As they stepped into the dimly lit corridor of the hospital, the sterile scent of antiseptic filling the air, Dylan's grip on Ember tightened protectively. His eyes, stormy with concern, scanned the hallway before gently guiding her into Dr. Adrien's office.
He helped Ember onto the patient bed with care, his strong hands lingering just a second too long on her waist, as if afraid she'd break. His voice was low, edged with tension as he turned to Adrien. "Something's wrong with her legs... she can't move them. She can't feel anything."
Adrien's brows shot up, his voice laced with disbelief. "What?"
Dylan nodded, his jaw clenched, worry darkening his features. "Yeah. Check her. Please."
Adrien moved closer to Ember, his eyes scanning her pale, dazed face. "Ember, can you try to walk for me?" he asked gently.
"Okay," she whispered, her voice so soft it was barely audible.
Slowly, Ember swung her legs over the side of the bed, the cold floor touching her bare feet. She tried to stand—but her body betrayed her. Her legs buckled beneath her like lifeless branches.
Before she could fall, Dylan caught her—fast, strong, and trembling with restrained panic. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her tight to his chest, his breath hot against her temple. "I've got you, baby". His voice was rough with emotion, his thumb brushing over her cheek as if trying to bring warmth back to her lifeless skin.
Ember collapsed against him, her body limp, her expression blank. She looked like a porcelain doll—cold, fragile, the usual sparkle in her eyes now replaced with a distant, haunting emptiness. Her lips were pale, and her skin held none of its usual glow.
Adrien's eyes narrowed as he took in her condition. "Did she have any pain attacks during sleep?" he asked, frowning.
Dylan didn't look away from Ember, his thumb now tracing slow circles on her arm. "No. She seemed fine. Peaceful even... until this morning."
Adrien glanced at Ember, silently asking for confirmation. But she remained quiet—haunted. She couldn't bring herself to tell them about the nightmare... the terrifying vision that still clung to her skin like cold sweat.
Adrien sighed, his voice soft. "Ember, why don't you lie back and rest here for a bit? I need to speak with Dylan alone. We'll just be a minute."
Ember gave a faint nod, her eyes flickering with unshed emotion. Dylan hesitated, his hand brushing along her jawline as he leaned in. "I'll be right back, sunshine . Don't go anywhere. "
His lips hovered close to hers, almost touching, his breath warm and tinged with desperation. But then he pulled away, reluctantly following Adrien out the door—leaving Ember alone.
Outside the office, the sterile hallway echoed with silence, thick with tension.
Adrien glanced at Dylan, his expression thoughtful and grave. "I don't believe there's anything physically wrong with Ember's legs. From what I can tell... it's psychological. Her body isn't reacting because her mind is holding her back. It's like something inside her is screaming to stop. I suggest we bring in a psychiatrist. Look at her—her face... it's like the light in her soul has been extinguished. And when I asked if she had any pain episodes while we weren't there, she wouldn't meet my eyes. Dylan... I think she's hiding something."
Dylan's jaw tightened, his hands shoved deep in his pockets to keep them from shaking. His voice was low, possessive, laced with worry. "She seemed fine during breakfast. Smiling even. But when we stepped into the hospital... something changed. I felt it too. Like a switch flipped inside her." He glanced down the hallway toward the closed office door, where Ember lay alone. His heart clenched. "Let me handle this. Once we get closer to the truth about this whole thing, I'll take her back to Shine."
Adrien studied him for a long moment before asking, "When are you planning to go to the old mansion?"
Dylan's eyes darkened, filled with both determination and unease. "Tonight. But I don't like the idea of leaving her alone—not even for a minute. I already spoke to her parents. They promised to take care of her and not press her about the incident. She needs space... and people she can trust."
Adrien nodded slowly, then paused with his hand on the door handle. "Then maybe you should take her somewhere before that. Somewhere quiet. Let her breathe. Give her a moment away from all this darkness. Let her make a new memory... something good. Something that helps her heal."
Dylan smirked faintly, though his eyes betrayed the storm inside him. "Not a bad idea."
But in his mind, he was already planning every step. He wasn't going to just take her somewhere peaceful—he was going to protect her, drown out her nightmares with laughter, touch, and warmth. He was going to remind her what it felt like to be wanted, cherished, and alive again.
Because whatever haunted Ember... he would burn it all down if it meant keeping her safe.
When they returned to the room, the bed was empty.
Dylan's heart skipped a beat. Ember was gone.
He and Adrien scanned the room in a rush of panic. With her condition—her legs nearly lifeless—how could she possibly have moved on her own?
Then they saw her.
She was crumpled on the cold floor beside the bed, her body trembling, her skin even paler than before. Her dress clung to her like fragile silk, her limbs shaking as if she'd just been pulled from a nightmare.
Dylan was beside her in an instant, dropping to his knees. "Ember..." he whispered, the ache in his voice raw.
