Chapter 6

The smell of antiseptic had never used to bother him. Now it clung to Darius’s lungs like guilt. Dr. Linton was flipping through medical records when Darius stepped into the room. He had come to sign the clearance papers for Serena’s next appointment—nothing more. Routine. Predictable. Safe. But when the doctor looked up, his eyes hesitated. That moment of silence was too long to ignore. “Is something wrong?” Darius asked, his voice sharper than he intended. The doctor fumbled...