Lily slowly blinked her eyes open, the dim light of the hospital room casting soft shadows around her. She glanced to the side and her breath caught in her throat. There, in the chair next to her bed, Tim was sleeping, his head resting back, his face soft and peaceful.

Did he stay with me all night? she thought, her heart swelling with unexpected warmth.

For as long as she could remember, she had loved Tim. She had spent years trying to catch his attention, to make him see her as more than Eric’s little sister. But no matter what she did, Tim never seemed to notice. He was always just Tim—the charming, infuriating man who teased her, treated her like a kid, and drove her crazy with unspoken feelings.

But something had shifted. When Tim brought her those flowers before surgery, her heart had leapt. She had never seen him so soft, so concerned. For the first time, she dared to hope that maybe, just maybe, he saw her differently.

Lily reached for the cup of water on the table beside her bed, but her hands were still shaky from the surgery. As she stretched out her arm, the cup tipped over, clattering to the floor.

Tim stirred instantly, his eyes snapping open. "What was that?" he mumbled, blinking in confusion. When he saw Lily awake, his expression softened. "Lily, you're awake! Are you okay?"

Suddenly shy, she nodded. "Sorry to wake you. I was trying to get a drink."

Tim’s gaze shifted to the spilled cup on the floor. "Oh, don’t worry. I’ll get it for you," he said, quickly picking up the cup and wiping the spill. He moved with surprising care, his usual playfulness replaced by a tenderness that left Lily speechless.

"You don’t have to do that," she protested weakly. "I can call the nurse."

Tim waved her off. "I got it," he said, pouring fresh water into a new cup. As he handed it to her, he noticed how shaky her hands were. Without a word, he brought the cup to her lips, helping her drink.

Lily’s cheeks flushed as she sipped the water. "Thank you," she murmured, her heart pounding at the unexpected intimacy of the moment.

Tim sat back, but his eyes never left her. "I was really worried about you, Lily," he confessed. "I’m so glad the surgery went well. Don’t worry about anything—I’m going to take care of you while you recover."

Lily blinked, taken aback by his words. "You don’t have to do that," she said, her voice uncertain. "I’ll be fine."

Tim frowned, clearly frustrated by her dismissal. "No, I want to take care of you," he insisted. "Please, let me do this."

His intensity took her by surprise. This wasn’t the Tim she knew—the one who teased her endlessly and barely seemed to notice her unless she was causing trouble. This was different. This Tim looked at her like she mattered, like he truly cared.

"If you really want to," she said, her voice faltering. "Okay."

A slow smile spread across Tim’s face as he reached for her hand, his thumb brushing gently over her knuckles. "Thank you," he said softly. "Lily…?"

Her heart was racing now, her pulse quickening under the warmth of his touch. "Yes?" she whispered, barely able to breathe.

Tim hesitated, his expression serious. "I know you’ve been mad at me since that night at the club. I hate knowing I upset you. Can you forgive me?"

Lily’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected him to bring that up. "I forgive you," she said slowly. "Just… don’t overstep again if you’re not ready to be responsible for it."

Tim’s jaw clenched, and for a moment, he looked conflicted. Then he leaned forward, his eyes locking with hers. "Lily, you asked me what right I had to interfere that night."

"I remember," she said, her heart skipping a beat.

"What if I told you I do have the right?" His voice was low, almost hesitant.

Lily’s breath hitched. "What do you mean? You’re just my brother’s friend, Tim. You don’t—"

"What if I told you it’s because I love you?" he interrupted, his voice steady now. "I want to be with you, Lily. I want to be your boyfriend."

The world seemed to stop as Lily stared at him, stunned. "Is this… is this a dream?" she asked, her voice barely audible. "I’m still dreaming, right?"

Tim chuckled softly, his hand tightening around hers. "No, silly girl. This is real. So, what do you say?"

Her heart felt like it was about to burst. After all these years of waiting, all the unspoken feelings, the endless hope—Tim had finally seen her.

"Yes," she whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Yes, I’ll be your girlfriend. I love you too, Tim."

A grin spread across his face as he gently pulled her into his arms, holding her close. "Come here, silly girl," he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips.

Lily sighed in pure bliss as his lips met hers, soft and warm. It was everything she had ever dreamed of and more. She melted into his embrace, her heart soaring.

But as they kissed, unaware of the world around them, a shadow lingered just outside the room. Hidden in the hallway, someone watched them with dark, furious eyes.

They weren’t alone. And someone was planning to tear their newfound happiness apart.