"And what if---what are you if the people who are supposed to love you can leave you like you're nothing?" - Elizabeth Scott, The Unwritten Rule

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Caden's POV

What's happening?

Everything is blurry.

Am I in heaven?

"Ma'am, can you tell me your name." That voice is unfamiliar.

She seems nice. Maybe she's an angel. Maybe I am in heaven.

I try to say hi to her, you know, with her being an angel and everything, but I can't hear my voice. I can't feel anything. This is weird.

"Okay, let's check for any contusions and fractures. Order a head CT as well, I don't know how much damage that fall caused." This one is a man. Is he God? That'd be awesome.

A chuckle sounds out from God. "No sweetie, I'm not God, I am your doctor. Do you think you can open your eyes?"

I try to shift, to feel any control of my body. I mumble something but I can't make out what and then God is talking again. "Her body is still in shock."

Everything goes black again.

Silas's POV

"WHERE IS SHE?!" I barrel through the front doors of the hospital where I already see Agnes waiting in the waiting room. She approaches me calmly, but I can see the lines of dried tears streaking her face.

"She's taking a head CT right now." Fuck. FUCK. If I wasn't a fucking asshole tonight, she could have gone home with me, and none of this shit would have fucking happened.

"What happened, Agnes?" I can feel her hands as she takes them into hers and guides me to a seat.

"I don't wanna sit down, I want to know what happened to her." I try not to sounds demanding, but I can't fucking help it. How the fuck am I supposed to sit down when my love is somewhere getting a fucking HEAD CT?! I want answers and I will get them.

"Silas, sit down. Now." Her even more demanding tone has me reeling but I comply.

"I don't know the specifics. The police is still investigating the situation." The police? THE POLICE??

"What do you mean the police, Agnes? What the hell is going on? Why are the police involved?" I stand up again, not being able to calm the fear and panic coursing through my body.

"Silas, sit down and let me explain." Agnes has always been patient with me but I can tell the news is weighing her down probably as much as me. I don't complain or interrupt her this time.

"As you know, Caden has a brother. Well, apparently, neighbors heard a commotion in their apartment. Even I did and we live in different buildings. I looked through my window and saw her on the ground. I don't know what happened. I called the police and the ambulance took her here. I don't know much else except the fact that her brother is also hurt. The police are saying this was a domestic dispute."

She looks at me worriedly. "I don't know who's in the wrong, but-" She wouldn't do this. She wouldn't fucking hit someone for no reason. She's the kindest fucking person I know, and if the police don't fucking see that, they can deal with me.

"It's not her, Agnes."

She looks at me with pitying eyes. "I know it's not but the police aren't sure. They say both are in the wrong as her brother, Cole, also has a black eye and a concussion."

"She has a black eye and a concussion?!"

"Silas, calm down." Calm down? I can't fucking calm down when I know that she's hurt. I can tell Agnes knows what I'm thinking but stays silent.

"We'll learn more when she's questioned, but right now, all we can do is wait." Question her. I fucking hate this. Caden wouldn't hurt a fucking fly. Her brother was probably a fucking asshole, and I bet my woman beat his motherfucking ass.

I will do anything to make sure she's in my arms again, safe and sound, even if it takes bringing her fucking brother down. She's mine. And if I found out he hurt her, he's dead.

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Forty-five minutes later and she's finally finished with her head CT. Fucking finally.

After getting the room number from Agnes, I fucking sprint across the hospital looking for her room.

F21. Found it.

I open the door.

Fuck.

What the fuck?

My feet find their way to the side of her bed, and I want to fucking throw up. No, I want to beat her fucking brother to the ground.

She has a fucking black eye and a bandage on the side of her head. And that's the parts of her I can see. I don't know if she's hurt anywhere else and it's fucking killing me. I just want to take her home where I can take care of her and apologize and worship her as she deserves. I need her.

Fuck.

I caress the side of her face. When my skin meets her, she stirs in her sleep. Fuck. Even in a hospital gown, she looks fucking breathtaking.

"Are you her boyfriend?" I turn around and see a man in his sixties behind me. "Hello, I'm Dr. Truman, Caden's doctor."

"Hello, sir."

He looks kind, I guess. He better be a good fucking doctor or I'm taking her somewhere else. I need her to be better. I need her. "Do you know the extent of her injuries?"

He looks skeptical in asking me before recognition flashes across his face. I can tell he sees the desperation and panic in my eyes because he tells me what would normally not be disclosed with a patient's boyfriend. "She had a minor contusion where she fell on her head as well as a concussion. I can prescribe some pain medication to help her headaches but it's best that she rests for at least 72 hours."

I try to give a small smile but I can't. I can't when my love has a fucking concussion and contusion and whatever else and I can't do shit to help her feel better.

"The police will want to question her about her other injuries when she wakes up." What? "What other injuries, doctor?" I thought that was fucking it. There are more?!

He doesn't say anything. Why the fuck isn't he saying anything? "Doctor, what other injuries does she have?" I demand.

"I'm sorry, sir, that information is between Ms. Wilson and the police." I straighten my back to my full height and tower over him, fucking pissed as hell. Before I can do shit, Agnes steps in. "Thank you, Dr. Truman."

Relief washes over his face before he scurries out of the room. Fuck him.

"Agnes, what other injuries?" Her face is filled with dread but also knowing. "Agnes, tell me."

"I-." She sighs. "I've been hearing a lot of things from her apartment for months now. But I didn't want to intrude on her privacy. So, I paid for surveillance cameras for the whole building, and the landlord agreed. The people who agreed with the cameras just had to sell a contract as I was the one paying for them, and I heard that her brother signed it. So, the police are most likely looking over the footage right now."

