Chapter 344
Elliot
I look at my face in the bathroom mirror. The bruises are fading now—yellow at the edges, purple in the center, like overripe fruit. I touch them lightly, wincing. Still tender.
I got back to my job at the cafe this week. Mr. Chen was kind about it, didn't ask too many questions, just put me on light duty and slipped me extra pastries at the end of my shift.
The regulars whisper when they think I can't hear. Poor thing. Did you hear what happened? Attacked in the street, can you imagine?
I smile through it. That's what I'm good at.
Unfortunately, Dr. Wang has been too close lately. He shows up at the cafe during my breaks. He texts me every few hours, checking in, asking where I am, who I'm with. His concern is suffocating.
I don't want to push him away. Yet I don't want to reject him either.
Without him, I'm just an Omega with a high school education and a brother to support. With him, I have options. A future. Safety.
