Chapter 230

Vivian spun around to find Adrian standing in the doorway, his fingers clutching a silver key, his dark eyes locked onto her.

Her breath hitched as she scrambled to pull the silk robe over her bare shoulders. The fabric slipped through her trembling fingers twice before she managed to secure it.

Moonlight traced the elegant curve of her spine, highlighting the delicate dip of her waist before flaring into the soft swell of her hips.

Adrian remained motionless.

His gaze traveled over the exposed skin of her back, cataloging every angry red mark marring her porcelain complexion.

A muscle twitched in his jaw as fury and remorse twisted in his gut like twin vipers.

Those crimson streaks were a brutal reminder of her pain - pain he'd failed to shield her from.

"Ever heard of knocking?" she snapped, clutching the robe tighter around herself.

Wordlessly, he crossed the room and guided her to sit on the edge of the four-poster bed.

"What now?" Vivian exhaled sharply, irritation lacing her voice. "I'm exhausted, Adrian. Just let me sleep." She collapsed backward onto the duvet, her limbs heavy with fatigue.

Adrian released a quiet sigh, his expression softening into something unbearably tender.

As he reached to straighten her rumpled collar, Vivian's hand shot out to grip his wrist.

Her eyes blazed with defiance. "Is that all men think about? Even when I'm..." Her voice cracked. "Look at me! Do you want to traumatize me further just to satisfy your—"

The words died on her lips when Adrian produced a white medical kit from the nightstand. "Iodine," he said simply, popping open the case. "For your wounds. Not exactly the nefarious purpose you imagined." He shook his head, muttering, "Ungrateful little thing."

Vivian's cheeks burned.

Mortified, she grabbed the oversized stuffed rabbit from the bed and pressed her face into its plush fur.

"Do you realize how ridiculous you look right now?" Adrian's lips quirked as he soaked a cotton pad with antiseptic.

Vivian remained motionless, her face still buried in the toy.

His voice dropped to a teasing murmur, "You know what they say about ostriches burying their heads in the sand?"

She turned just enough to glare at him. "That's a myth! Ostriches dig holes to turn their eggs, not to hide from predators."

"Is that so, my little ostrich?" Adrian's eyes sparkled with mischief.

Realizing he'd compared her to the flightless bird, Vivian's flush deepened.

She twisted to swat at him but jolted when her injured arm brushed against the metal first aid box.

A sharp gasp escaped her lips.

"Stay still," Adrian commanded, his voice firm yet gentle.

Vivian complied, sinking back into the pillows.

He worked methodically, applying ointment to each angry welt with careful precision.

Some marks were already darkening into bruises while others still shone an angry crimson.

The silence between them grew thick with unspoken words.

Adrian's fingers lingered on a particularly nasty scrape near her collarbone.

Vivian held her breath.

The air hummed with tension.

Neither dared to speak.