Margot's POV - The last bundle of laundry landed with a soft thud inside of the machine damp towels this time brushing against the steel . I reached back to grab a stray sock to toss in with it , my fingers brushing over Coban's as he reached for it too . We both stilled . Just for a second . I looked up , unsure if he'd jerk his hand away or smirk at the contact . - But instead , he stood rising to his full , imposing height rising to his full , imposing height - and did something I didn't expect . - He offered me his hand . Not gruffly . Not with impatience . Just ... open . Quiet . I stared at it for a second too long , my legs still folded beneath me on the floor . Was this a trap ? Some new twist in his sick game ? How could the man from earlier , so intimidating and aggressive , now be offering me his hand ?! But his eyes didn't narrow like they usually did when he wanted me to be afraid of him . They just waited for me to accept the gesture . So I reached out . Slipped my hand into his. It was warm . Strong . Surprising ? He pulled me up with ease , not yanking - - not rough just firm enough to steady me . " Thank you , " I muttered quickly , like if I said it too loud the moment might break . He let go of my hand almost as soon as I'd found my balance , brushing it down the side of his pants before giving a slight nod toward the machines . " Should take an hour , " he said plainly . " So we'll come back for it . " Then - again , without being told he stepped to the side , motioning me toward the hallway . Like a silent - 1/5 3:22 pm P Chapter 43 Heard invitation . Or maybe an unspoken test. I nodded once and walked out , my feet quick across the tile . But I didn't get far . A sudden impact hit me square in the chest as I rounded the doorway I stumbled back only for Coban's hands to stable me from behind . - : ། - a collision of limbs and soft fabric . " Oh ! Crap I'm so sorry ! " I gasped , catching sight of a flurry of laundry tumbling everywhere . Socks , towels , some colourful shirts I didn't recognise . - The girl small , slight , barely older than me bent down quickly , her arms flailing in an attempt to scoop everything up . " I didn't see you ! I'm so sorry ! " she blurted out , her voice thin and breathless . Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment , her eyes flicking back down the hallway anxiously . It's not your fault , I didn't see you either - here , let me help- " I dropped to my knees again , gathering the fallen pieces of clothing as fast as I could , shoving them into her outstretched arms . " Thank you , " she murmured , sounding like the idea of being helped at all was foreign . Like kindness was a luxury she hadn't learned to accept around here yet . That's when his voice snapped through the hall from behind me . " Bella , get the fuck up ! This isn't your mess to fix ! " He huffed , shocking me completely . The gentleness was gone . I froze . The girl flinched hard from his tone , almost dropping the pile all over again . I turned my head slowly to find Coban standing behind me , his face twisted with a familiar irritation I was slowly growing used to seeing . But this time , it wasn't directed at me , for once . It was aimed at her - or maybe the whole situation probably patience wearing thin due to the standing around ? The girl didn't move , laying low , averting her gaze . - " Newman ! " Coban suddenly barked out sharply , his voice echoing down the corridor like a gunshot as I suddenly realised what he was about to do , Not even a moment later , a head poked out from one of the far rooms - a man with a shaved head and a 2/5 3:22 pm P DD Chapter 43 - Heard heavy build , his shirt wrinkled , his expression already annoyed . " Santo ? What's wrong ? What's she done now ? " The second he saw the girl on her knees , clutching her bundle of clothes like a shield , his expression shifted . Confusion . Then agitation for her . I stood quickly . Too quickly . My body moved before my brain could stop it , instincts flaring like a fire had been lit in my chest . - I turned to Coban - palms reaching out - pressing my hands flat against his sturdy chest . - It was bold . Maybe stupid of me ? Definitely dangerous . But I had to do something before he got that poor girl in to unnecessary trouble . His attention snapped down to me instantly , eyes narrowing , lips parting like he wasn't sure what to make of the contact I was giving him . I felt his muscles tense beneath my hands , rigid with surprise . " Coban , please don't , this was my fault , " I whispered urgently . " I bumped into her . She couldn't even see where she was going - she had so much stuff in her arms . Don't make her pay for that - she's only trying her best . " I rant quickly , ensuring that the man awaiting Coban's response couldn't hear my words . My voice was desperate but measured , pleading without groveling . The girl was wobbling to stand up now , her eyes darting between us with something close to panic . Coban stared down at me , and for a moment I didn't know if I'd made a massive mistake . His gaze flicked down to my hands on him , then back to my face , then past me toward the other man . He exhaled once - sharp , controlled and then spoke ... - " Don't send your girl to the laundry carrying that much shit on her own , " he growled , glaring down the hallway at the guy known as Newman . " Look at the size of her compared to you ?! What is it that you're doing that's so important you can't fucking help walk ten steps with it ? Is the pile too heavy for you to lift ? " My heart skipped . What ? Did he just- ? Newman blinked as I turned to face him , clearly taken aback . " Uh - yeah - shit , yeah , I guess you're right . " He rubbed the back of his neck , suddenly looking more guilty than annoyed , and stepped fully out into the hallway . " Didn't think it was that much . C'mere , Sarah , you should've just told me it was a struggle . " 3/5 3:22 pm PD Chapter 43 - Heard - The girl - Sarah stood straighter as he reached her , relieving her of the entire pile , it suddenly looking small in his much larger arms . He even kicked open the laundry room door for her to go in ... She shot me a glance something thankful , almost stunned before she walked past . - A connection sparked in the air between us . A fleeting , quiet bond formed in the middle of this godforsaken place . " Margot , " I whispered to her , tilting my head in a nod to introduce myself quickly . She smiled faintly . " Sarah , " she returned , like it was a secret worth keeping . And then she disappeared inside , her protector finally trailing in after her . I turned back toward Coban slowly , unsure of what to say . But he didn't gloat . He didn't smirk . He didn't even speak . He just looked at me . And for once , I didn't feel like prey under his gaze . I felt ... something else . Still unsure . Still cautious . But something had shifted . - " Don't push it . " He muttered lowly , as my lips tugged out in to a small smile as I nodded once - sharing a mutual understanding not to address what he had just done for me . I could be totally wrong , and maybe I'm just a total fool here , but if I was right ... I'd say that Coban was seriously trying to make things up to me in his own , weird way , Ultimately , showing me a side to him that I hadn't yet seen before ... A man beneath the monster