CHAPTER 22

Isla’s POV

When we reached an empty examination room, he helped me settle onto the bed, moving with a precision and gentleness that surprised me.

“Thank you,” I said, still feeling flustered. “Really, you didn’t have to go out of your way…”

He did not answer, but simply motioned to a nearby nurse. She willingly came and attended to me, assessing my ankle and setting me up for a quick examination. Mr. Shaw stood nearby, his presence solid, a quiet pillar of strength. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, feeling an odd sense of gratitude mixed with… something else. Curiosity, perhaps. Intrigue. There was a familiarity in his presence, one that I couldn’t quite understand, but it pulled at me all the same.

After the nurse finished treating my ankle and wrapped it securely, I gathered my things, preparing to leave. But Mr. Shaw didn’t let me hobble off alone. Before I could protest, he led me to his car waiting outside. I settled into the backseat beside him, trying to maintain a s