Waking up dazed and confused, as a splitting headache hit him hard, Zane slowly raised his hand to massage his temple, trying to soothe the pain away. But bending his arm slightly, he realized something was constricting it, making him unable to move freely.
It was a strange feeling, it was like something was glued to the inner part of his elbow, and the slightest shift caused his arm discomfort as though something was pricking it. Puzzled by this fact he stopped moving, wanting to check with his eyes what the obstruction was.
'Don't! You will remove the intravenous drip.' A familiar calming voice called alarmed, evidently startled at his action.
Hearing the melodious silky voice, his first reaction was disbelief. Had he missed Aria's presence so much this past week that he was now even dreaming about her? It was indeed true that even at night when he went back to the apartment, the last thought in his mind was her face, and the first image in his eyes in the morning was still her appearance. All of her expressions replayed inside his mind constantly, images embedded inside his brain of her since she recuperated from the coma.
Thinking back, perhaps the first time that he started to feel different about Aria was even earlier than he had first assumed. When he opened her hospital room's door more than a month ago, and saw the slender delicate woman gently cuddling her belly, that first image bewitched him.
It had left a deep impression on him since then, but he had never admitted it. Was this the reason that he also stayed away from her for the first two weeks? Was his instinct of conserving his current lifestyle and protecting his heart already acting up since way back then? Was he afraid of falling in love with the cold woman she was before, but slowly let down his guard when he came back to the mansion, and saw her singing the nursery rhyme?
It appeared as though the current Aria somehow had managed to lead him towards a cliff, and he was standing closer and closer to the edge each time he saw that delicate face. And just as he kissed her, the edge of the cliff vanished, and in the next second he could only find himself falling with no way back up. No, perhaps there was only one way up, it would have been possible if the person he had kissed then, extended their arm and helped him up. If those slender soft fingers of hers held on to his arm just slightly, he was certain he would find his ground again. Yes, just like how her touch was comforting him now.
But could one feel someone else's touch inside a dream? Zane thought as he sensed a small soft hand on top of his own, keeping his arm in place.
'Zane, do you feel unwell? Is something the matter? The doctor said you may feel groggy when you wake up. Should I call him back?' The pleasant voice continued speaking, her caring concerned undertone comforting his heart and tingling his ears.
Realizing that her presence was not an illusion, Zane finally opened his hazy eyes that slowly cleared themselves, until the beautiful woman could clearly be seen.
Dressed in what appeared casual home clothes, with a simple messy bun, and a clean lovely face without a speck of make-up on... normally, she should appear just exactly as he saw her in the past, but strangely in his eyes she seemed more dazzling than ever. Her red ringed eyes, her furrowed eyebrows, her slightly flushed cheeks, all of it did not lessen her loveliness, if anything her worried face only added to her charm.
'Zane?' Aria called once more, seeing the man was unresponsive, though she could clearly see he was already up.
Frightened that perhaps there were also other problems regarding his health, other than the anemia and the ulcer the doctor had spoken about, she immediately took the hand she had placed on his, and gently touched his forehead, then his cheek, trying to get his attention.
'I am alright.' He finally replied with a bit of a hoarse voice. No matter how he liked to see her worried face caused by him, he couldn't let her worry too much, considering her pregnancy.
He tried to make his face as honest as he could, and to assure her of his state, raised his other hand that had no obstructions, and covered the small hand that was checking his temperature.
She sighed relieved, there was no reason for Zane to cover up his real state of health, especially now since he was weak, he would tell all that affected him to not worsen his health. But still, noticing the coarseness of his voice, she slowly asked him.
'Do you want to drink some water?'
Zane did not try to speak more, and only nodded a bit. It was quite difficult to continue speaking with his dry throat and the ever present feeling of scratchiness he sensed inside his airways which accompanied every breath he took.
Hearing the affirmative answer, Aria wanted to quickly help him quench his thirst, but feeling his eyes that did not stray away from her face for even a second, and the hand she still could not remove from his cheek, she spoke again softly after some moments.
'Zane, I can't give you the glass if you don't let my hand go!' She stated a bit stuttering. In fact, although her hand was completely covered by his own, it would have still been easy to take her hand away, but for some reason the feebleness and frailty his face was giving off, made it impossible for her to do so. She knew just how important it was for someone who was in a weak state of health to have another person close.
She had shunned everyone in the later part of her life, but it did not mean in her heart she truly wished for it. If someone had pressed on, if someone had still stayed behind accompanying her, she would have at last accepted it, she would have felt thankful to that person, but no one did. So how could she leave him alone, or act abruptly to his touch?
