As Ember tried to calm herself and lift her body from the bed, she can't feel her legs . She had forgotten how helpless they still were. Her knees buckled the moment her feet touched the floor—and just as she was about to collapse, strong arms caught her.
Dylan.
He pulled her tightly against his chest, his breath warm against her skin as he whispered in a low, teasing voice, "Where do you think you're going, sweetheart?"
Ember blinked up at him, flustered. "I... I just wanted to freshen up."
Dylan smirked, brushing a strand of her hair away from her face. "Me too... So let's do it together."
Her cheeks flushed. "What?"
Without another word, he walked to the bathroom and arranged a chair inside. Then, returning with that mischievous glint in his eyes, he scooped Ember effortlessly into his arms, his tone playful but commanding. "You sit here, princess. I'll stand. That way, I can keep an eye on you… and maybe steal a few kisses while we brush our teeth."
Ember giggled, her heart fluttering as he gently set her down. The two stood side by side, brushing their teeth and sneaking glances in the mirror—laughing, teasing, their eyes filled with unspoken promises. It was a strangely intimate, domestic moment. And it was perfect.
After freshening up, Dylan carried Ember back to the bed with ease, as if she weighed nothing in his arms. He wrapped her in a warm blanket and ordered breakfast for both of them, feeding her bites between stolen kisses, his hand never leaving hers.
Once they finished, Dylan looked into her eyes and said softly, "Baby, it's time to check out. Let's go back to our apartment… where I can finally have you all to myself."
A soft blush rose on Ember's cheeks, but she nodded, letting him help her to get ready. When they finally stepped outside, Ember still in Dylan's arms bridal-style, their moment was interrupted.
Standing near the exit were Adrien and Emir.
Dylan's eyes narrowed the moment he saw them. He recognized their presence immediately but didn't acknowledge them—he held Ember tighter instead, protectively.
But Ember's eyes met Emir's, and she offered a soft, surprised smile. "Hey…"
"Hey, Ember," Emir replied, returning her smile.
Ember looked between the two men. "What are you both doing here?" she asked, also nodding politely to Adrien.
Adrien replied calmly, "We came with Dylan last night… after he got injured."
Her eyes widened. "Oh... so you both know what happened last night?" she asked curiously.
At that question, both Emir and Adrien looked to Dylan for permission to answer. The tension was instant.
Dylan let out a deep sigh, the playful warmth in his eyes now clouded with something darker. He turned to Ember, his voice firm, wounded. "Ember, I told you everything that happened last night. Why are you asking them again? Don't you trust me?". She says bluntly that , "I don't."
The silence that followed was heavy. Emir let out a soft chuckle, amused by the brewing lovers' spat, but Ember shot him a sharp glare.
Dylan's jaw clenched, his hand tightening around Ember's waist. He leaned down, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered with a low growl, " you are my girlfriend don't you think you should be the one to trust me ."
His words were possessive, raw—and it sent a shiver down her spine.
The sweet morning had just turned into something much more dangerous... and thrilling.
Just then, a driver approached with a worried expression and said, "Sir, your car isn't starting."
Adrien sighed and responded firmly, "Get it repaired and have it sent to this address afterward."
Emir crossed his arms, annoyed. "So how are we supposed to get back to the city now?"
Right at that moment, Dylan's sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of them. The driver stepped out and handed the keys to Dylan.
Ember, still resting softly in Dylan's arms, looked at the two men and then back at her lover. She gently brushed her fingers along Dylan's injured shoulder and whispered, "Why don't you both come with us? Her eyes turned to Adrien and Emir. Considering Dylan's head injury, I think it's safer if one of you drives."
Emir grinned. "That's actually a great idea."
But Adrien hesitated, his gaze flicking to Dylan. "I think it's better if we just book a cab," he said cautiously, sensing the tension brewing.
Ember could feel Dylan stiffen slightly, even though he kept his expression neutral. She knew him too well. Despite his calm exterior, he didn't like the idea—but she also knew he wasn't in any shape to drive.
"Baby," she whispered, cupping his jaw tenderly and meeting his gaze with soft, pleading eyes, "Let's just give them a ride, please? For me?"
Dylan stared at her for a moment, then sighed in defeat, brushing his lips across her forehead. "Okay…" he muttered.
He carried Ember to the car and gently placed her in the backseat, then handed the keys to Adrien with a hint of reluctance. "You drive. I'm sitting with Ember."
As soon as the car pulled out onto the road, the atmosphere felt heavy—tense and awake with unsaid emotions. Trying to lighten the mood, Ember leaned forward and asked with a smile, "Emir, can you turn on some music?"
"Sure," Emir replied, tapping the screen to play something soft and mellow.
As the music floated through the air, Ember glanced between the front seats and asked curiously, "So… did you all patch things up?"
