Mia paused as she felt Ashley hitch her breath. She glanced up and cupped Ashley's face. "Breathe," she said softly, trying to calm her. Mia bit her lip as she noticed the uneven rise and fall of Ashley's chest.

"It stings," Ashley mumbled, her breathing uneven as Mia continued to clean her wound. She had been advised to clean it twice a day. "Just... take it slow," she added with a wince.

Mia blinked, sitting up straight. "I'm sorry," she said, suddenly covering her face with her hands and laughing. "Gosh, I really need to clean my mind!"

"Huh?" Ashley asked, blinking in confusion.

"You said, 'take it slow'... I was thinking about something else entirely," Mia admitted, laughing harder, her shoulders shaking.

Ashley's eyes widened. "Oh my gosh, Mia!" she hissed, wincing as she shifted slightly. "Good God, just finish up already!" Her cheeks flushed red.

Mia wiped the corner of her eyes, still chuckling. "Then stop saying weird things when I'm trying to clean your wound!"

Ashley rolled her eyes. "Oh, please, you're just imagining things. Maybe because you haven't—ouch!" She flinched as Mia smacked her gently on the head.

"Stop talking, or I'll make your wound bleed again," Mia warned, narrowing her eyes playfully.

Ashley laughed, then groaned. "Fine. Just make sure you don't open it up again, okay?"

Mia sighed, clearing her throat before looking back at Ashley's injured abdomen. "Are you sure you're okay with this?" she asked, carefully dabbing the saline solution over the wound.

"I'm fine. You're the one who insisted on playing nurse," Ashley teased, though her gaze lingered on Mia's focused expression.

Mia put down the saline wipes and unpacked an antiseptic wipe. She dabbed it on the wound and shot Ashley a glance. "Stop staring at me like that."

"Why?" Ashley asked innocently.

Mia shrugged. "You might get too captivated by my beauty."

Ashley laughed softly, shaking her head. "Gosh, so full of herself."

"It's your fault. You're the one staring too much," Mia quipped, reaching for a gauze bandage. Gently, she placed it over the wound and secured it with surgical tape. "There. We're done," she said, smiling proudly.

Ashley chuckled, her gaze softening. "Thanks," she mumbled.

"We're not done yet," Mia said quickly. "Give me your arm." She pulled her stool closer to the bed and placed Ashley's hand on her lap, beginning to remove the bandage on her arm.

"Do you mind staying at my place while we deal with your injuries?" Mia asked casually.

Ashley tilted her head. "What are you—"

"You live alone. I live alone. And you need someone to take care of you," Mia interrupted, shrugging. "Stay at my place for a while, at least until your wounds heal."

Ashley avoided her gaze. "I might get used to it," she muttered.

"And?"

Clearing her throat, Ashley chuckled. "Are you really that worried about me?"

Mia nodded, her expression softening. "I'm partly responsible for these wounds. If it wasn't for me—"

"Fine," Ashley interrupted with a sigh. "Just until I heal, okay? You really know how to make someone feel guilty."

Mia grinned. "And you're just too easy to convince."

"Probably because I don't want to see someone ten years younger than me crying," Ashley teased.

Mia glared at her. "Do you want me to give you another stab wound?" she asked, pausing as her gaze fell to the scars on Ashley's abdomen. "Where did you get that other scar? Have you been stabbed before?"

Ashley gulped, laughing awkwardly. "You're noticing a lot about me now, huh?" She clicked her tongue. "Yeah, I've been stabbed before—by someone I used to love."

Mia froze, her eyes widening.

Ashley raised a finger, smirking. "And yes, if you're thinking it's Natalie, you're right."

"What..."

Ashley winked. "Keep it a secret, will you?" She chuckled bitterly. "No one else knows, except Nyx. She was there when it happened."

"Why did..."

Ashley tilted her head, offering Mia a small smile. "It was my fault. Nat got jealous over someone, and we fought. I don't even know where she got the knife. I tried to stop her from hurting herself, but... I ended up getting stabbed instead. It wasn't intentional, but I decided to own it."

Mia's brows furrowed. "Why would you—"

"It was during our ranking days at the cantonal station," Ashley explained, her tone turning wistful. "You know how things work in law enforcement. Owning up to that accident somehow gave my career an unexpected turn. Maybe that was her breaking point? She told me that's why she ended things."

Mia stared at her, a mix of emotions swirling in her chest. "Ashley..."

"It's fine," Ashley said, forcing a smile. "It's all in the past now."



Mia shifted restlessly in bed, letting out a soft sigh as she glanced to her side. Ashley lay there, seemingly undisturbed, her breathing even and calm. Gulping, Mia closed her eyes, willing herself to find some rest. I should've brought my sleeping pills, she thought, frustration flickering in her mind.

"Can't sleep?" Ashley's voice broke the silence, low and drowsy but clear enough to startle Mia. Her eyes flew open as she turned to see Ashley peering at her, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"I thought you were asleep," Mia murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I was," Ashley chuckled lightly, "but you've been fidgeting. It's hard to ignore."

Mia pressed her lips together, embarrassed. "I'm just... not good at falling asleep. That's why I usually take sleeping pills."

Ashley shifted slightly, extending her uninjured arm toward Mia and giving it a gentle pat. "Here," she said, her tone soft and inviting. "Use this."

Mia blinked in confusion, sitting up abruptly. "What?"

"Lie here," Ashley repeated, tapping her arm again. "It might help."

"You're joking, right?" Mia's eyes narrowed, but there was a tinge of disbelief in her voice.

Ashley chuckled, shaking her head slightly. "I'm serious. Come on, it's just to help you rest. Besides..." Her voice took on a teasing lilt. "You're already wearing my clothes, so why stop there?"

Mia hesitated, her heart skipping a beat at the unexpected offer. "You don't mind?"

"I told you before—I like you. Why would I mind?" Ashley's voice was warm, her eyes briefly meeting Mia's before shutting again. "Now stop overthinking and just lie down."

Still unsure, Mia exhaled heavily and slowly moved closer. She lay down hesitantly, settling against Ashley's arm. The moment she felt Ashley pull her closer, Mia stiffened, her breath catching in her throat.

"Relax," Ashley murmured, her fingers lightly stroking Mia's hair in soothing motions. "Close your eyes, sugarplum."

Mia gulped, her cheeks heating at the endearment. But as Ashley's touch continued, the tension in her body melted away. Her eyelids grew heavy, and before long, she surrendered to the comfort of sleep.

Ashley opened her eyes briefly, her gaze softening as she noticed Mia's peaceful expression. "Now how am I supposed to sleep with you this close?" she muttered under her breath, a wry smile tugging at her lips.

Mia stirred in her sleep, turning to face Ashley and unconsciously draping an arm over her abdomen. Ashley froze, blinking as Mia's face nestled against her chest. She swallowed hard, her pulse quickening at the unexpected closeness.

"God, you're going to be the death of me," Ashley murmured with a quiet chuckle. Her arm wrapped protectively around Mia's shoulders, her hand gently rubbing her back as if to keep her calm even in sleep.

Ashley sighed, her gaze lingering on Mia's serene face. "Is this because of everything you've been through?" she whispered softly. "Relying on pills just to get some rest?"

She leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to Mia's hair. "Good night, sugarplum," she said, her voice tender. "Sleep tight." Pulling Mia closer, Ashley shut her eyes, willing herself to ignore the racing of her heart and focus on the warmth of the moment.