I glanced at my phone, debating whether to answer the call.
The door clicked softly behind me as Greyson stepped out of the hospital room, giving me privacy.
I inhaled deeply before pressing Accept.
The screen lit up instantly.
Li Wei appeared.
"Hi," I said with a faint smile.
"Deer."
The moment he saw me, relief flooded his expression.
"Are you okay?" he asked immediately. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have reacted the way I did earlier."
He placed his phone on a stand and began pacing around his room, running a hand through his hair repeatedly.
His worry was obvious.
"Mochi, stop it."
The word slipped out before I could stop myself.
I froze.
What did I just call him?
Mochi?
Where had that even come from?
Li Wei stopped pacing instantly.
His eyes widened.
"What did you just call me?" he asked, picking up the phone again.
His cheeks were visibly red.
I covered my face.
"Mochi."
"I needed to get your attention."
His smile widened.
"Well, congratulations. You got my attention."
I groaned.
"This is so embarrassing."
"You have no idea how cute that sounded."
I rolled my eyes.
"Anyway, I wanted to tell you that none of this is your fault."
I adjusted my blanket before continuing.
"I accidentally ate something with peanut filling. I'm allergic to nuts."
The smile vanished from his face.
"Deer..."
His voice softened immediately.
"I wish I could hug you right now."
For some reason, those words warmed my chest.
"I'll survive."
"No," he said firmly. "You'll do more than survive."
Then his expression brightened slightly.
"I'll be in Kenya next Monday."
My heartbeat skipped.
Four days.
Only four days.
"And when I get there," he continued, "I'll apologize properly."
I laughed softly.
"There's nothing left to apologize for."
"Goodnight, Deer."
"Goodnight, Mochi."
The second nickname left my mouth, he covered his face dramatically.
I burst out laughing.
Then the call ended.
Silence settled over the room.
I stared at the dark screen.
Four days.
Li Wei would be here in four days.
No more video calls.
No more messages.
No more distance.
For the first time, I would meet him in person.
A nervous flutter filled my stomach.
Would he still like me?
Would things be awkward?
Would we be the same?
My thoughts slowly blurred together.
The medicine was finally taking effect.
Sleep pulled at my eyelids.
"Greyson, you can come back in."
The door opened almost immediately.
Apparently, he had been waiting outside the entire time.
I glanced at the clock.
2:00 a.m.
"Greyson," I said quietly, settling deeper into the pillows. "You should go home and rest."
"No, Miss Vicenza."
His answer came immediately.
"I'll remain here tonight."
I sighed.
"You don't have to."
"I know."
The simple reply left me speechless.
He adjusted the blanket around my shoulders before moving toward the couch near the window.
The city lights filtered through the glass behind him.
"You really plan on sleeping there?"
"Yes, Miss."
"You'll break your back."
"I've slept in worse places."
Something about that answer made my chest tighten.
For a brief moment, I wondered what kind of life Greyson had before coming to work for my family.
The thought disappeared as quickly as it came.
"Goodnight, Greyson."
His expression softened slightly.
"Goodnight, Miss Vicenza."
For some reason...
The room felt safer with him there.
And before I knew it—
I drifted off to sleep.
---
The next morning, sunlight spilled through the hospital curtains.
For a few seconds, I forgot where I was.
Then the IV drip reminded me.
Right.
Hospital.
My gaze drifted toward the couch.
Greyson was already awake.
Of course he was.
He stood near the window speaking quietly on the phone.
The moment he noticed I was awake, he ended the call.
"Good morning, Miss Vicenza."
"Morning."
A nurse arrived shortly afterward.
After a final examination and several reminders to avoid nuts for the rest of my life, I was officially discharged.
Freedom.
An hour later, Greyson carried my overnight bag while I followed behind him.
"Thanks for staying with me."
His expression remained calm.
"I'm simply performing my duties."
Liar.
No butler stays awake all night beside a hospital bed.
But I kept that thought to myself.
Outside, a black SUV waited at the entrance.
Greyson opened the passenger door for me.
I climbed in.
The drive began quietly.
My phone buzzed.
Tracy.
Tracy: GIRL! ARE YOU OKAY?
Tracy: You scared ten years off my life.
Tracy: We still have two days left on the trip. I'll send you my notes for the report.
A smile appeared on my face.
Me: Thanks 😭
Me: Have fun without me.
The car continued down the road.
Ten minutes passed.
Then fifteen.
Something felt wrong.
I looked outside.
Frowned.
And sat up straighter.
This wasn't the route home.
The familiar city streets were gone.
Instead—
Old industrial buildings surrounded us.
The roads were nearly empty.
My stomach tightened.
"Greyson."
No response.
I looked at him.
His jaw was rigid.
His hands gripped the steering wheel tighter than usual.
The SUV turned one final corner.
And stopped.
Directly in front of an abandoned warehouse.
My heartbeat instantly accelerated.
"Greyson..."
Silence.
The engine shut off.
The sudden quiet felt deafening.
Slowly—
He turned toward me.
His expression was colder than I had ever seen it before.
"Get out of the car, Miss Vicenza."
My blood ran cold.
"Greyson..." I whispered.
"What is this?"
For a brief second—
Something dangerous flashed across his eyes.
Then he repeated himself.
More firmly this time.
"Get out."
And that's when I noticed it.
The fresh blood staining the cuff of his shirt.
And the sound of voices coming from inside the warehouse.
Waiting.
For us.