Steven’s POV
Ashley’s hesitant voice broke the tense silence as we walked down the dim hospital corridor. “Thank you for doing this for me, Steven,” she said, her words barely above a whisper.
I glanced at her briefly, my expression unreadable. “I’m only doing this because I have to. We made a deal, remember?”
Her eyes darted to the floor as if searching for strength in her next words. “Still,” she murmured, “thank you.”
I stopped abruptly, turning to her. Without a word, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her into an empty room. The door closed behind us with a soft click, and before she could protest, I pressed her back against the cold wall. My arm braced above her head, caging her in. Her breath hitched, the sound sharp in the otherwise silent room.
“W-What are you doing?” sh
