By nightfall, Anne could finally speak again.
"Anne, sit up slowly." Louis gently propped her up from behind, his movements so gentle he might as well have been handling a delicate, breakable treasure.
Tears of gratitude welled in Anne's eyes. "Louis, I really can't thank you enough this time. If you hadn't brought in the most authoritative oncologist, I'd probably be dead by now."
"There's no need for thanks between us," Louis said as he handed her a cup of warm water. "Believe me, losing all these years apart is already regret enough. I'll protect you for the rest of my life, and I'll give you the happiness you deserve."
Anne nodded softly.
Soft, unspoken warmth and quiet tension hummed between them, wrapping the whole room in a quiet buzz of connection.
That is, until a jarring sh
