---- Chapter 5 Ava managed to get Noah to his apartment and Scarlett into acab. As Scarlett left, she gave Ava a look that was a mixture of pity and triumph. "You're a real saint, you know that?" Scarlett said, her words slurring slightly. "Taking care of him like this." It wasn't a compliment. As soon as they were gone, the pain in Ava's stomach became unbearable. It doubled her over. She stumbled into Noah's apartment behind him, her vision starting to blur at the edges. "My stomach..." she managed to say, leaning against the wall for support. Noah, who was busy throwing his jacket on the floor, glanced at her with irritation. "You probably just ate something bad. Go drink some water." But it was more than that. A wave of nausea washed over her, and the pain was so intense she could barely breathe. She saw Liam's face in her mind, his offer of a ride, the concern in his eyes. She had pushed away the one person who had tried to help her. Suddenly, her legs gave out. She crumpled to the floor, a cry of pain escaping her lips. ---- That finally got Noah's attention. He turned around and saw her lying on the floor, pale and sweating. For a moment, a flicker of something that looked like concern, or maybe just shock, crossed his face. "Ava?" He rushed to her side, but before he could reach her, the door to the apartment opened again. It was Liam. He must have been waiting in the hallway, worried. He took in the scene in an instant - Ava on the floor, Noah standing over her looking helpless. Without a word to Noah, Liam knelt beside Ava. "What's wrong? Where does it hurt?" he asked, his voice calm and reassuring. "My stomach," she whispered, tears of pain welling in her eyes. "It's... my allergy... the stress..." Liam didn't hesitate. He scooped her up into his arms. She felt surprisingly light. "I'm taking you to the hospital," he said, his voice firm. He turned to Noah. "Are you coming or are you just going to stand there?" Noah looked stunned, then a scowl formed on his face. "Who. the hell do you think you are, manhandling my girlfriend?" "Your girlfriend? The one you just used to win a bet? The one you humiliated in front of an entire club?" Liam's voice was low and dangerous. "The one you left on the floor while she's in ---- agony? Get out of my way." Liam carried her out to his car, moving with a speed and efficiency that left Noah standing dumbfounded in his own doorway. In the car, Liam gently buckled her in, his hand brushing hers. His touch was warm and steady. "It's going to be okay," he said, looking her in the eyes. "I've got you." At the hospital, the doctor said it was a severe allergic reaction, exacerbated by stress and exhaustion. They gave her medication that eased the pain almost immediately. Liam stayed with her the whole time, filling out paperwork, talking to the doctors, holding her hand when she cried from a mixture of pain, relief, and humiliation. "Why are you doing this?" she asked him, her voice hoarse from crying. Liam looked at her, his expression serious. "Because no one should be treated the way he treats you. And because you deserve to have someone take care of you, for once." He paused. "I've been a fan of your work for years, Ava. 'Echoes of Starlight' is brilliant. | played the demo. It's a masterpiece." His praise, so genuine and unexpected, made a fresh wave of tears spill down her cheeks. He saw her not as an accessory or a convenience, but as an artist, a creator. He saw her. He drove her home in the early hours of the morning. When they got to her apartment building, Noah was there, waiting by ---- the entrance. He looked sober now, and his face was a mask of anxiety and anger. He saw Liam helping her out of the car and stormed over. "Ava! Where have you been? | was worried sick!" Liam stepped between them. "She was in the hospital, Noah. Because of an allergic reaction you couldn't be bothered to notice." Noah's face paled. He looked at Ava, really looked at her, and saw how pale and exhausted she was. A flicker of guilt crossed his features. He reached for her. "Ava, |... I'm sorry." He helped her out of the car, his touch surprisingly gentle. He half-carried her into the building, leaving Liam standing by his car. As the elevator doors closed, Ava looked back at Liam. He gave her a small, sad smile, a look that said he knew exactly what was about to happen. Inside her apartment, Noah fussed over her, getting her water, fluffing her pillows. It was the most attention he had shown her in months. "| was so scared," he said, sitting on the edge of her bed. "When | saw you on the floor... | realized... | can't lose you, Ava." She was weak, exhausted, and desperately craving any scrap of affection. His words were a balm on her raw wounds. "Please," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Don't leave me alone tonight." ---- He nodded, his expression soft. "| won't. I'm staying right here." 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