BuzzNovelChapter 894 Northside Clinic Tucked away on the edge of town, the street outside was nothing but shadows and silence. It was well past midnight, and not even the hum of a car disturbed the darkness.
Inside, the clinic's lights cast a soft glow, catching on bottles and clean sheets. Rowan lay on a narrow bed, battered and bleeding. Hanna, the on-call doctor, worked quietly beside him, her hands steady, but her eyes sharp with worry. Rowan's injuries were no joke-five deep cuts traced across his face, hands, and back, not to mention a dozen smaller wounds. Hanna dabbed ointment on each one, her touch careful. Rowan gritted his teeth, jaw clenched so tight the muscles in his neck jumped. He never made a sound, not even when his body shuddered with the pain.
He'd dragged himself in after a fight that should have killed him, Hanna knew. Four men against one-he'd survived, but just barely.
A sheen of sweat clung to Rowan's brow, his whole body tense. Hanna couldn't keep it in anymore. "Was it worth it?" she pressed, voice low but fierce. "You almost died for her. Does she even know? Does she understand what you've gone through? Every scar on your face, your chest, your arms-she's the reason you're lying here!" Frustration and jealousy tangled inside her. She'd known Rowan for years, never seen him care about anyone-until Anastasia showed up.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtA nasty gash ran across his cheek, deep enough to scar. All this damage, all because of Anastasia.
Rowan's reply was barely more than a whisper. "It's not her fault." That only made Hanna angrier-and left her aching, too. If Anastasia understood what Rowan had done, maybe Hanna wouldn't feel so bitter. But Anastasia didn't know. Rowan was just a fool, throwing himself into the fire for someone who had no idea.
And yet, the thought of Anastasia ever finding out made Hanna's stomach twist.
What if she did? What if she cared for Rowan too, and Hanna lost her chance with him? Women, Hanna thought, always letting their hearts get the best of them.
She finished bandaging him up and tried to sound casual. "You snuck back here behind your brother's back. If he finds out, you're dead meat. Just stay here and heal, alright?" Rowan nodded, eyes squeezed shut.
He looked like he was down to his last bit of strength, Hanna hesitated then asked quietly, why her, Rowan? She's married. You know this can't end well." Why? Rowan's mind flashed back to the elevator at the Crescent Bay Hotel, to the first tAnastasia spoke to him. That was the first tanyone had ever shown him warmth, ever really cared how he was. She was a crack of light in his pitch-black life. He didn't need a reason. He just wanted her safe, even if she never knew why.
He said nothing, lips pressed tight.
If he'd never seen the light, maybe he could've kept walking in the dark. But opce he had, he'd never let anyone snuff it out-no matter what.
Hanna could see she wouldn't get more out of him. She squeezed his shoulder and stepped out, leaving him to rest.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmShe was restocking the medicine cabwhen sharp, urgent knocks rattled the clinic's front door. This late? Her pulse jumped. Maybe someone hurt, maybe something worse.
She hurried over, cracked the door, and froze. Herman-she knew his face from
the news, knew his ties to Anastasia anics and Asher. Panic skot through her and she tried to shut the door.
Too slow. Dailey, Herman's muscle, shoved past her, sending Hanna stumbling.
"We're closed!" she snapped. "No emergencies tonight, go home!" Herman barely glanced at her, his expression cold as he swept into the clinic.
Hanna darted after him, blocking his path. "Back off, or I'm calling them police. What are you-" Herman pushed open the door to the back room and spotted Rowan on the bed.
At the sound, Rowan's eyes flew open. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself upright, ready to face whatever was coming next.
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