Things. Things. Why the fuck didn't she tell me?

A wave of frustration washes over me. But not just that. The powerlessness and helpless wrapping around my heart right now. I can't go through this shit again. Being beside a hospital bed where the people I love fucking leave me. I can't do this again. Because it doesn't fucking matter how much money I have or how many people know me. What the fuck is that worth when they always end up leaving me?

Fuck. FUCK.

I feel my hands getting wet. I can see Agnes leave the room, most likely to find Sage as I had just ditched him, but I don't focus on that. All I can think about is the idea of her. Of her not being here where I can tell her I completely fell in love with her. Not even fell. Where my heart fucking dropped into her hands because that's what she has. My heart. My body. My whole fucking soul. I'm hers but I need her to be here when I tell her that.

I hear a small moan beside me. My legs immediately straighten and I'm beside her in an instant.

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Caden's POV

Silas's face is right in front of me, hovering over me. His eyes are lined with redness and his cheeks are slightly pink. Was he crying?

No. He couldn't be. Why was he crying? Did someone get hurt?

I try to speak, to ask him what was wrong but he shushes me. "Don't talk." He leaves the room before I can say anything else.

A minute later, he comes in with a doctor behind him. "Hello, Caden. I'm Dr. Truman, your doctor. Do you know why you're here?"

Doctor? Why do I have a doctor? Did I get hurt?

"Yes, you did, sadly. You're in a hospital right now as you suffered a concussion and a minor contusion on the left side of your head." I nod but I am still confused. Concussion? Contusion? These are one of those days where I wished I watched Grey's Anatomy.

"I am going to prescribe you some pain medication for your headaches, but you should rest for at least 72 hours before doing any physical or mental activity." I nod again. I look at Silas who is looking back at me with so much worry, even I'm worried and I don't even know what's happening. "The police are going to want to have a word with you."

The police? THE POLICE?!

Then all the memories come rushing back to me as if cold water has been splashed onto my face. The Sanders Corp dinner, Silas, the fight, the sidewalk, then black.

"Mr. Sanders, may you please step out of the room for a bit?" Dr. Truman tries to tell Silas discreetly but he's not very good at whispering.

"No," Silas deadpans.

Dr. Truman turns back to me. "I have other matters to discuss with you. Would you like Mr. Sanders here as well?" I look at Silas. Then I think back to the dinner. His behavior. The things I thought before everything went dark.

Are we still together? I don't know. I don't want to put myself through this pain again. Of feeling overpowered and used. I need Silas to understand that. So as much as my heart aches, I shake my head.

Utter heartbreak crumbles his face. His eyes. I've never seen so much devastation in one person's eyes before, but I just can't. I don't want to leave him, but our relationship isn't healthy right now. I have so many fears as to what can go wrong between us. And what if he's only being concerned because I'm inured? Is he going to go back to not caring the minute I feel better? A person can only go through so much pain.

Silas begins to walk away but not before turning back to me again, pleading. Tears prick my eyes so I look away from him. I can't bear to look into his eyes again. I'll change my mind before I can listen to reason.

When he finally steps out of the room, Dr. Truman brings his focus to me again. "Ms. Wilson, I noticed indents and bruises on your back. Normally, this wouldn't concern us, but I notice that there has been prior damage to your skin and blood cells from months, even years ago."

I look at him, hoping to feign ignorance. Jeez, I know this is what I wanted; to expose Cole and all that he's done. But actually being in the situation has me totally freezing up. I've spent years hiding the pain; I can't help that feeling of lying to protect him.

"Um-"

"You don't have to tell me, but the police would like to question you. Your brother is across the hall but the police aren't allowing visits between the both of you until the investigation is clear."

I nod my head, trying to wrap my brain around this whole situation.

He leaves the room, but as soon as he does, Silas walks in. I look at him, dread creeping up my throat.

I've never seen him like this. His face is as pale as a ghost and his eyes are bloodshot. I wonder how long he's been here, without any sleep. He should rest.

"I'm not fucking resting until you tell me what's going on." His voice is gruff and demanding but his body language begs to differ. He looks like he's about to break down. And Jesus Christ, it breaks my heart.

"What's wrong?"

He scoffs. Then he looks at me, looks at my eye, looks at my night gown, then looks up at me again. Then looks away. "I fucking hate you right now."

His insults don't faze me again. I don't even feel anything right now. I just wanna know he's okay before I can properly break down. I just don't want him here when I do it.

"Silas, I'm really tired, so if that's all you have to say, I'd appreciate it if-" He cuts me off. No, actually, his lips cut me off. He kisses me gently, savoring the taste of my lips. His tongue slides from my bottom lip to my teeth and then to my tongue. His hands cup my face, his thumb running across my cheekbone before resting into my hair. "You wanna know what's wrong with me? You. You are. I need you to be fucking okay, or I will fucking die. I need you."

I look at him, completely in shock. He needs me? What does that even mean? We've only been dating a few months, it's not like I've become his crutch or something. There are a hundred other women that can outshine me easily.

"I can't fucking live without you. Don't push me out, please. I'll be better, I promise. I'll never treat you like before. Please don't leave me." His eyes are watering. He's crying.

His face cups me again, but I force them apart and wrap my hands around his neck. When I pull him closer, he lays on my bed beside me, his head on the crook of my arm.

He sobs silently as I brush my fingers through his hair. He continues to cry, continuing to whisper small pleads to don't leave him. I tell him I won't. I tell him that we'll be okay. I continue to rake my hands through his hair until I feel his steady breathing on my chest.

And once I know he's fully asleep, the tears that I've bottled inside me for four years finally find their freedom.

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