Dylan had been discharged from the hospital—though not willingly. Emir had practically begged him to rest longer, to stay under observation, but Dylan refused. The argument between them had lasted nearly half an hour, intense and heated, until Dylan, stubborn as ever, won. He wasn't going to waste another second away from Ember.
"Drive me," Dylan had ordered, voice laced with urgency. Emir knew there was no winning against him now. So, he brought him straight to the beachside hotel… where Ember was.
As they reached the room, the ocean breeze whispering through the corridor, Emir lifted his hand to ring the bell—but before his finger could touch it, Dylan smacked him on the back of the head.
"Ow! Hey, man, what the hell?!" Emir flinched, turning sharply.
Dylan narrowed his eyes. "I thought you had more IQ than Adrien, but clearly, I overestimated you. You two idiots must share the same braincell."
"Tch—don't you dare compare me with that brat," Emir growled.
Dylan crossed his arms, irritated. "Then stop acting like him. You know Ember's sleeping, and you were just about to wake her up by pressing that damn bell! Use your phone, you fool—and call the other fool who's inside to open the door."
Emir blinked. "Wait… Adrien's inside? That's why you rushed out of the hospital, huh?"
Dylan's jaw tightened as he barked, "No, I didn't!" Denial poured out of him like fire, his tone sharp, eyes giving away more than he wanted.
Emir chuckled at his childish jealousy and pulled out his phone. "You're so bad at lying, bro."
Moments later, the door creaked open. Adrien stood there—book in hand, sleek reading glasses perched on his nose, his shirt slightly unbuttoned. He looked like he had walked out of a steamy novel cover.
Emir whistled, stepping inside. "Damn, Adrien, who are you trying to seduce with that whole hot professor look?"
Adrien rolled his eyes. "You really haven't changed at all. Still the same annoying jerk." But then his gaze drifted behind Emir—toward Dylan.
"Hey, Dylan, why are you just standing there? Come in, man."
But Adrien's amused expression turned serious the moment his eyes caught the fading bruise on Dylan's cheek, and hit bandage on his head.
"Wait… What happened to you?" he asked, voice laced with concern.
Dylan walked in, silent. His eyes darted around the room, but it was clear what he was really searching for—Ember.
Adrien stepped forward, frowning. "Hey, I asked you something. What the hell happened to your face?"
Still, Dylan didn't reply. The storm behind his gaze was louder than any words.
His mind was racing—Is she okay? Is she still sleeping? Did she miss me?
He could feel her presence in the room. Every second away from her had felt like agony. And now that he was close again, the only thing he wanted was to hold her tight, kiss her slowly, and never let anyone else even think about waking her from her peace.
Emir, sprawled lazily on the couch with a smug look on his face, smirked as he spoke. "He just got beaten up to make the arrest look more real. Come on—do you really think two guards could touch Dylan like that if he didn't want them to?"
In the background, Dylan stood in the kitchen, silently filling a glass of water. He looked tired—worn, but still every bit the fire that burned for Ember. As the water trickled down his throat, Adrien leaned forward, brows furrowed.
"You're right, Emir. But don't you think this is a bit too much? That beating wasn't for show—it was brutal. Just to make the arrest scene believable?"
Emir shrugged, suddenly serious. "I think so too."
Adrien ran a hand through his hair in frustration. His voice grew sharper, more emotional. "Dylan… did you really let them hit you like that? Even knowing it could cause serious injury? Don't tell me… you did it because you feel guilty. Because Ember got hurt."
Dylan set the empty glass down with a soft clink and turned, his voice low and cold.
"Are you done?" he muttered. "Now leave."
Adrien stood up, unwilling to let it go. "Don't change the subject like that, Dylan! Why are you blaming yourself? We saved her on time. That's what matters. She's safe now. And I know Ember—she won't be okay if you're carrying this guilt around. You know that too."
Dylan's jaw clenched. His eyes flicked toward the bedroom door—where she was. His voice dropped to a warning growl. "I know. So stop talking… and leave."
