By Zephyria 
“A series of miracles, there’s no other way to put it.”
Steward delivered his assessment with an air of nonchalance. Sitting on the examination room sofa, sipping coffee and talking on the phone, he looked every bit the leisurely gentleman enjoying a relaxing tea time. He gazed out the window at the bright blue sky and continued, as casually as if he were chatting with a friend on the phone.
“Who would have imagined that a Dominant Omega could save someone on the verge of death by pouring out Pheromones, and even eliminate the risk of disability? I had no idea the ‘bond’ between Dominant Omegas was this strong.”
Don’t forget the confidentiality agreement.
At the cool voice from across the room, Steward replied smoothly.
“Of course not. As always, I’ll keep it strictly confidential.”
He spoke obsequiously, but didn’t forget to subtly probe.
“I’d like to study this aspect further, but I suppose that’s out of the question?”
“Norman Steward.”
Ashley Miller called his name with a hint of anger. Steward quickly backed down, saying with a chuckle,
“I thought so. Understood. It’s a shame, I thought it might help Niles later on if I could study it.”
Deliberately adding that last remark, he said casually,
“Anyway, Dane Striker is currently receiving treatment without any problems. I don’t think you need to worry. They say he’ll be able to walk within a week or two, at the earliest.”
He added,
“Of course, no one knows about Connor Niles’ visit or the use of Pheromones, except for the medical staff member who was in charge at the time, as you instructed. Grayson visited after he left the hospital, so of course he doesn’t know either.”
“Alright.”
Ashley hung up immediately. Steward glanced at the phone, now silent, and placed it on the table.
Grayson hasn’t visited the hospital since. Ashley must know that too. But only Grayson himself knows what he’s thinking right now. That’s what Ashley Miller is worried about.
But if he improves this dramatically, won’t they naturally suspect Niles?
Thinking that far, Steward smiled faintly and brought the coffee to his lips. This is really interesting, he thought.
“Ugh.”
At the short groan, the medical staff treating his wound paused and asked,
“I’m sorry, is it very painful?”
Hearing the concerned voice, Dane immediately shook his head.
“No. I’m alright. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”
He gave an embarrassed smile, then turned his head back towards what he thought was the ceiling. When he fully regained consciousness, Dane heard something unexpected.
“There may be some vision impairment, so let’s keep the eye patch on for now.”
According to the doctor, Dane had been at risk of losing his sight. Surprisingly, shortly after that assessment, his condition miraculously improved, and he overcame the danger of blindness. However, just in case, the attending physician recommended blocking out the light and monitoring his progress for the time being. Unable to avoid having bandages and an eye patch over both eyes, Dane couldn’t see anything around him. He had no choice but to endure, trusting the doctor’s words that he would be able to return to normal once his body recovered and he gradually adjusted to the light. Tedious, every single day.
Haaa…….
Once the dressing of the remaining wounds was finished and he was left alone, he let out a long breath he had been holding in. Now all the machines attached to his body were gone, and only silence surrounded him.
……It’s quiet.
Suddenly, he felt strange. Had it ever been this quiet before? On reflection, it wasn’t anything new. It was the same when he lived alone with Darling. Unless he went to a club and picked up someone for the night, this kind of quiet time was perfectly normal.
Why do I feel so empty……?
He couldn’t figure out the reason. The only possible explanation was that Darling used to be there, and now even Darling wasn’t.
Yeon-woo is taking good care of him, I hope…….
Cats weren’t allowed in the hospital. Yeon-woo, who came to the hospital after hearing that he had woken up, was saddened and told him that Darling was doing well.
“I was worried because he seemed depressed for the first few days, but he’s been holding up well lately.”
Yeon-woo and his children were all very gentle, so they would take good care of the cat. The second child had a mischievous side, but Yeon-woo and the first child would be there, so it would be alright. Dane thought so, and was able to relieve his worries about Darling. He would start rehabilitation soon. Once he could walk, he would be discharged immediately, so he had to go pick up Darling right away. He reaffirmed his determination.
But that was it. Before long, he had the same thought again.
……It’s boring.
The day was too long. Everything around him was terribly quiet. He almost preferred the days when he was just sleeping. He seriously considered asking them to put him back to sleep, when suddenly a certain face came to mind.
How is that bastard doing?
Dane had heard from the medical staff that Grayson had visited him every day while he was unconscious. The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was also Grayson’s face. He hadn’t realized it for the first few days because he was out of it due to the treatment and often fell asleep, but when he looked back, Grayson hadn’t been seen since.
He came every day when I was asleep, but now that I’m awake…….
Dane frowned, but it was difficult to know the reason. Still not understanding, he just lay there.
“Who can understand what’s going on in his head.”
Dane deliberately muttered aloud. But all that did was make the silence in the room even more palpable. After the guy who had been chirping around him all day disappeared, Dane felt an absurd sense of emptiness. He must be busy with something. He dismissed any further thoughts and closed his eyes, enduring the long, silent hours.
Late at night, the hospital was quiet. The lights illuminating the long corridor were sparsely spaced, casting long shadows of the occasional passersby. The hospital corridor, unusually deserted and even ominous, was quietly traversed by a man. The sound of his footsteps, rhythmically breaking the eerie silence, created an unsettling feeling, but the man didn’t care at all. He walked steadily, without wavering for a moment, until he reached a certain hospital room.
The man didn’t immediately open the door, but paused there for a moment. He seemed to be contemplating something, but the time was short. Soon, he grabbed the doorknob and opened the door, allowing the light from the corridor to spill into the room.
Closing the door behind him with a click, the man soon began to walk again. One step, then another, as he approached the bed, his lips tightly sealed and unmoving.
Finally, he stopped abruptly beside the bed and stood silently for a while, looking down at the man lying on it. The man who had been fighting death every minute and every second, wrapped in bandages and connected to all sorts of machines, was no longer here. There were far fewer bandages, and the wounds had also decreased. The man, breathing peacefully as if in a deep sleep, looked peaceful to anyone who saw him. Without any anguish.
……Haa.
The man looking down let out a deep sigh for the first time. Just then, the moonlight shining through the window illuminated his face. Grayson Miller stood motionless, looking down at Dane with a terribly distorted expression.
It had been almost ten days since he had come to see Dane. When he learned that Dane’s body had suddenly recovered and that he was no longer in danger of losing his sight—to be exact, ever since Dane, who had regained consciousness, had looked him straight in the eye—Grayson had not come to the hospital even once.
In the meantime, he had become noticeably thinner. He hadn’t been eating or sleeping properly. His hollow cheeks and the dark shadows under his sunken eyes all seemed to prove that fact. He must be exhausted from extreme fatigue, but surprisingly, his mind was clear. Grayson had come all the way here with such a clear mind. He could confidently say that his mind had never been clearer than it was now.
Yes, so my thoughts aren’t wrong now either.