Unmasking the Heart

The quiet of the room was unsettling, broken only by the faint hum of the air conditioning. Joi lay on the bed, her breathing shallow but steady. Her swollen ankle, now wrapped and tended to, served as a stark reminder of my earlier actions—or rather, my inability to control myself.

I glanced at her sleeping form, her face peaceful now, devoid of the pain and fear she'd worn just hours before. For a moment, I felt a twinge of guilt. It was a strange emotion, one I rarely allowed myself to feel. But looking at her, I couldn't shake the thought—what was it about her that kept stirring something deep inside me?

My thoughts shifted briefly to the phone call I'd just ended. Alexander's efficiency in cleaning up loose ends was never in question, but his detailed report about burning the traitor alive was unnecessary. Usually, I wouldn't have cared. Yet tonight, the graphic nature of his words lingered in my mind, almost as if they'd found a way to seep into the cracks Joi had unwittingly created.

"Focus, Adrian," I muttered under my breath. My world was black and white—loyalty or betrayal, trust or deceit. But with Joi, things weren't so simple. She wasn't an enemy, nor was she someone I should care for. She was… something else entirely.

Returning to the room, I paused in the doorway, watching her shift slightly in her sleep. Her hair, still damp from her earlier shower, framed her face in delicate waves. The oversized polo shirt she wore slipped off one shoulder, revealing a sliver of skin that made my chest tighten.

I shook my head, trying to dispel the thoughts creeping in. My body's reaction to her was understandable—normal even. I was a man, after all, and she was undeniably beautiful. But this... this was different. This wasn't just desire—it felt heavier, more complicated.

As I stepped closer, I noticed her lips trembling slightly, as if caught in a nightmare. Before I could stop myself, I sat on the edge of the bed, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. Her skin was warm to the touch, her pulse steady but quick beneath my fingers.

"Adrian…" she mumbled in her sleep, her brow furrowing.

The sound of my name on her lips sent a jolt through me, and I pulled back instinctively. What was she dreaming about? Did I scare her enough today for my name to haunt her even in unconsciousness?

I stood abruptly, pacing the length of the room. I couldn't afford to lose myself like this. Sophia's pictures stared back at me from the walls, a silent reminder of the woman who still owned my heart. It was her smile, her warmth, her everything that had kept me going for so long. Joi wasn't Sophia—she couldn't be.

But then why did her pain affect me so deeply?

Clenching my fists, I turned back to the bed. Joi stirred again, her movements sluggish but deliberate. Her eyes fluttered open, meeting mine. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

"You're awake," I said, my voice softer than I intended.

She nodded, wincing as she tried to sit up. "What time is it?"

"Late," I replied, walking over to help her. She flinched slightly at my touch, and the guilt returned, sharper this time.

"Why… why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I didn't have an answer—not one I was ready to admit out loud. Instead, I helped her lay back down, my hands lingering just a second too long on her shoulders.

"You need to rest," I said finally, standing once more. "Your ankle won't heal if you keep pushing yourself."

She hesitated before speaking again. "Adrian… I didn't break the necklace."

Her words caught me off guard, and I turned to face her fully. The sincerity in her eyes was impossible to ignore.

"I was trying to fix it," she continued, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean to—"

"Stop," I interrupted, my tone harsher than I intended. The last thing I wanted was to think about that necklace tonight—or about the emotions tied to it.

Joi fell silent, her gaze dropping to the sheets. I knew I'd hurt her with my words, but I couldn't bring myself to apologize. Not yet.

As I watched her drift back to sleep, one thought lingered in my mind:

What was I supposed to do with her?