Page 81 of His to Protect
Henley had done this. A man I didn't even know had listened to a private moment and decided it was his job to judge me. The sense of betrayal felt much sharper than I ever expected.
I stayed in that small room for a long time. Eventually, I realized it was late and the shift change was happening. I walked to the break room because I desperately needed a glass of water.
Cassian was standing by the counter making coffee. He looked up when I walked in, and his expression softened immediately.
"Mireya." He set his mug down and walked over to me. "I don't think we have been properly introduced. I'm Cassian Reeds. I'm a friend of Riven’s."
"I know who you are," I said tiredly.
"Right. Of course, you do." He looked sincere and a little bit awkward. "I heard about the ethics review today. I’m so sorry this is happening. It isn't fair to either of you."
"Fair or not, it’s happening," I replied.
"I know." He studied my face for a second. "For whatever it’s worth, I'm on your side. Riven has been different since he met you. He’s better. He finally seems more like a human being."
I wanted those words to make me feel better, but they didn't.
"Thank you, Cassian."
"He cares about you a great deal. Probably more than he has cared about anyone in a very long time." He kept his voice low. "Don't let hospital bureaucracy convince you otherwise."
I nodded, unable to speak because of the lump in my throat.
"If you need anything at all," he added. "If you need a character witness or someone to vouch for your work, I'm here for you."
"I really appreciate that."
He gave my shoulder a quick squeeze and left the room. I stood alone in the silence of the break room, staring at the coffee machine.
By the time I finally left the hospital, it was past eight o'clock. The October air was cold and sharp against my face. I took the bus to the new apartment I had rented, where Mom was now staying.
I unlocked the door and heard voices coming from the living room. My mother was on the couch, and my sister, Lyra, was sitting right next to her.
"Reya!" Lyra jumped up and gave me a massive hug. "Surprise! I decided to come home early for fall break. Mom said you were working long hours, so I wanted to—" She stopped and pulled back to look at my face. "Wait, what’s wrong?"
"It's nothing," I tried to say.
"You’re a terrible liar." She pulled me over to the sofa. "Sit down and tell us what happened."
I wanted to pretend that everything was fine. I wanted to be the strong person I had always been for them. But as I looked at my family, something inside me finally broke.
The whole story came pouring out of me. I told them about the night I fainted in the supply closet, when I moved into Riven's place to monitor Emma's post-op recovery, slowly falling for him, the conference, the secret report and the ethics review, and the investigation threatening everything I'd worked for.
By the time I finished talking, I was crying uncontrollably. It was the kind of heavy sobbing that makes your chest ache.
"Oh, my sweet girl." Mom pulled me into her arms. "Why didn't you tell us any of this?"
"I didn't want to burden you," I sobbed.
"A burden?" She pulled back to look me in the eyes. "Mireya, you’re my daughter. You could never be a burden to me."
"But you're recovering from cancer. You don't need to deal with my mess too."
"Your problems are our problems. That’s what being a family is all about." Her voice was strong and full of conviction. "I'm angry that you have been carrying all of this weight by yourself. You thought you had to protect us from your own life."
"I'm supposed to be the strong one for everyone," I whispered.
"Who told you that?" Lyra interrupted. "You’re not a superhero. You’re allowed to struggle sometimes."