She looked up at him, eyes wide and lost, her breathing uneven.
He scooped her up carefully and placed her back on the bed. "Calm down, baby," he murmured, holding her tightly against his chest, one hand stroking her back in gentle, soothing circles. Her body melted into his as though it were the only place she felt safe.
When her trembling softened, he pulled back slightly and cupped her face. "What happened, Ember? How did you fall?"
But she didn't answer. Her lips parted, then closed again. Silent. Distant.
Dylan leaned his forehead against hers. His voice dropped, low and tender. "If you don't tell me what's wrong, how am I supposed to protect you?"
Still, Ember said nothing. She just buried her face into his chest, her fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt as though she was trying to keep herself from disappearing.
Dylan exhaled, brushing a kiss against the top of her head. "Okay. Don't tell me. I'm not going to push you anymore."
Then something shifted. She peeked up at him, just barely—her cheek still pressed to his chest—her eyes locking onto his.
She smiled. A small one. Fragile. But real.
His heart clenched at the sight.
"How about we get out of here?" he asked, his voice turning playful, seductive. "Go on a date, baby?"
She nodded faintly.
And that was all he needed.
He slid one arm beneath her legs, the other under her back, and lifted her effortlessly into his arms. As she gasped softly at the sudden motion, he leaned in and pressed a firm, lingering kiss to her forehead. "Let's go, princess."
Without another word, he carried her out, leaving Adrien in stunned silence behind them.
Outside, the air was crisp, the sky starting to bruise with afternoon. Dylan helped Ember into the passenger seat of the sleek black car with gentle precision, then closed the door and rounded to the driver's side.
He got in, started the engine, then turned to her, his voice filled with a teasing promise. "Tonight, I'm taking you on a date you'll never forget."
He smiled, expecting her to light up. But when he looked over, her lips curled into something faint and hollow—a smile painted over pain. And he saw it instantly. That fake smile. That broken silence.
It tore at him.
She wasn't okay. Not yet.
But she was his now. And he would give her the night of her life if it meant bringing her back to him—body, mind, and soul.
Even if he had to fight every shadow that haunted her.
The restaurant sat on the edge of a quiet street, its warm, traditional Haliç ambiance glowing under the soft afternoon sun. The outside world seemed far away—peaceful, distant—exactly what Ember needed.
Dylan stepped out first, opening the door with a smooth confidence that was all his. He didn't let her walk because of her legs condition . Instead, he lifted Ember gently into his arms, cradling her against his chest like she was something precious. She gasped, blushing softly as he carried her inside through a private entrance.
"It's almost lunch time, Ember," he murmured, brushing his lips near her ear, "why don't we eat first?"
"Okay..." she whispered, her voice barely audible, the comfort of his arms still sending a flutter through her chest.
Inside, the private room was serene—dimly lit with soft music playing in the background. Dylan set her down with care, then pulled her chair close beside his instead of across the table.
He looked into her eyes, those stormy black holding a strange mix of mischief and longing. "Ember, I know it's hard... but can you try? Just a little. For me?" His voice softened. "Let's erase the bad memories—create something beautiful instead. I promise I'll be right here, every step of the way."
Her heart clenched at his words. She met his gaze and nodded slowly. "I will... and thank you for being there for me. Every time."
Dylan leaned closer, his lips just inches from hers, his voice dropping into a husky whisper. "Baby... I don't want your 'thank you'..." His breath tickled her cheek as his eyes dipped to her lips. "You know what I want."
Ember's pulse quickened. She felt his need radiating off him like heat. She leaned forward shyly and pressed a soft, clumsy kiss to his lips—a quick, unsure peck that left her blushing and breathless.
Dylan froze for a second, surprised... but not satisfied.
A smirk tugged at his mouth. "You got the 'what' right, princess..." His voice dropped, slow and teasing. "But not the 'how much.'"
Before she could blink, he slid his hand behind her neck and pulled her to him, crashing his lips onto hers in a kiss that was nothing like the first. It was deeper. Possessive. Wild.
He slid his thumb between her lips, parting them with ease before his tongue claimed her mouth with a hunger that made her whimper. Ember's hands clutched his shirt, her heart pounding as she melted into him, completely lost in the storm he created.
A sudden knock on the door shattered the moment.
But Dylan didn't stop.
"Don't come in," he called out, voice low and rough against her lips—yet his mouth never left hers. He only kissed her harder, tasting her like he was starving, as if nothing else in the world existed but her.
It was Ember who had to push him away, her small hands pressing gently against his chest, breathless and flushed.
"Dylan..." she whispered, her voice trembling, lips still tingling from his touch.
He finally pulled back, his thumb brushing the corner of her swollen mouth as he stared at her like she was his entire world.
"You drive me crazy, Ember. And I don't want to stop."