âLook, I need to know the truth, whether I can handle it or not,â Dahlia insisted, her voice trembling but determined.
Beside her, the doctor was getting visibly impatient. âSir, please just give her an answer. The patient wonât settle into her room, and we need to treat her wound. Sheâs still bleeding, for heavenâs sake. You canât joke about your health like this!â
The doctor was clearly on the edge of losing his cool. Nolan looked into Dahliaâs tear-filled eyes and finally gave a slow nod.
âI understand every choice youâve made. Itâs been a long time, and Iâve forgiven you long ago.â
But Dahlia didnât feel any relief wash over her upon hearing his words. Instead, her heart shattered a little more.
When a couple argues, if both are still angry and resentful, it means they canât let go of each other. But if one has moved on, it means theyâve truly left the relationship behind. And that was exactly where Nolan was at.
Dahlia felt a chill in her heart, and she stopped struggling. Seizing the moment, the doctor, and nurses swiftly wheeled her into the hospital room to continue treatment.
Outside the room, Nolan was left sitting alone, staring at the blood that had accidentally stained his hands. He sighed deeply.
If only he had made things clear with Dahlia earlier, none of this would have happer especially not outside the New Blossom Press office. He furrowed his brows, wor how Regina and her boss were handling the PR mess.
All he hoped was that it wouldnât affect Reginaâs work and that none of his colleagu would dare mention this incident.
With that thought, he decided to wait until Dahliaâs stitches were done before heading her company.
Unexpectedly, it wasnât even fifteen minutes before Regina herself appeared, rushing up him in a fluster, a far cry from her usual composure.
They locked eyes, and Regina caught her breath before asking him, âDahlia, how long has she been in surgery? Did the doctor say when she might be released?â
Nolan shook his head. âYou got here pretty fast. Sheâs only been in there for a short while.â âOh, do you think itâs a bother for me to come? That I might be in the way of your plans?â Regina stood at a distance, hesitant to come any closer. She feared that if she approached him even a bit more, he might recoil in disgust.
When Nolan heard her say that, his frown deepened. âThis whole situation involves you, after all.â
âAh! Youâve got it wrong. Iâm not trying to shirk responsibility. Iâm just worried that Dahlia will get upset if she sees me when she wakes up, which wonât be good for her recovery. But I was concerned, so I followed. Plus, I had some other questions I wanted to ask you,â Regina said, her voice low, her clothes disheveled from rushing over from the office, looking utterly disarrayed.
âAsk away,â said Nolan.
When he prompted her to speak, Regina didnât know how to start. She felt like the most shameless person in the world.
After all the wrongs her family had done to Nolan, how could she dare to ask if he had any feelings for her?
What kind of audacious person would even voice such a question?
Yet her heart was racing, yearning to hear the answer from Nolan himself.
If there wasnât even a sliver of affection, she needed to know to extinguish any lingering hope.
âDo you⦠do you have feelings for Dahlia?â
Regina ultimately chose to ask a diffèrent question, redirecting the focus.
âIâve already told you, Dahlia and I are history. Didnât you hear what I said earlier?â