CHAPTER 108: CHAPTER 108: THE MORNING AFTER

Selene’s POV ~

When my eyes blinked open the next morning, the first thing I noticed was how strangely well I felt.

That in itself was wrong.

Normally, after a night like that, my body would be aching all over. Every breath would sting, my legs would be heavy, and my head would be throbbing. But this time, there was nothing. Only a strange lightness, as if I had slept soundly and peacefully.

Except I knew I hadn’t.

I hadn’t even been able to sleep properly last night. My body had been too restless and too tense. So how could I feel so... normal now?

My heart began to pound in unease as fragments of memory rushed back to me. I remembered being in the washroom. The way my hands had trembled, how my legs had wobbled so badly that I could barely stand. And then—yes, there had been a knock.

I froze.

The knock.

And then... a voice. A voice that had cut through the haze, grounding me for just one moment before everything went black.

Kieran.

It was his voice. I was sure of it. Even in the fog of my dazed mind, I remembered the low steadiness of it. He had been there.

But after that—nothing.

The memory was broken, blurred as though covered by mist. I tried to reach for it, but it slipped away, leaving only a hollow unease in my chest. My breathing quickened as I sat up, clutching the blanket close to me.

I was dry. My bathrobe was still there, but I felt like it was a different one, or maybe not. Even my hair felt clean, with no trace of the sweat and mess from last night. I glanced toward the washroom. The door was closed.

So how?

How could I be here, perfectly fine, unless someone had carried me back? Unless someone had seen me like that—weak, collapsed on the floor, unable even to walk?

A sharp wave of heat rushed to my face. Shame burned through me, twisting deep in my chest.

Had he seen me like that? Broken, helpless, sprawled on the floor like a fool?

The thought made my stomach churn. I pressed my palms over my face, wishing the ground would open and swallow me whole. I could not remember what had happened after hearing his voice, and that only made it worse. What if I had said something? What if I had done something humiliating while I was barely conscious?

What if he had carried me back?

The image made me flinch, my hands curling into fists against my lap. I had no answers, only the pounding terror that I had embarrassed myself before him in the most pitiful way possible.

I could only hope—pray—that maybe I had imagined it all. That maybe he hadn’t been there at all, and it was just my mind playing tricks.

But the more I thought about it, the more certain I became.

It had been his voice.

And that realization horrified me more than anything else.

Waiting in the room was useless. No matter how much I thought, I could not piece the truth together. My mind was too foggy, too uncertain. With a deep breath, I pressed my steps onto the floor and forced myself to calm down before walking outside.

I walked to the washroom, splashed water on my face, and then filled the tub for a quick bath. The warm water calmed me, but my thoughts stayed tangled.

When I stepped out, I realized another problem—I had no clothes. The only set I had was the one I had worn last night. There was nothing else in the room. After a long pause, cheeks burning with discomfort, I slipped back into the same clothes.

Once ready, I stood at the door, my hand resting on the knob. My heart pounded so hard I thought it might echo in the quiet house. Should I leave? Just bolt out and vanish before anyone sees me?

When I stepped out, the house was quiet. Only the faint sound of dishes clinking came from the kitchen. I realized with a start that it was already past noon. I had slept far longer than I should have.

My heart beat so fast that my hands trembled. Embarrassment coiled in my stomach, sharp and heavy. A single thought filled my head—leave. Just run out the door, vanish, and never let anyone see me again.

I was still debating with myself, half-ready to bolt, when his voice reached me.

"Are you awake? Are you alright? Did your fever subside?"

I froze, staring toward the kitchen. My lips parted before I could stop myself. "Fever? What fever?"

Kieran stepped into view, his expression calm and steady, as if nothing unusual had happened at all. "You had a very high fever last night," he said, almost too casually. "I called a doctor. He gave you a shot. You almost made me worry."

I blinked at him, confusion running through me like a wave. Fever? Doctor?

He gave me no time to ask. He simply continued, "I even asked the maid to help you change into dry clothes. You should rest more."

A sigh of relief escaped my chest before I could stop it. So that was it. I had just imagined everything. My mind had played tricks on me. He hadn’t seen me in that shameful state. He hadn’t carried me. It was all just my wild thoughts.

Maybe it was true—the medicine the doctor gave had eased all the pain in my body. That must be why I feel so strangely refreshed now.

Finally, I felt the tension slip from my shoulders. I was still embarrassed, but at least it wasn’t the horror I had feared.

Gathering myself, I walked toward the dining table. My eyes widened slightly when I saw the many dishes already set out, still steaming.

Kieran had cooked.

"Why are you here?" I asked before I could stop myself. "Aren’t you supposed to be on a business trip?"

He paused, meeting my gaze with a small smile. "It got cancelled," he replied simply. "So I decided to come here instead. Who knew you would be here as well?"

There was something warm in his tone, light and teasing, as though nothing was out of place.

For the first time that day, I allowed myself to breathe.