He opened the door wide, giving no room for argument. His message was clear—get out.
Emir, always the last to let a moment pass without sarcasm, grumbled as he stood. "Hey, you brat, it's already past midnight. No, wait—probably morning already. You could at least pretend to let us sleep here."
Dylan narrowed his eyes, his tone gentle with sincerity. "Thank you... so much."
And with that, he shut the door in their faces.
The lock clicked.
Emir scoffed dramatically, still recovering from the shock. "Did I hear that right? Was that... a thank you?"
Adrien chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "Yeah. I can't believe it either. Dylan actually said he was thankful. I think Ember really is changing him."
Emir smirked. "Damn right she is."
Just then, a hotel manager approached them with a polite smile. "Sirs, your rooms are ready , as per Mr. Dylan's order. Please come with me—I'll escort you."
"Perfect," Emir replied. Then he leaned toward Adrien and muttered under his breath, "He's changed so much, he even booked us rooms. I swear, this guy used to treat us like unwanted side characters."
They both laughed softly before exchanging a glance, silently agreeing that something about Dylan had shifted—and it was all because of her. With a quiet "Good night", they followed the manager down the corridor to their rooms.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, Dylan walked slowly toward the softly lit bedroom, the door half-open as if inviting him into a dream he never wanted to wake from. The silence inside welcomed him like a balm, the air warm and laced with a familiar scent—her. Sweet, soft, intoxicating.
There she was—Ember.
Sleeping peacefully, wrapped in the white sheets like a fragile secret, her face bathed in the gentle moonlight that slipped through the curtains. She looked ethereal, as if the night itself had carved her from stardust.
Dylan's chest tightened painfully. The guilt he had been trying to suppress since the rescue clawed its way back up—she almost died…
He ran a hand through his tousled hair and sighed deeply, the weight of the day heavy in his body. Slowly, he walked to the bed and sat at the edge, the mattress dipping under his presence. His fingers reached forward, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her cheek. His touch lingered on her soft skin—gentle, reverent, trembling.
"You don't even know what you do to me," he whispered, voice low and raw.
He leaned in closer, his lips a breath away from her ear. "I would take a thousand beatings… if it means keeping you safe. I'd bleed again and again… just to see you smile."
Her body shifted slightly in her sleep, instinctively seeking his warmth, as if even in her dreams she knew he was there. Dylan let out a slow breath, the tension and fire in his chest aching to hold her, to protect her, to never let go.
Without a sound, he slipped beneath the covers and gently pulled her into his arms. Her body molded into his perfectly, like she had always belonged there—pressed against his chest, breathing in sync, her presence calming every storm in him.
He pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder, his fingers tracing the curve of her waist, feeling the pulse of life in her—warm and alive. The sensation ignited something deeper in him: desire, devotion, the primal need to protect.
He hadn't thought he would sleep tonight. After everything—after Adrien and Emir, after the fight, the bruises, the guilt—his mind had been too loud. But here, holding Ember, listening to the gentle rhythm of her breathing... the noise faded.
His eyelids grew heavy. The chaos within him slowly quieted.
And then, wrapped around the only girl who had ever made him feel loved, Dylan finally gave in—not out of weakness, but because in that moment, he felt safe.
Because she was in his arms. And he knew… he'd burn the world down to keep her there.
----------------------------------
The golden sunlight spilled into the room, casting a soft, golden glow across the sheets. Ember stirred as the warmth kissed her skin, her lashes fluttering open. The first thing she saw was the breathtaking view of the beach outside the wide glass windows—waves dancing under the morning sun.
A sleepy smile touched her lips.
But the peace shattered the moment she turned… and saw him.
Dylan was lying beside her, still asleep. His hand was wrapped gently around hers, his grip loose but possessive, like he couldn't let go even in sleep. But what stole her breath—and her smile—was the white bandage wrapped around his head. Her heart clenched.
No...
