Chapter 2 When The Shadow Walked Away

On the second morning after deciding to leave, Nina was packing the last few books she owned.

Her phone suddenly vibrated. It was the assistant calling. "Dr. Avery, Mr. Blackwell was injured in a shootout last night. He took a bullet in his left shoulder and lost quite a bit of blood. He's back in his room now."

Her fingers froze.

For ten years, no matter how late it was, how exhausted she felt, or how dangerous the situation might be, the moment he was injured she would grab her medical kit and rush to him.

It was both the contract and instinct.

Without hesitation, she picked up the medical kit and headed toward the east wing of the main building, Julian's private bedroom. She had walked in and out of that room hundreds of times.

But when she reached the door, she stopped.

The door was slightly ajar, leaving a narrow crack.

From inside came Aria's bright laughter. "Julian, don't move! It's going to sting when I disinfect it."

Then Julian's deep voice followed, laced with amusement. "Be gentle... damn, that really hurts."

Nina felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

He said it hurt?

How many wounds had she treated for him over the past ten years?

When bullets lodged in his flesh, he would bite down on a towel without making a sound.

When a blade cut so deep the bone was visible, he could still smile and ask her, "Long day today?"

Even with a fever of 104 degrees, he once held her hand and said, "Don't worry. I'm not dying."

He had never once shown weakness in front of her.

But now, facing Aria, a simple "that hurts" carried a tone almost like a spoiled complaint.

Through the crack in the door, Nina saw Aria sitting on the edge of the bed in a silk nightdress, her long hair falling loosely over her shoulders as she dabbed iodine onto the gunshot wound on Julian's shoulder with a cotton swab.

Julian leaned against the headboard, watching her with gentle eyes. He even lifted a hand to brush a loose strand of hair away from her cheek.

"Aria," he said softly, almost like a sigh. "You're finally back."

Aria's eyes reddened slightly. "I'm sorry for making you wait ten years."

"It was worth it." He took her hand and pressed it against his chest. "As long as you came back, everything was worth it."

Standing outside the door, Nina dug her nails deep into her palm to keep from making a sound.

So this was how he looked at someone he truly loved, warmth in his eyes so deep it seemed ready to swallow the other person whole.

She knew she should leave immediately, yet she remained rooted to the spot, unable to tear her eyes away.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, Aria turned sharply toward the door.

Their eyes met. A flicker of triumph flashed through Aria's gaze. Then she deliberately leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to Julian's lips.

"Don't move," she said playfully. "You'll reopen the wound."

Julian didn't avoid her. Instead, he chuckled and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Alright. I'll listen to you."

Nina could no longer stand there. She turned and hurried away.

Tears slipped down her face silently, but she wiped them away with force.

Back in her room, she dropped the medical kit heavily onto the table. The metal instruments clattered loudly.

She remembered a winter night three years ago when Julian burned with a fever and fell unconscious. She had stayed by his side for three days and nights.

When he woke, all he said was a faint, "Thank you for your work, Dr. Avery."

And yet today, he had shown such vulnerability in front of Aria.

At that moment, in the east wing bedroom.

Julian leaned against the headboard, his shoulder wound already treated by Aria.

A bodyguard stood at the door and reported quietly. "Mr. Blackwell, Dr. Avery came by this morning."

Julian paused slightly while holding his glass of water. "She came? Where is she?"

"She stood at the door for a while, didn't knock, then left." The bodyguard hesitated. "She looked... pretty upset."

Julian lowered his gaze, his fingers tracing the rim of the cup. "She's always been sensitive. With Aria back, it's normal for her to feel unsettled."

"But she's packing her luggage," the bodyguard said hesitantly. "I heard she even booked a ride to the airport. Is she really leaving?"

Julian chuckled softly, though his eyes grew colder. "Impossible. She's loved me for ten years. She chose to stay by my side." Besides..."

He set the cup down, his tone firm. "If Aria gets pregnant in the future, the baby must be delivered by someone we trust completely. Nina is an excellent doctor. I wouldn't trust anyone else to deliver Aria's child."

The bodyguard looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end he only nodded and withdrew.

Julian looked out the window. The sunlight was bright and warm.

He believed Nina would remain by his side as she always had.

He had never considered that even a shadow could grow tired of the dark.

That evening, the butler appeared outside Nina's room and handed her a gilded invitation. "Ms. Avery, tomorrow is the Blackwell family's Spring Banquet. Mr. Edmund Blackwell specifically requested your attendance. Please make sure you come."

Nina took the invitation. Her fingertips were cold.