Isla POV

Mr. Vale's hand was still on mine as he guided me deeper into his office toward the couch by the window.

"Sit," he said softly.

I sat, blinking at the absurdity of it.

He was treating me like I had broken a bone when I had only a paper cut. I hid my smile at the ridiculousness of it as I watched him go to his drawer and search through it.

He returned with a small medical kit and pulled a stool across from me, setting it down with quiet efficiency.

He cleaned the blood from the cut gently, bandaging it without a word.

I watched him in...