On the third day—
Lina returned.
"Good morning," she said softly.
Not bright.
Not cheerful.
Just… calm.
Adrian saw her immediately.
And for the first time—
He didn't wait.
"Lina."
She stopped.
"…Sir."
"Come with me."
No hesitation.
No room to refuse.
Inside his office—
Silence settled between them again.
But this time—
It wasn't the same.
"…You didn't come to work," he said.
"I had something to take care of."
"I see."
A pause.
Then—
"I was wrong."
Lina blinked.
"…What?"
Adrian looked at her directly.
"I handled it poorly."
That alone—
Was shocking.
"The hospital bill," he continued. "And what I said."
Silence.
Lina didn't speak.
Didn't interrupt.
"I didn't consider how you would feel," he admitted. "I made a decision… without asking you."
"…You always do," she said quietly.
"Yes."
No denial.
No excuse.
Just truth.
That made her chest tighten.
"…I don't hate what you did," Lina said slowly.
"But I hate how you did it."
Adrian listened.
Carefully.
"I don't want to be someone you just 'take care of,'" she continued. "I want to stand on my own."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"But at the same time…"
She looked down.
"…I'm grateful."
That was the truth she couldn't ignore.
Silence filled the room.
Then—
"I don't want you to feel small," Adrian said.
"…Then don't make decisions for me like I am."
Their eyes met.
This time—
Equal.
Honest.
Real.
"…Understood," he said quietly.
A pause.
Then—
"I won't do it again."
Lina exhaled slowly.
"…Okay."
The tension softened.
Not gone.
But lighter.
And for the first time since everything happened—
They understood each other.
Even just a little.