Chapter Thirty-Six
Ana
I looked at Derek as he stood by my hospital bed. His words, telling me I wasn't going anywhere, hung in the quiet room.
I was surprised by the intensity in his voice. It felt as if he cared about my safety more than I could have imagined. For a moment, the weight of being a slave and the shame of the party felt a little lighter.
Derek seemed to realize how much emotion he had shown. He quickly pulled his hands away from my shoulders and took a step back. His face reddened slightly, and he looked down at the floor.
"I’m sorry," he muttered, his voice sounding rough. "I didn't mean to snap at you like that. I just... I hate seeing you like this."
I sat back down on the edge of the bed, my legs dangling. I looked at him for a long time, feeling a deep sense of gu
