Chapter 24

The doctor came in to check my temperature in order to discharge me.

"Feeling better?", the doctor inquired which I was fast to answer.

"Very fine doctor, can I go home now?"

"I'd get your discharge documents ready", he said and left the room.

"How did I even end up here?", I was now curious as to how I was at the hospital with Aikens because he dropped me home and left.

"Let's just say it was a coincidence, I came back to your place to get something just to find you unconscious ", he simply explained.

"Mmmm okay".

The doctor came back after signing my discharge. Aikens drove me home so I could get some rest. I saw the letter on the center table in the hall when I got there. I sat on the floor beside the table and Aikens came to join me.

"My mum had always been all I had since I turned five. My dad passed away a day after my fifth birthday from a cardiac arrest and now, I'm the only wandering souls on the surface of this earth ", my eyes were turning teary again.

"Annie, look at me. Don't speak like that, I would always be with you. Don't cry again, it hurts me to see you in so much pain", he consoled. I wiped my face and took a letter on the table to read but Aikens tried to take it from me saying he doesn't want me to get hurt anymore. I insisted on reading to find what it also had to say. I opened it and read;

'Miss Annie Wilson, you have been left with the house, cars and companies owned by you late mother and it shall be kept by the government till you return if not, it can be sold and the money transferred to you. Anyway you want, please give us your response after making your decision ".

As the only child of my parents, all the properties they had acquired through their hard times had been left in my name. I didn't know whether to be happy or sad, I could not describe what I was feeling at the moment. Aikens took the letter from me to know the reason behind my shocked expression. After reading it, he smiled looking at me.

"What do you plan on doing now?", he asked.

"I can't think straight now"

"Let me prepare something for you to eat then you can go to bed to think things through", he said and I nodded.

I walked up to my room after having dinner to rest. I felt lonely since Aikens had left to his house. I began thinking about the best thing to do for myself but nothing came in mind. I finally decided to ask Aikens for help the next morning before drifting to sleep.

The beautiful sun rays passed through the window shining on my face which turned into my rising bell. I had my shower before deciding to get something to eat. I saw Aikens sitting in the dining room alone sipping orange juice.

"How did you get inside?", was the first question I asked when I saw him.

"Don't forget I share this place with you", he said signaling me to join him.

"I see. Why didn't you wake me up?"

"Just wanted you to have enough rest. How was your night?"

"I don't even know how to answer that", frankly spoken. He was just staring at me which made me confused. I then began to check my appearance in case I appeared half naked in front of him again.

"Your stare is strange", I couldn't stop myself from saying.

"Have you made your decision?", he ignored me to ask about my decision.

"I need your help Aikens "

"Come on girl, it's your life and I have no say in it but to support any decision you make"

"But I insist, please help me"

"Fine if you say so, let's get married".

He made me spill the juice on the table. I really didn't see that coming.

"What was that about? Aikens I'm being serious and you are joking?", I complained.

"Joking? Who said I'm not being serious Annie? Let's get married", he repeated.

"Are you being serious right now, Aikens?", I couldn't get my thoughts straight.

"Do I look like someone whose isn't serious, I want to marry you"

I touched his head to check if he was ah I got any fever or something but he was normal, nothing unusual. I don't know I was blushing until he prompted me.

"You are turning red Annie"

"What? I think it's the weather, it's hot"

"Annie, will you marry me and start you forever journey with me?", he asked bringing out a ring from his pocket.

'OMG, he's really proposing to me. But let's make things a bit difficult', I smirked subconsciously.

"Annie, please be my wife", he wasn't giving up and I was ready to have some fun.

"What do you take me for Aikens? Why would you ask such a question? You think I don't know what I want?", I kept throwing senseless questions at him making him feel disappointed and heartbroken but I was loving it. "You should have bothered asking such a question because….because, I'm ever ready to start my forever journey with you too Aikens", I finally ended the joke.

"Do you mean it?", a wide smile of both confusion and happiness was drawn on his face.

"Of course, Aikens. I will marry you"

"So why did you…", I silenced him with a lip peg.

"Sorry about that but it was fun", I teased and we both laughed.

I stretched my hand so he could put the ring on but he refused and put it back into his pocket.

"Not today", was all he said and continued sipping his juice.