The man slowly opened his eyes, Everything around him was blurry.
The first thing he saw was the faint silhouette of a woman standing beside the bed.
He tried to move, but pain shot through his body.
The woman noticed immediately.
“You’re bleeding too much,” she said, her voice filled with concern.
“I need to take you to the hospital.
I don’t have anything effective enough here at home.” Before she could move, his hand shot out and firmly caught her wrist.
“No.” His voice was weak, but the command in it was unmistakable.
She froze.
“No hospital.” His grip loosened.
His vision began to fade again.
And before she could say another word, his eyes closed.
“Sir?” Nothing.
“Sir!” He had passed out again.
.
.
Suddenly, he jolted awake.
The morning sun streamed through the window, its warm rays falling directly across his face.
He frowned and slowly opened his eyes.
For a moment, he didn’t move.Then his instincts kicked in, he looked down at his body.
He was shirtless, a clean bandage wrapped tightly around his torso.
His eyes immediately hardened.
His first instinct was to reach for his weapon.
Nothing.
His hand searched again.
Still nothing.
Where was his gun?
Before he could get out of bed, the door suddenly opened.
“Finally!
Sleeping Beauty is awake!” The woman from last night walked into the room with a huge smile on her face.
In her hands was a tray filled with breakfast.
She walked over to the small table and placed it down.
The man’s eyes remained fixed on her.
“My gun.” That was the first thing he said.
Isadora’s smile faltered.
“Wow.” She put her hands on her hips.
“Not even a good morning to the heroine who saved your life?
And I did it without taking you to the hospital, by the way.” She gave herself a proud little nod.
“You’re welcome.” He stared at her blankly.
He clearly couldn’t care less.
“My gun.” Isadora rolled her eyes.
“Fine.
Fine.
No need to be so dramatic.” She walked over to the dresser, opened a drawer, and pulled out his weapon.
“Careful!” She held it out toward him.
“Here you go.” His eyes immediately went to the gun.
He took it from her and quickly checked it.
Loaded and Safe.
Only then did some of the tension leave his shoulders.
“Where am I?” “My house.” He looked at her.
“You brought me here?” “Obviously.
Where else was I supposed to take you?
You were unconscious.” He stared at her for a moment.
“How long?” Isadora blinked.
“How long what?” “How long have I been unconscious?” “Oh.” She casually picked up the breakfast tray again.
“About a week.” His expression changed immediately.
“A week?” “Yep.” He looked down at his bandaged torso, then back at her.
“A week…” “Seven days, to be exact.” She smiled.
“You really committed to the whole Sleeping Beauty thing.” He ignored her.
His mind was already racing.
A week.
He had been unconscious for an entire week.
He seems to think of something.
His gaze returned to Isadora.
“Why didn’t you take me to a hospital?” Isadora shrugged.
“You told me not to.” “You listened?” “You were unconscious.
I didn’t exactly have anyone else to ask.” She smiled innocently.
“And besides, I told you I was a medical student.” He studied her silently.
She didn’t look particularly worried.
She looked… normal.Almost annoyingly normal.
His eyes narrowed.
“Who were those people who shot at us?”Isadora raised an eyebrow.
“And who exactly are you?” She continued He said nothing.
She crossed her arms.
“You know, considering I found you bleeding on the street, got shot at because I was standing next to you, dragged you into my house, treated you for a week, and apparently kept you alive…” She pointed at herself.
“I think I deserve some answers.” He said nothing.
Isadora smiled brightly.
“I’m Isadora Matthew, by the way.” Before he could respond, her phone suddenly rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her eyes widened.
“Oh, crap.” She grabbed her bag.
“I’m late!” She hurried toward the door.
“Anyway, eat your breakfast.
Don’t touch the bandages, and please don’t bleed all over my sheets again.” She paused at the doorway.
“Oh, and you’re welcome.” Then she disappeared.
He remained silen The room fell silent again.
The man slowly looked toward the breakfast she had left behind.
Then toward the closed door.
His expression remained unreadable.
.
.
Isadora rushed through the university gates, her bag bouncing against her hip.
She was late.
“I’m going to blame him for this.” She hurried across the campus, still thinking about the strange man she’d left at home.
Honestly, who did he think he was?
Not even a thank you.
Not even a good morning.
Just— My gun.” She tried to mimicked his voice Isadora rolled her eyes.
“Men.” She pushed open the classroom door just as the professor turned toward her.
The entire room went silent.
Isadora froze.
The professor slowly raised an eyebrow.
“Miss Matthew.” She smiled awkwardly.
“Good morning?” “You’re twenty minutes late.” “Technically, I’m only nineteen minutes and—” “Sit down.” “Yes, sir.” She quickly slipped into the nearest seat.
Isadora pulled out her notebook.
But her mind wasn’t on the lecture.It kept going back to the stranger.
His eyes.His gun.
The way he’d reacted when she’d mentioned the hospital.
No hospital.
She frowned.
Something about him didn’t make sense.A normal injured man didn’t react like that.And normal people certainly didn’t get shot at in the middle of the night.
Isadora shook her head.
“Not my problem.” She tried to focus on the professor.
She really did.