Only then did the man realize that he still had her hand kept in place with his own, and a bit awkward let it go, sad at the loss of the closeness the touch had brought him.
With the same awkwardness, Aria quickly retrieved her hand back, took the glass of water that was placed on the nightstand and brought it to Zane. But placing it in front of the man that was currently laying down, she was faced with the dilemma of how to help him drink it. If she were to let him drink in his current position, he would most likely spill it on his face.
Zane knew her thoughts, and was about to slowly raise his body himself. It was not like he was injured, or felt so worse that he could not do such a small thing.
But he only rose his head, when the small woman quickly approached him, and placed one hand on his back, helping him lean his upper body's weight on her, before directing the glass of water towards his mouth.
Seeing her actions, he was about to let her know he could do it himself, but her warmth and feeling her even closer than before, he changed his mind and did not stop her, opening his mouth obediently and directly drinking the water from her hand. Though of course, his heart could not bear letting her support his whole weight, so he only leaned on her with less than a third of his real weight.
'Do you want more?' Aria asked, after he had emptied the glass's entire content.
'No, it's alright. That was more than enough. Thank you!' Zane replied, with a hint of indulgence and gentleness in his voice.
Hearing his words, she slowly lowered him on the bed again, unaware that Zane was restraining his true weight. Settling him on the bed, she then moved away from his side, before placing the glass on the table.
'Why am I here?' Zane asked confused, checking with his eyes the room, and realizing he was in the hospital.
'You fainted in the office today, and your assistant brought you to the hospital, then called the mansion and informed us. You had us truly worried. You are not a child anymore, how could you neglect your health so much?' Aria scolded upset, her heart almost jumped from her chest when the butler informed her that Zane was in the hospital.
The hospital was for her a traumatic place, it was a place that had brought only bitter memories. The only reason she had been able to suppress those memories and go unaffected to the hospital for the OBGYN appointments was because it was for the children, thus it was not for an illness per se. But now Zane was admitted for health problems, so naturally those memories only added to her panic, causing her restrains and real thoughts to slip through.
Zane's eyes widened a bit at her angered admonishing tone. If someone else had dared use such a tone with him, that person would suffer grave consequence, but of course no one dared use it, this was the cause of his surprise. It was a novel feeling, but it was not a bad one at all. Her pouting lips as she spoke, the frowned eyebrows in annoyance... what was wrong with him today? He felt that if Aria moved closer to him again, he would just hold her tightly in his arms, and kiss her fiercely.
'Zane, are you listening?' She asked, frowning her eyebrows even more.
'Yes. I am sorry, I will not do it again.' He immediately replied, realizing she was getting a bit closer to the bed. If she approached him again, and put her hand on his forehead or cheek, he would do something he might regret later. He did not want to frighten her with his actions.
So he spoke quickly, agreeing to her words even without processing in his mind that he had also apologized, something he was not sure he would ever do so readily. He had only ever apologized once before in his life, and it had been when he had lost sight of her in the mall. At that time it was indeed a major problem as she could have gotten hurt alone, but now for him to apologize again for something that did not even affect her wellbeing...
'Good. Then I will go and get the doctor. He told me to get him as soon as you woke up.' Aria informed him, already walking towards the door. As she was speaking, she had felt somehow her wording was a bit off, and by the end of the discussion she realized that it had been rude of her to scold him like a child. Why did she do it? She blamed her rash behavior, but did not let it show on her face, glad that he did not brush her off. If she continued to talk with him more, than perhaps he would eventually realize it.
'Don't go yourself. Send the butler. He came with you, right?' Zane stated concerned about her. Since that day at the mall, he now viewed Aria as a small bird that needed to be protected at all time. What if she got lost inside the hospital?
Aria had gotten lost inside the mall, because there were too many people around her, and became frightened because she did not know Zane's location. But now as he was inside the hospital room, she knew exactly where he was and could easily find her way back. Not to mention, the nurse's station was not that far way, but the man was too worried about her.
'He has gone to bring some light food. The food inside the hospital would surely not please you, so I asked him to go. It is alright, I will not go far way. The nurse's room is at the end of the hallway.' Aria said quickly, and did not wait for Zane to reason with her further.
Walking out of the room, the heavily pregnant woman checked the room number again, to make sure she did not indeed get lost, as she was a bit frightened of this... sadly she had to admit her poor sense of direction, and confirming it, went away.
