Page 114 of Symphony for Lies

Ali, also dressed in sleepwear and slippers, for God’s sake, joined us.“It’s late. You all need to go home.” He wrapped an arm around his wife, gently pulling her away from me. “Amelia needs some time to calm down.”

Layla pouted, which made Ali smile before he guided her to his car.

“He’s right,” Stacy muttered, clicking her tongue before shooting me a look. “And you…” She tilted her head toward Zane. “…go take care of your prince over there.”

He was talking to the paramedic, but his gaze was locked on me like always.

That pull, that magnetic, undeniable force, wrapped around my ribs like a vice.

“I’ll never do this again,” I promised my friends. “I swear.”

Tina and Stacy gave me weak smiles before leaving, too.

My legs started moving in the opposite direction, toward Zane.

“You should come with us,” the paramedic urged.

“I don’t need to,” Zane snapped. “I’m fine.”

I sighed when I caught their conversation and placed a hand on his shoulder.“We’re going,” I declared softly.

He opened his mouth to protest, but then he looked at me.

And just like that, he gave in.

Hours of examination confirmed that Zane had been drugged with painkillers, and the gash on his forehead came from a blunt strike. Four stitches were needed, but thankfully, he didn’t have a concussion.

When the doctors advised him to stay overnight for observation, he shook his head obstinately.

I didn’t even bother arguing.

It was no use, so I simply called a cab after leaving the hospital.

By four a.m., we arrived at my place, and I helped him into my room.

Hurriedly, I left briefly to find some old clothes that had once belonged to my grandfather in the attic. But when I returned, Zane was no longer sitting on my bed.

He was standing by my desk.

A photo in his hands.

It was an old picture of my grandparents with a much younger version of myself nestled between them.

“You should lie down.”

Slowly, he turned to face me.

“I found you some clothes—”

The bundle slipped from my fingers as he grabbed my wrist and pulled me against him.His hands skimmed my hips, his forehead pressing against mine.

My breathing turned shallow.“Wh-what are you doing?”

His intense brown eyes bore into mine as he leaned in so close. I could feel his breath ghosting over my lips.

A warmth spread in my stomach, deep and dangerous.

I lifted my hand, holding it firmly between us. “No.”