Before either of them could answer, Dylan responded bluntly, his arms crossing around Ember's waist possessively. "No. We didn't."
Ember and Emir couldn't help but chuckle at his sulky tone.
Emir smirked and teased, "Hey Adrien, did you wear those glasses yesterday just to impress Ember?"
Dylan's gaze snapped sharply to Adrien, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
Ember raised a brow. "Wait… When did Adrien wear glasses? I didn't see him."
Emir grinned. "You know, Ember, when Dylan was going out at night. he actually called Adrien and asked him to take care of you. When we got back, Adrien showed up wearing glasses. He looked ridiculously sexy in them too."
Ember laughed. "Really? Hey Adrien, I want to see that version of you too! Can you wear them now?"
Adrien groaned dramatically. "Can you both please shut up? Don't you see Dylan is staring at me like he's about to throw me off a cliff?"
At that, Ember turned toward Dylan with a giggle. His face was unreadable—stone-like—but his hand tightened protectively on her thigh.
She cupped his face with both hands, squeezed his cheeks playfully, and cooed, "Aww… my baby doesn't need to be jealous. He looks way sexier in glasses." She placed a slow, lingering kiss on his cheek before resting her head on his shoulder.
She noticed then—Dylan's ears were turning red.
He was blushing.
Ember smiled wickedly and whispered, "You know, during my exam week, Dylan was helping me study. That was the first time I saw him in glasses. And honestly…" She trailed her fingers teasingly down his chest, "I didn't want to study at all. I just wanted to stare at him like a crazy obsessed girl."
Dylan let out a low growl, his lips brushing her ear as he murmured, "Say one more word, Ember, and I swear I'll make you regret teasing me when we get home."
A shiver danced down her spine.
And somewhere in the front seat, Adrien quietly muttered, "I really should've booked that cab."
Emir leaned his arm casually on the window frame and smirked toward the backseat. "Hey Ember, I think I should start calling you sister-in-law. I mean, judging by how my best friend acts around you... it's only a matter of time. Might as well start practicing early, right?"
The moment the words sister-in-law slipped out of Emir's mouth, Ember's cheeks flushed a beautiful shade of red. She quickly glanced at Dylan, her heart thudding in her chest. "H-Hey, don't say things like that," she stammered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm really not ready for something like that yet…"
Dylan turned his head, watching her intently. He reached out and gently took her hand in his, threading their fingers together, his thumb brushing slowly over her knuckles. His voice was low, almost teasing—but there was a protective edge hidden beneath the warmth. "Why not?"
Ember met his eyes for a split second—but it was too much. His gaze was so intense, so full of love and longing, that she quickly turned away, afraid she might give in too easily.
She looked out the window and whispered softly, "I'm not at that age yet… I mean, I haven't really thought about it seriously. Maybe someday in the future..."
Adrien glanced at them through the rearview mirror and added with a neutral tone, "That's a wise decision."
Dylan, however, leaned in closer, his voice playful yet layered with meaning. "Hmm. I don't know about that. Good decisions should be made quickly... You know, good men are rare these days." He scratched the back of his neck and grinned like a boy trying to hide how serious he actually was.
Ember smiled faintly, her voice barely above a breath as she spoke while watching the passing trees blur through the window. "I've already made my choice… I just want to grow enough to be strong enough for him. To support him the way he deserves."
She didn't wait for anyone's reply. Her eyelids fluttered shut, and within seconds, she drifted into a peaceful sleep—her head resting gently against window.
Dylan looked down at her, his heart clenching at her words. He leaned closer, brushing his lips against her forehead as he whispered, "Who did you choose, Ember?"
Of course, he already knew the answer. But still, something in him longed to hear it from her lips.
When he saw that she had already fallen asleep, he let out a quiet, breathy chuckle. His hand came up to stroke her hair with a tenderness only she could bring out of him. Then, carefully, he shifted her head onto his lap, letting her curl up comfortably.
"I'll wait for you," he whispered, his voice raw and full of promise. "No matter how long it takes… you're mine."
His fingers played gently with a lock of her hair as the car moved forward, the light music blending with the sound of her soft breathing. And as he sat there, guarding her even in her sleep, his eyes never left her—not even for a second.
After a moment of silence, Emir turned in his seat and spoke casually, though his tone carried importance. "Dylan, you wanted an earlier court date, right? I pulled some strings for you. You and Ember have to be present at the courthouse tomorrow. I've arranged everything. Also, I hired a top-tier lawyer—make sure to meet him before the hearing."
Dylan gave a single nod, his voice low but sincere. "Thank you. Send me his contact details."
Emir chuckled, half surprised. "Look at you, actually saying thank you. You've really changed after meeting Ember."
Adrien chimed in with a knowing grin. "Yeah, you're not the same Dylan we knew. Softer, more... human."
