Hospital room
Inside Justin's ward room, silence filled the air.
Slowly… Justin's breathing softened.
He slept
Jonathan: "I think he fell asleep." 😊
Amber: "Yeah." 😐
She adjusted the blanket around him.
Both parents looked at their son… and then at each other.
Jonathan's heartbeat jumped.
His legs trembled slightly
not from fear
but from everything he had held in for ten long years.
Amber noticed instantly.
Amber: "Come outside. I want to talk." 😐
Jonathan blinked.
( Again with the demanding tone… she never changed. ) 😤
He opened his mouth to refuse,
but Amber was already walking out of the room.
Jonathan: "What the—?" 😶
He glanced at Justin, sleeping peacefully,
sighed deeply,
and followed her.
In the hospital corridor
Amber stood with her back straight, her aura calm but sharp.
Jonathan approached cautiously.
Amber: "I need to ask you something." 😐
Jonathan: "Hey— that's my line. Don't steal it." 😤
Amber stared.
Jonathan instantly deflated.
Jonathan: "P-please… continue." 😱
Amber sighed.
Amber: "Why are you acting like a child, Jonathan? You're the head of the Devis family. Not your father." 😐
Jonathan froze.
Her words struck deeper than he expected.
He remembered everything
every misunderstanding,
every lonely night,
every choice he made in anger and regret
over the last 15 years.
He swallowed.
Jonathan: "…Say what you want." 😐
Amber took a single step forward.
Jonathan stepped back.
Another step.
He stepped back again.
Amber continued walking toward him calm, unreadable.
Jonathan kept backing up until—
THUD.
His legs hit a chair and he fell into it.
Amber didn't stop.
She leaned forward, placing both hands on the armrests, caging him in.
Her face inches away from his.
Jonathan's breath hitched.
Jonathan: 😶
Amber: 😐
Her lips were close enough that he could feel her breath.
Close enough to make his heart race.
Close enough to remind him of everything he lost.
Amber narrowed her eyes slightly.
Amber:
"Jonathan… answer me honestly."
She leaned even closer, their noses brushing.
Amber (soft, dangerous):
"Why… did you let me leave?"
The corridor fell silent.
Jonathan gripped the chair.
His pulse roared in his ears.
And Amber waited.
---continue