Julian sits alone in his office late at night, repeatedly calling Aurora, but she doesn't answer. Growing anxious, he leaves her a voicemail asking her to call back.
He owns a successful gallery, which closed hours ago after Lily left. It's nearly midnight when he finally realizes how hungry he is and decides to grab some fast food.
...
It was past midnight. The streets were quiet and cold. Ava walked quickly, holding her coat tight around her. She didn't know where she was going—she just needed to get out of the apartment.
She turned down a small street. The shops were closed, and no one else was around. Then she heard footsteps behind her.
She looked back. A man was following her. He wore a hoodie, and something about him made her nervous.
She walked faster.
"Hey!" the man called out. She didn't stop.
Then—bang.
A gunshot.
Pain shot through her arm, and she fell to the ground. She cried out, holding her arm. Blood was already soaking through her sleeve.
The man stepped into the light. He had a scar on his face and a cruel smile.
Before he could get closer, another voice shouted.
"Leave her alone!"
Julian had seen what happened from his car. He jumped out and ran straight at the man, tackling him to the ground.
They fought hard. Julian punched the man in the face. The man hit back, but Julian didn't stop. Finally, the man ran off, holding his side.
Julian ran to Ava and dropped to his knees.
"You're hurt," he said. "Stay with me."
Ava looked up at him, shaking. "Who are you?"
Julian took off his coat and pressed it to her arm. "Just someone who was in the right place at the right time."
...
Ava blinked against the bright lights overhead. Her body felt heavy, her arm throbbing with a dull, distant ache. It took her a second to realize she was in a hospital.
She tried to sit up but winced at the sharp pain.
"Easy," a calm voice said beside her.
She turned her head slowly. A man was sitting in a chair next to her bed. He looked tired, hair messy, shirt wrinkled, with a faint bruise on his cheek.
Just then, a nurse stepped into the room, glanced at the monitors, and said gently, "Glad to see you're awake. The doctor will be in to see you shortly."
The nurse stepped closer to Ava's bedside, her tone warm but professional.
"Can you tell me your name?" she asked gently, checking Ava's wristband and jotting something down on a clipboard.
"Ava," she said hoarsely.
"Good. And do you know what day it is?"
Ava blinked, her mind slow to catch up. "Um… no. Not really."
"That's okay," the nurse said with a kind smile. "You've been through a lot. You were brought in with a gunshot wound to the arm. You're stable now, and the bleeding's under control. The doctor will explain more when he gets here."
She adjusted Ava's IV, glanced at the heart monitor, then continued, "Do you feel any dizziness? Nausea? Pain anywhere else besides your arm?"
"A little dizzy. My arm hurts," Ava mumbled.
"I'll let the doctor know. Just rest for now." She turned to the man still sitting by the bed. "Are you family?"
Ava's voice came out before she could think. "Yes. He's my husband."
Julian's eyes widened slightly. "Um… y-yes. I'm her husband."
The nurse gave them both a quick look, then nodded. "Alright. I'll be back soon."
As she stepped out, the room fell into a heavy silence. Ava stared at the ceiling, her face flushed. Julian sat frozen, unsure whether to laugh, ask questions, or run for the door.
Julian turned to her, brows raised. "Husband?"
Ava let out a shaky breath, wincing slightly as she shifted. "I just… I didn't want them to call anyone."
Her voice was soft, strained. "They'd start asking questions, make me list emergency contacts. I panicked."
Julian leaned forward, his tone gentler now. "You could've just said I was a friend."
"I don't know why I said that," she whispered, blinking hard. "I just didn't want them to send you away."
He sat back slowly, something unreadable in his eyes. "Alright then… husband it is."
Ava gave a tired smile. "Thank you… I don't even know your name."
"Julian," he said rising to pick up a medicine cover from the floor.
She looked at him properly then. Every angle of his face was striking, too perfect, almost unreal. And tall, at least six feet, with a lean, sculpted build that could've rivaled any runway model.
"Thank you, Julian. For saving my life."
He gave a small nod, his gaze softening. "Do you know the man who shot you?"
She shook her head slowly. "No. I've never seen him before."
Julian hesitated for a moment, then added, "Did you get a good look at him?
Ava's brows drew together. "Not really. It was dark… everything happened so fast. I just remember the gun… and he had a scar."
"A cop from the NYPD came by yesterday. He already took my statement. He would want to talk to you."
Ava nodded.
After a while the door opened with a quiet knock, and a man in a black suit stepped inside, flipping open a badge.
"Ms. Ava? Detective Moran, NYPD. Just a few questions, if you're up for it."
Julian rose from the chair beside her bed. "I'll be outside," he said gently, brushing a hand over Ava's arm before slipping into the hallway.
A few minutes later, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then answered.
"Rory, where the hell have you been?" he said.
"Baby, I'm so sorry. A friend had an emergency and I was helping her," she said a little too sweetly.
"Are you serious right now? You vanished all day. No call, no text. Nothing. Do you know how worried I was?"
"I know, I know. I should've reached out. But it was urgent, Julian."
"Urgent?" he snapped. "Urgent enough to ghost me for twenty-four hours?"
"I'll explain, just… not over the phone. I'm at your place. Where are you?"
"I'm at the hospital."
"The hospital? What happened? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," he said curtly. "Just helping a friend. Go home I will call you."
A beat of silence. Then her voice, lower now. "Julian..."
But he'd already pulled the phone away from his ear, ending the call before she could finish.
He stared at the screen for a moment, jaw tight, then slipped the phone back into his pocket and turned toward Ava's room.