Bones Learn To Listen When Silence Speaks by Ryn Miles 23

Aurelia had no idea what decision Cassian had made. All her focus was on the expert team. 

By the time the workday was almost over, they still hadn’t shown up. 

Left with no other choice, Aurelia went to find Connor to ask what was going on. 

(43) 

Connor had just come out of surgery. When he heard her question, he looked genuinely surprised. “You don’t know? Mr. Fuller went straight to the airport to pick them up. They probably won’t come to the hospital today.” 

Aurelia noticed something different in his expression and couldn’t help asking, “Did Mr. Fuller go alone?” 

Connor sighed, “Of course not. I was supposed to go with him, but I had a surgery I couldn’t skip.” 

Aurelia knew that top–tier medical resources like this were something everyone was fighting for. She couldn’t afford to relax for even a moment. She quickly asked Connor where the expert team had gone. 

Connor called a colleague who’d gone with Ted to meet the team and soon found out they were all having dinner at the Golden Harbor Restaurant. 

As soon as Aurelia got the address, she hailed a cab and rushed over. 

But Ashmont’s evening traffic was awful. She kept checking the time, watching a thirty–minute drive stretch to forty, then fifty minutes. 

Finally, she couldn’t sit still anymore. She paid the driver early, jumped out of the car, and found a shared electric bike nearby to ride the rest of the way. 

To save time, she weaved through traffic, her heart pounding. 

After twenty more minutes, she finally spotted the glowing sign of the Golden Harbor Restaurant up ahead. 

But she still had to circle around a traffic light intersection to reach it. 

Maybe it was because she was too anxious–when she turned the corner, she swerved to avoid an oncoming car and clipped the curb. 

The bike wobbled out of control and crashed to the ground with her still on it. Pain shot through her elbow and knee–both were scraped raw–but at least it wasn’t serious. 

The black Bentley she’d nearly hit screeched to a stop. Someone got out and walked toward her. 

Aurelia figured she was about to be scolded. After all, she had been speeding through traffic. 

Before she could even stand up, she started apologizing. “I’m so sorry. It was my fault. Don’t worry about me.” 

“Are you hurt?” A man’s low, concerned voice came from above her. 

18:50 Thu, Dec 18 D 

Chapter 23 

Aurelia looked up–and froze. It was Gideon. 

: 

Κ 

43 

He hadn’t expected to run into her either. He immediately crouched down to help her up. “Where are you hurt?” 

“I’m fine. It’s just a scrape,” Aurelia said. 

“I’ll take you to the hospital,” Gideon said firmly. 

But Aurelia still had things to do and didn’t want to go. “Really, I’m fine. It’s nothing serious.” 

Gideon frowned and started leading her toward his car anyway. 

Aurelia resisted. “I have something urgent right now. I’ll go to the hospital later.” 

“What could be more important than treating your wounds?” His voice grew sharp. 

“It’s a matter of life and death!” Aurelia shot back, her eyes already red. 

***** 

With Gideon’s help, Aurelia limped to the restaurant entrance–only to run into two people she never wanted 

to see. 

She hadn’t expected to see Cassian and Tessa there, and clearly, they hadn’t expected her either. 

Cassian stood on the steps, looking down at her, silent and cold as ice. 

Tessa’s gaze flicked between Aurelia and Gideon before she finally asked, “Why are you two together?” 

Gideon explained, “There was a small accident. My car hit her.” 

“Are you okay, Ms. Corin?” Tessa asked, her voice full of polite concern. 

“I’m fine,” Aurelia said flatly. 

She pulled her arm from Gideon’s grasp and limped inside–she didn’t have time to waste on people who didn’t matter. 

But she was still too late. The staff told her that Ted and the others had finished dinner and left ten minutes 

ago. 

She could live with being half an hour late, maybe even twenty minutes. But ten minutes? That was unbearable. She’d been so close. 

The cruel truth knocked the strength right out of her. By the time she walked out again, Cassian and Tessa were gone. Only Gideon was still waiting. 

He was stubborn as ever. “Can we go to the hospital now?” 

Aurelia hadn’t lied–it really was a minor injury–but the scrapes still stung badly, and they looked worse than 

18:50 Thu, Dec 18 

Chapter 23 

… 

they were. Every step sent a jolt of pain up her leg. 

“I’ll take you home,” Gideon said, not relaxing until he saw her bandaged up. 

“No, I still have things to do,” Aurelia said. She wasn’t ready to give up yet. 

“What could possibly be so urgent?” Gideon demanded, his voice tight with frustration. 

It was her personal matter, and Aurelia didn’t want to explain. She just wanted him to leave. 

17 

But right then, her phone rang–it was Connor. Afraid to miss any update, Aurelia answered immediately. 

43 

Connor’s voice was full of regret. The expert team had already chosen their case. He told her to start thinking of other options. 

Aurelia’s throat tightened, and a sting shot up her nose. She pinched her finger hard, trying to keep her 

composure. 

But her voice still trembled. “Didn’t they just arrive in Ashmont this afternoon? They haven’t even been to the hospital–how could they already pick a case?” 

“Mr. Fuller arranged it, and that’s all I know,” Connor said helplessly. As just a department doctor, there wasn’t much he could do. 

When the call ended, a chill ran through Aurelia, sinking deep into her bones. 

“What happened?” Gideon asked, seeing how pale she looked. 

For a moment, Aurelia didn’t even know how to answer. 

“I know Mr. Fuller pretty well,” Gideon said. “Maybe I can help.” 

His words were like a ray of light, giving her a sliver of hope. 

***** 

That night, Aurelia didn’t stay at the hospital. She hired a caregiver instead. 

She didn’t want Ella to see her injuries and worry, and she needed to go home to clean up after being at the hospital for days. 

Gideon insisted on driving her back to her apartment. “I’ll come to the hospital at ten tomorrow morning,” he said before she got out. 

“Alright.” Aurelia nodded. 

“Don’t pressure yourself too much. Things will work out,” Gideon said gently. 

Aurelia just nodded again in silence. 

He reached out and lightly patted her head. “It’s late. Go get some rest.” 

18:50 Thu, Dec 18 

Chapter 23 

: 

Z(43) 

Before she stepped out of the car, he added, “And don’t let your wounds get wet. Remember to apply the ointment, or they’ll scar.” 

“I know. You should head back. And thank you for today,” Aurelia said softly. 

Gideon’s brow eased a little. “It’s rare to hear that from you.” 

At her urging, he finally drove away. 

With his words still lingering, the weight pressing on Aurelia’s chest lifted–just barely enough for her to breathe again. 

The night wind was biting, the air thick with winter chill. She wrapped her coat tighter and was about to head inside when she froze. 

Under the streetlight stood Cassian, his face cold and dark with fury. She never expected to see him there. 

AD