Chapter 6

A strange mix of feelings welled up inside Nerissa — part shame, part inexplicable disappointment.

Jace pulled on a fresh pair of gloves and walked over to the hospital bed. With the practiced ease of a professional, his fingers pressed gently against her lower abdomen.

"Does it hurt here?"

"No, not really."

"What about here?"

"A little..."

With each shift of his hand, Nerissa's breathing became more uneven.

Even through the gloves, she could feel the warmth of his fingertips — too vivid, too familiar. Fragments from last night crept back into her mind, completely out of her control, and her cheeks instantly flushed.

"Here?" His fingers paused.

She gasped softly. "Yeah... that's where it hurts the most."

Jace examined a few more spots carefully before standing upright. He peeled off the gloves and tossed them in the medical waste bin.

Walking over to the sink, he turned on the water and said while washing up, "No signs of visible trauma, and nothing pointing to an acute abdomen. Most likely soft tissue bruising — some kind of impact. But considering the location..."

He paused for a second, then turned to look at Nerissa. "Is your period regular? If it is, then the pain might be from being... a bit too rough during sex. Your body might not have been ready for that."

Nerissa's face instantly turned beet red. She opened her mouth, but not a single sound came out.

Jace didn't seem to notice her embarrassment. His voice was still calm. "But I still need to rule out any gynecological issues. If the impact was near the uterus area, it could've caused some problems."

"I... I..." Nerissa stumbled over her words. "I think it's probably just a regular bruise." She mumbled so softly it was like she wanted to disappear into the pillow.

Jace didn't respond. He just grabbed her chart and quickly scribbled a few notes on it. "I'll prescribe you some painkillers and a topical cream. But..."

He looked up, eyes meeting hers. "No sex for at least a week. Got it?"

Nerissa felt like her face was about to combust. She nodded frantically, practically jumping off the bed as she straightened her clothes.

Jace handed her the prescription, and when she reached out to take it, her fingers accidentally brushed his.

They both froze for a second before Nerissa quickly jerked her hand back like she just touched a live wire.

"Thanks... thank you, doctor." Her head was lowered, voice barely audible.

"Go pick up your meds from the pharmacy." Jace turned away, beginning to tidy the papers on his desk — clearly signaling the end of the consultation.

Holding the prescription, Nerissa slowly made her way toward the door. Each step tugged at the pain in her abdomen.

Just as her hand brushed the doorknob, his voice stopped her. "Wait a sec."

She turned back. Jace had already taken off his white coat and thrown on a dark grey jacket.

"I'll drive you home."

"No, it's okay, I can — " Nerissa spoke quickly, trying to refuse.

Jace cut her off, grabbing his car keys. "I'm off work anyway, and in your condition, taking the bus isn't the best idea. Plus, there's something I need to talk to you about."

For a moment, her heart skipped a beat. She stared at his calm, unreadable face, utterly unsure of what he meant to say. Was it a warning to keep quiet about last night? Or a heads-up to keep their distance?

Eventually, all she could do was nod.

Jace's car was a sleek black sedan, the kind that didn't draw attention. The inside was as clean and understated as he was. Nerissa slid into the passenger seat cautiously, buckled up without making a sound.

The car pulled smoothly out of the hospital parking lot and merged into the midday traffic.

Inside the car, it was dead quiet — only the soft hum of the A/C could be heard.

Nerissa stared out the window at the blur of buildings and trees, hands nervously twisting in her lap.

"Did the money get to you?" Jace suddenly asked.

"Y-yeah, I got it," she replied quickly. "Thank you. I'll pay you back soon."

"You don't need to. It was yours to begin with," he said flatly, then said nothing more.

Just as Nerissa thought this awkward silence would last the whole ride, Jace spoke again. "About last night..."

Her heart jumped up to her throat.

At a red light, the car came to a halt. Jace turned his head, eyes settling on her face. "The stomach pain — it wasn't just from the impact.

"...I'm sorry. I forgot it was your first time."