Yuna:
Ethan's hand slowly loosened on my wrist.
His breathing became heavier, uneven, like every breath hurt.
"Luca…" I said softly, panic rising in my chest. "He's getting worse."
Luca looked at Ethan's shoulder wound and cursed under his breath.
"We need to take the bullet out."
My eyes widened. "Bullet?!"
Kai quickly brought a black medical kit and placed it on the table. It was obvious this wasn't the first time something like this had happened.
But it was the first time I was seeing it.
Luca looked at me seriously.
"Yuna, go to your room."
"No."
Both Luca and Kai looked surprised.
"I'm not leaving," I said firmly, my voice shaking but determined. "If he's hurt… I'm staying."
For a moment Luca stared at me, then sighed.
"Fine. But don't panic."
Kai carefully cut the torn part of Ethan's suit near his shoulder. The dark fabric peeled away, revealing the wound.
I gasped and covered my mouth.
Blood had soaked his shirt, and the wound looked deep.
Ethan groaned softly, his eyebrows tightening in pain even though his eyes were closed.
"Ethan… hold on," I whispered.
Without thinking, I grabbed a clean cloth from the kit and gently wiped the blood around the wound.
My hands were trembling.
Luca looked at me for a second, surprised at how calm I was trying to be.
"Press this here," he said, handing me gauze.
I pressed it carefully against Ethan's shoulder.
Ethan's eyes slowly opened again.
For a moment he looked confused, then his gaze fell on me.
"Yuna… why are you here…" his voice was weak.
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
"Because you're hurt."
"You shouldn't…" he whispered.
I shook my head.
"Stop saying that."
Kai prepared the small surgical tool.
"This will hurt," he warned.
Luca held Ethan's arm firmly.
"Stay still."
Before they started, Ethan's hand weakly grabbed mine again.
His grip was gentle but desperate.
"Yuna… don't look," he murmured.
I squeezed his hand.
"I'm not leaving."
For a second something changed in his eyes… something soft and helpless.
Then Kai carefully removed the bullet.
Ethan clenched his jaw in pain but didn't scream.
A low groan escaped his lips.
I held his hand tighter.
"It's okay… it's okay… you're fine," I whispered again and again, even though my own eyes were filling with tears.
Finally Kai stepped back.
"It's out."
Luca quickly cleaned and bandaged the wound.
The bleeding slowly stopped.
Ethan's body relaxed slightly, exhausted from the pain.
His eyes were half closed now.
I gently brushed his messy hair away from his forehead.
"You're safe now," I said quietly.
For a moment he just looked at me.
Then he whispered something so softly I almost didn't hear it.
"…I tried to stay away from you."
My chest tightened.
"But when I saw you outside…" he continued weakly, "I forgot everything."
My voice came out barely above a whisper.
"Then stop trying to stay away."
Luca suddenly cleared his throat.
"He needs rest."
Kai helped Luca carry Ethan upstairs to his room.
I followed them quietly.
They placed him on the bed carefully.
Before leaving, Luca looked at me.
"You can stay with him tonight," he said.
Then he added in a lower voice,
"But Yuna… the more you care about him… the more dangerous your life will become."
After they left, the room became quiet again.
I sat beside Ethan on the bed.
His breathing was slower now, calmer.
I dipped a cloth in cold water and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Ethan slightly turned his head toward my hand, even in his sleep.
Like he felt comfort.
I watched him for a long moment.
This dangerous man who everyone feared…
Right now he looked so vulnerable.
I whispered softly,
"You always protected me…"
My fingers lightly brushed his hair.
"…so tonight, I'll protect you."
Outside the window, the night grew deeper.
But inside the room, for the first time since morning—
Ethan looked peaceful.