'Doctor Malcom, the surgery had to be rescheduled. Doctor Simons had to operate on an emergency. It will only be available in the morning.' A nurse informed the handsome blond doctor, who was checking a chart at this time.
'Hmmm... The patient is stable, so there shouldn't be a problem with that. Keep monitoring his vital signs.' The doctor affirmed, closing the chart in his hand, and passing it to the nurse, before opening another one.
Focusing his attention on the new data, as the nurse explained the current patient's evolution post operation, Malcom was hurrying along the corridor, barely checking his front.
He had returned from his trip a week ago, and he was swamped with work. As if to compensate for the vacation he had dared take, the appointments were made nonstop, and he was now forced to check the charts even as he walked.
The nurse had advised him many times when he was about to bump into people, and even told him to check the files in his office. But if he wanted to still go back home and sleep for the night, he was desperate to take any risk involved. Anyway it was late at night, so there were not many people around, and if the other people paid attention, nothing should happen...
'Ahaaa...' A small delicate voice was heard, as the chart flew out of his hand.
Surprised that he collided with a small woman, he did not bother at all to look in the direction the chart went, as his arms stretched and kept the petite woman upwards. He was now truly regretting his choice, as he could see the woman he held in his arms was also pregnant.
The nurse had informed him each time to move away when someone would pass by them, but unfortunately this time they had reached a curb and thus had not seen the person that was coming from the other hallway.
Luckily, his instincts kicked in at the right time, and nothing major happened. He shuddered at the thought of the woman falling on the ground, and vowed inside his mind to not read any more files while walking, even if it meant sacrificing more time.
'I am so sorry. Are you hurt?' Malcom asked apologetically, at the woman who had her head down, as her hands had wrapped protectively around her abdomen, the sight making Malcom even guiltier of his actions.
'No, I am alright. I am sorry I was also not looking where I was going.' The petite woman said with a mellow tone, as she steadied her feet.
Only by her enchanting voice, and Malcom could tell she was surely a beautiful person, such a pity the woman was already pregnant, the frail woman was exactly Malcom's type. And such an encounter would surely be fated, the romance novel addicted man thought. If he could at least see her face...
'No. It was truly my fault, are you really alright?' He asked again, removing his hands, seeing that she could now stand firmly without his support.
Finally looking upward, after making sure her belly did not hurt, the woman smiled a bit, as if to calm the other person, and assure him of her state. An accident was not the fault of anyone, and as the other person involved had honestly apologized, it would have been petty of her to find fault with him.
The mesmerizing green eyes that had a slight tinge of hazel to them, the small cheeks that rounded themselves because of the smile of the small heart shaped lips, felt familiar to Malcom somehow, but not familiar at the same time.
He would never think that the person he had bumped into was Aria, even if his life depended on it. And even now he did not know it, only feeling a small deja vu. Every moment he had seen Aria in the past, which were few in number, she had always had make-up on her face, intricate hair styles, and a cold expression, almost stone like. So you could not really blame him, if he did not connect the two together.
'I am alright. Then I am leaving.' Aria nodded slightly, and then continued her walk towards the nurse's station, without looking back. A regrettable thing in Malcom's mind.
Still looking a bit in the beautiful woman's direction, Malcom absentmindedly took the chart the nurse had already picked up from the ground, when he felt his phone vibrate.
'Yes?' He affirmed distracted, to let the person on the other end know he had picked up the phone.
'Malcom, are you at the hospital today?' Zane asked on the other end. Waiting worriedly for Aria to return, Zane had found his phone on the nightstand, and thought to call Malcom to help keep an eye on Aria for him.
'Yes. Why? Do you want to have a drink?' Malcom asked, finally walking in the direction he was initially heading towards.
'No, I am in the hospital now. And I want you to help me find Aria.' Zane replied with his still slightly groggy voice. Aria had not been away for long, but he was concerned nonetheless. His petite beautiful wife could lose her way, or even bump into someone. What if she got hurt? Aria was always protected inside the mansion, so he was not so concerned about her when she was at home, as everyone had their eyes on her, but outside he knew just how clumsy she could be.
'Ehhh... You're in the hospital? Why?' Malcom asked worried, not listening to the second part of his words.
'That's not important. First help me find Aria. My hospital room number is 302, so I am on the third floor. She is going towards the nurse's station. Go and find her!' Zane stated again with a harsher tone, a boss's tone in fact.
'Yes!' Malcom replied reflexively, and realizing what Zane asked him, he sighed displeased at the thought of seeing that slithery woman.