A Fragile Reunion 2

Stephen drove through the streets, his mind filled with thoughts of Kyra. He couldn't believe he was doing this, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that he needed to be with her.

He arrived at hospital, his heart pounding in his chest. He parked his car and grabbed the bag of food he had bought for Kyra, taking a deep breath before stepping out into the cool night air.

As he walked into the hospital, he was greeted by the familiar faces of the nurses who were in charge of Kyra.

In Kyra's hospital room, Kyra's eyes fluttered open, her gaze struggling to focus. She was met with the familiar sight of hospital walls and the steady beep of machines monitoring her vital signs. Her mind was foggy, but memories began to resurface, like a dream slowly coming into focus. The fire, the restaurant, Stephen...it all came flooding back.

She tried to speak, but her voice was barely a whisper. Her throat was dry, and her body felt heavy, as if weighed down by an invisible force. She tried to lift her hand, but it felt like a lead weight, refusing to budge.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Stephen walked in, a bag of food in his hand. Kyra's eyes locked onto him, her gaze struggling to convey the questions and emotions swirling in her mind.

Stephen approached her bedside, a soft smile on his face. "Hey, Kyra. I brought you some food. I thought you might be hungry."

Kyra's eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on his. She could smell the alcohol on his breath, and her mind raced with questions. She tried to speak, but her voice was barely audible. "S-Stephen...d-did you...drink?"

Stephen's smile faltered for a moment, and he waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it, Kyra. I'm fine."

Kyra's eyes flashed with frustration, her mind screaming with questions. What happened that night? How did the fire start? And why was Stephen drinking? But her body betrayed her, refusing to cooperate. She could only manage a weak whisper. "W-why...are you...drinking?"

Stephen's eyes dropped, his voice soft. "It's nothing, Kyra. Just a rough night, that's all."

Kyra's gaze held his, her eyes pleading for answers. But Stephen just smiled and patted her hand. "Get some rest, Kyra. We'll talk later."

And with that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Kyra alone with her thoughts and the haunting memories that refused to fade away.

The next day, Stephen woke up in his lavish apartment, surrounded by the finest furnishings and decorations. His mansion was a testament to his success, with marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking views of the city. His collection of luxury cars, including a Ferrari and a Bentley, was parked in the underground garage.

As he sipped his coffee, he gazed out at the city skyline, his mind still reeling from the events of the previous night. He couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt and responsibility for Kyra's situation. He knew he had to do something to help her, to make it right.

He decided then and there that he would offer Kyra a place to stay, in his house, until she was back on her feet. He would also build her a new restaurant, one that would surpass her wildest dreams. And he would settle the expenses with the landlord of the burnt restaurant, so she wouldn't have to worry about it.

With a newfound sense of purpose, Stephen headed to the hospital to visit Kyra. As he entered her room, he was struck by her fragile appearance, her beauty tempered by the bruises and bandages. But her eyes still sparkled with determination, and Stephen's heart swelled with admiration.

"Hey, Kyra," he said softly, taking her hand in his. "How are you feeling today?"

Kyra's voice was still weak, but her eyes shone with gratitude. "Stephen...thank you. For everything."

Stephen smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Don't thank me yet, Kyra. I'm just getting started."

"I'm not doing it for you, I'm doing this for myself," Stephen said, avoiding Kyra's gaze. "I know you don't like my type of person or business, but I think I have to do this for me too."

Kyra's eyes narrowed slightly, her voice faint but determined. "What are you saying? I'm not angry at you, and I want to thank you for coming to save me that night. Thank you."

Stephen's expression softened, his voice calm and gentle. "I will get you a place to stay until I'm sure you'll be safe. You can't go back to your old place, not until we figure out who started the fire."

Kyra's eyes flashed with concern. "But I have a house, Stephen. I can't just leave it."

Stephen's grip on her hands tightened. "Stay at my place for now. Who would have wanted you dead? Or...no, I don't think you're the careless type. Someone targeted you, Kyra. And I'm going to find out who."

Kyra's eyes searched his face, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why are you sounding like you won't come again?"

Stephen's eyes dropped, his voice low. "Because I won't, Kyra. I'll make sure food is delivered daily, and one of my men will come pick you up the day you're discharged. But I can't keep coming here, seeing you like this. It's too hard."

Kyra's eyes filled with tears, her voice cracking. "But why?"

Stephen's face twisted in pain, but he didn't say a word.

Kyra's hands trembled in his, her eyes pleading. "Stephen..."

Stephen's eyes closed, his chest heaving with a deep sigh. "I'll make sure you're safe, Kyra. I promise. But I can't keep coming back here. It's too hard for me."

Stephen's eyes locked onto Kyra's, his gaze intense but guarded. "Kyra, I have to go," he said, his voice firm but laced with hidden emotion.

Kyra's eyes searched his face, her voice neutral but her mind racing. "Oh, okay. Thanks for coming, Stephen."

Stephen's face remained impassive, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of pain. "Yeah, no problem. I just...have a lot of work to do and it's stressful."

Kyra's eyes narrowed slightly, her voice dripping with skepticism. "Work? At this hour?"

Stephen's smile was tight and forced. "Yeah, well, you know how it is. Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you're okay. You're safe now, so..."

Kyra's eyes never left his face, her mind working overtime to process the tension between them. She knew he was hiding something, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. And she knew she had to keep her own secret hidden, for now. "Yeah, thanks, Stephen. I appreciate it."

Stephen's eyes lingered on hers for a moment, then he turned to leave. "Take care, Kyra. Be safe."

Kyra's voice was barely audible, her eyes never leaving his back. "You too, Stephen."

As the door closed behind him, Kyra's mask slipped, and she let out a shaky breath. She knew she had to keep her memories hidden, for now. But she also knew that she couldn't keep them locked away forever. The tension between them was palpable, and she knew that eventually, it would come to a head.