Dylan raised a brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Adrien smirked. "You never used to say thank you. Like... ever. And now you're tossing it around like it's part of your daily routine."
Emir added teasingly, "Every time I helped you in the past, you'd just grunt or change the topic. But now? You're suddenly all polite and sentimental—like saying thank you is as easy as eating breakfast."
Dylan didn't deny it. Instead, he glanced down at Ember sleeping peacefully against him. His voice dropped, more intimate now. "I think... I did change. Whenever I'm with her, the world feels less cruel. Everything feels… beautiful. Like she softens all the broken edges in me."
Emir smiled warmly. "You've fallen hard for her, huh?"
Adrien, however, went silent. His thoughts wandered to a darker place—What will happen when it's time to say goodbye to Ember? But he didn't dare voice it. Not now.
The car rolled into the parking lot of the apartment complex.
Dylan was about to gently wake Ember, but he paused.
His expression shifted instantly—darkening.
Ember's face was drenched in sweat, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her hands trembled in her lap. Panic etched across her sleeping face.
Worried, Dylan leaned in and wiped the sweat from her forehead. The moment his fingertips touched her skin, she flinched in her sleep and whimpered.
"Don't touch me… please… don't touch me…" Her voice cracked. "Help… Somebody help… Dylan… ugh… ugh… hi-hiccup…"
Adrien's voice was tense from the front seat. "Dylan, wake her—slowly. Talk to her."
Dylan didn't hesitate. He cupped her face gently, his tone calm but firm. "Ember. I'm here. It's me, baby. Wake up…" He tapped her shoulder softly, trying to pull her out of the nightmare.
A single tear escaped from the corner of her eye before her lashes fluttered open.
Her vision met his—warm, familiar, safe.
Without a word, she wrapped her arms tightly around him, clinging to his chest as though trying to ground herself in his heartbeat.
Dylan held her close, one hand gently stroking her hair, the other wrapped protectively around her trembling body. "It's okay… you're safe now. I've got you," he whispered over and over, kissing the top of her head.
After a few minutes, Ember pulled away just enough to look up at him with a smile—a small, forced one, but convincing enough for someone who didn't know her as deeply as Dylan did. Her voice was light, as if she wanted to brush it off. "I'm okay. Just a weird dream."
But Dylan could see the truth in her eyes.
She was lying.
She didn't want to tell him that the nightmares still haunted her every night since the incident. That sleep had become a battlefield she dreaded. That even in dreams, her demons hunted her.
She turned and noticed Emir and Adrien watching with quiet concern. She offered them both a reassuring nod.
They smiled, relieved—but only Dylan knew the truth behind her smile.
And that truth unsettled him more than he let on.
Trying to shift the heavy air and steer away from the topic no one dared to speak out loud, Ember stretched slightly in Dylan's lap and glanced around with a faint smile. Her voice was soft but teasing. "Why are you all staring at me like that?"
Emir opened his mouth to say something cheeky, but Adrien beat him to it with a calm smile. "We were just waiting for you to wake up. Now that you're up, we can finally head to the apartment."
Ember blinked at them and then grinned. "So… you were all waiting for me? That's kind of sweet." She paused, then asked curiously, "What time is it?"
Emir checked his watch and replied, "Almost dusk."
Her eyes widened. "What? We didn't even have lunch! That's practically criminal." She looked at all three of them, her energy returning now that the fog of the nightmare had faded. "Why don't you two join us for dinner? We're all starving anyway."
Dylan raised an eyebrow, clearly not thrilled about company. "I think you need to rest, sweetheart. Why don't you let them go do their thing?"
Ember turned to him, arching a brow, and smirked. "Dylan, you're really something." She looked back at Emir and Adrien. "Listen, I'm cooking something delicious. You're officially invited to lunch-slash-dinner with us. And don't look at Dylan—I'm the one inviting you upstairs. So you better show up."
Dylan sighed dramatically, but the tiny upturn of his lips gave him away. He loved seeing her like this—fiery, in control, glowing despite everything.
A moment later, Ember sat up and stretched again, her messy hair falling around her shoulders, her fingers brushing against Dylan's chest as she stood. "Actually, I think we need to hit the grocery store first if I'm going to make anything worth feeding guests." She turned to Dylan and smiled sweetly. "Come on, let's head to the supermarket. And you two"—she pointed at Emir and Adrien—"I expect you to come up when you're done. Don't leave me hanging after I promised you something special."*
There was a playful glint in her eyes—mischief, warmth, and the hint of something more intimate simmering just beneath the surface. Dylan's arm instinctively wrapped around her waist , his breath brushing the shell of her ear.
"You keep making promises like that, Ember… and I might not let our guests leave."
She blushed, nudging him away with her elbow, and laughed, her heart fluttering in her chest. For a moment, she forgot the nightmare. Forgot the court date. Forgot the fear.
In that moment… it was just her and him.