The Billionaire Recluse & The girl who stayed.

What happened, with Mr Oaks?

~lexi~

Lexi

Everything hurt.

That was the first thing I noticed once the fog of sleep started to lift properly.

Not just a dull ache—no... it was deeper than that. My ribs felt tight every time I breathed, my head throbbed like it had its own pulse, and even shifting slightly in the bed made my whole body protest.

I let out a small breath, staring up at the ceiling.

Alive.

That thought alone felt strange.

Heavy.

Real.

A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts.

"Come in," I said, my voice quieter than I expected.

The door opened slowly.

Lilly stepped inside.

And the moment I saw her face—

I knew.

She'd been worried.

Her eyes softened instantly when she saw me awake, but there was something else there too... something heavier.

Concern.

Relief.

And something she was holding back.

She moved closer, sitting gently at the edge of the bed.

"How are you feeling?" she asked softly.

I gave a small shrug, instantly regretting it as pain shot through my ribs.

"Like I've been hit by a bus," I said with a weak smile.

She didn't laugh.

Not really.

Her hand came to rest over mine instead, warm and steady.

"Lexi..." she hesitated, searching my face. "Can I ask you something?"

I already knew what she was going to say.

Still...

My stomach tightened.

I nodded slowly.

"It's about what happened,"she continued. "At the restaurant... what happened with Mr Oaks?"

There it was.

I looked away.

For a moment, I thought about brushing it off.

Saying nothing.

Pretending it hadn't happened.

That's what I usually did.

Easier that way.

Cleaner.

But this time...

I couldn't.

I swallowed, my fingers tightening slightly against the bedsheet.

"He followed me," I said quietly.

Lilly's hand stilled.

"To the bathroom."

The words felt heavy leaving my mouth.

Real.

Too real.

"I thought he'd just... leave," I continued, my voice unsteady now. "But he didn't. He locked the door."