Inside the quiet sanctuary of the castle, Michael settled Evelyn gently onto the plush living room sofa. Maintaining a freezing, unreadable expression, he marched straight into the executive kitchen, retrieved a handful of ice blocks from the freezer, and wrapped them in a clean cloth.
He knelt before her, gently pressing the cold compress against her swollen cheek. His dark eyes softened with an intense, quiet devotion. "Does it still hurt?"
Evelyn tilted her head into the pressure, placing her own small hand over his massive palm to hold the ice in place. She offered him a playful, dazzling smile. "Mr. Thorn, since you're personally administering the medical treatment, the pain has completely vanished!"
Then, her expression shifted slightly as curiosity took over. "But really... is Erica's life actually in danger out there? Though, honestly, if your giant cat accidentally takes her out, it saves me the trouble of plotting my own revenge."
