The light in the living room glowed softly,  

but it felt colder than it should.  

Evan’s gaze lingered on the marks—  

purplish bruises scattered across her arms and legs,  

stark and jarring against her pale skin.  

His throat tightened.  

He fought with himself,  

again and again,  

until the words finally broke through.  

“How did you get those bruises?”  

The question came out small,  

his voice trembling.  

Sienna turned her head,  

her expression calm,  

her tone even.  

“Got drunk. Fell down.”  

A simple answer,  

too simple—  

delivered like it was the most ordinary thing in the world.  

Evan froze.  

He knew she wasn’t lying, not really.  

But the thought of her—  

always so composed, so untouchable—  

collapsing alone somewhere, hurt and helpless,  

cut deeper than any truth could.  

It made him feel powerless.  

He didn’t press further.  

Instead, he moved closer  

and wrapped his arms around her.  

Tight—  

almost desperate.  

Her hair brushed his chin,  

her scent soft,  

his heartbeat unsteady.  

He didn’t say anything.  

He didn’t need to.  

The embrace said enough.  

Sienna didn’t resist.  

She stayed quiet against his chest,  

her breathing steady.  

Then, softly, she spoke—  

her tone calm but distant.  

“When the bruises fade, I’ll go back to work.”  

“Can’t show up like this.”  

Evan flinched.  

His arms tightened,  

his voice rough when he answered,  

“Then for the next few days…  

after work, I’ll stay with you.”  

She went still for a moment.  

Then came a quiet sound,  

barely above a whisper.  

“Mm.”  

Just that—  

small, simple,  

but enough to steady his world.