Her gaze frantically scanned his body, panic rising in her throat. There were more bandages—one wrapped around his hand, another barely visible beneath his shirt. A silent tear rolled down her cheek. And then another. Until they wouldn't stop.
Her fingers trembled as she brought his hand to her lips, kissing it gently, as if her love alone could heal him. She leaned closer to his face, brushing her lips near his cheek. A single tear slipped down from her eyes and landed on his skin.
That was all it took.
Dylan stirred.
His eyes fluttered open slowly, still dazed from the morning light—but the moment they focused, they found her. Ember, inches from his face, her hands pressed against his chest, her tears glistening on her cheeks like dew.
And she looked so heartbreakingly beautiful—his sunshine, even when she cried.
His fingers reached up, brushing against her cheek. But instead of warmth, he felt wetness.
His heart stopped.
His eyes flew open completely. She was crying. Hard.
With sudden urgency, Dylan sat up in bed, cupping her face in his hands, wiping her tears with his thumbs.
"Hey, hey… what happened, baby?" he whispered, his voice a mixture of panic and tenderness. "Why are you crying like this?"
But Ember didn't speak. She couldn't. The moment she looked into his tired, bruised, and yet so painfully beautiful eyes, her tears only flowed harder. Her sobs became soft gasps as emotion poured out of her.
She wrapped her arms around him tightly, burying her face into his neck. He pulled her into his lap instantly, holding her close, one hand behind her head, the other rubbing her back soothingly.
"Shhh… it's okay. I'm here," he whispered into her hair, kissing her temple softly. "I'm okay. Don't cry, sunshine… please, don't cry."
After Ember finally calmed down, Dylan gently pulled her back just enough to see her face, his hands cradling her cheeks as he stared deeply into her teary eyes.
"Baby… talk to me. What happened?" he whispered, concern tightening his voice. "Why are you crying like this? Are you hurt somewhere?"
Ember shook her head, her fingers trembling as she touched his chest. "Dylan… what happened to you? How did you get hurt like this?"
It was only then that Dylan seemed to remember the bandage wrapped around his head. He let out a small sigh.
"Ember, it's nothing. Just a small injury, really," he said, brushing it off like it was no big deal. "You don't need to worry about me. The ones who hurt you? I made sure they were arrested."
He thought she'd feel relief hearing that—but instead, her face paled, her eyes widening.
"You had them arrested…? That means you got injured because of that? You fought them? And you say that a head injury like this is small?"
She pulled away slightly, her heart sinking. Dylan cursed himself silently—he hadn't meant to word it like that. He had tried to hide the truth from her, but now… he couldn't.
He sighed again and finally admitted, "Baby… I just wanted to help the police speed things up, so we could go home sooner. It wasn't a big deal. I handled them fine. You should've seen their faces—I gave them hell." He tried to smirk, playing it off.
But Ember's hand moved to his lips, gently tracing the bruise near the corner of his mouth. The moment her fingers touched the tender spot, Dylan winced.
"Ouch!"
"You said it didn't hurt," Ember muttered, her voice quiet but heavy with emotion.
"Okay, maybe a little," he admitted with a half-smile, trying to lighten the mood. He reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her onto his lap. "Please don't be mad, sunshine. I swear, I'm okay. They checked me at the hospital and cleared me. That's why I'm here. With you. Where I belong."
He held her tightly, burying his face into the curve of her neck as if grounding himself in her presence.
"Please… don't be mad at me," he whispered against her skin, his voice softer now, laced with guilt and longing.
Ember opened her mouth to scold him, to say something fierce—but the words caught in her throat. She looked at him, truly looked at him… broken, bruised, but still somehow smiling. Still trying to protect her.
"You…" she began, but her anger melted the moment she felt his thumb brushing circles on her back.
"…I'm not," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
And then she leaned into him, their foreheads touching, her lips just inches from his—close enough to feel his breath tremble.
Because no matter how much she wanted to stay mad… she loved him more than the fear, more than the pain.
And he had come back to her safe that's what important now..