Enough times.”
“That doesn’t sound like a normal lawyer thing.”
“It’s not.”
He didn’t elaborate.
Of course.
⸻
Outside the room—
Daisy stood near the door.
Watching.
Silent.
Unnoticed.
Her eyes moved between them.
Taking everything in.
The way Sebastian leaned closer.
The way Regal looked at him.
The way he handled her like she was important.
Daisy frowned slightly.
“That’s interesting…” she murmured.
Because she knew Sebastian Cole.
Or at least, his reputation.
Cold.
Untouchable.
Unbothered.
And yet—
this?
This wasn’t that man.
⸻
Inside—
Sebastian finished tending to her arm.
His fingers lingered for just a second longer than necessary.
Then he pulled back.
“You’ll be out of here soon,” he said.
Regal looked at him.
“Back to detention?”
A pause.
Then—
“No.”
Her heart skipped.
“I filed for emergency bail,” he continued. “After what happened, they don’t have a choice.”
Relief washed over her.
Slow.
Careful.
Uncertain.
“You’re serious?”
“I don’t say things I don’t mean.”
A beat.
Then—
“You’re coming with me,” he added.
She exhaled slowly.
“To work for you?”
“To stay alive.”
⸻
Their eyes met.
And this time—
neither of them looked away.
- Writer
