Chapter Twenty: You're Awake

Aria slowly opened her eyes, taking in her surroundings. The glaring white ceiling was the first thing she noticed, followed by the steady beeping of the monitor beside her. The sterile smell of disinfectant lingered in the air, a sharp reminder of where she was. Her vision blurred momentarily as she tried to adjust to the bright lights, blinking several times before her eyes finally began to focus.

The effort to open her eyes fully left her feeling drained, her body still weak. She tried to sit up, but her muscles refused to cooperate, and she collapsed back onto the bed with a thud. A sharp pain pierced her head, forcing her to raise her hand instinctively to her forehead, only to find it wrapped in bandages. And then it hit her—the memory of Ethan, his threatening words, the struggle, and the fall. Her heart raced at the recollection.

Turning her head slowly, she noticed a figure slouched against the couch near her bed. His head was tilted slightly, eyes closed, his features softened by sleep. But even in his exhausted state, there was no mistaking him—Alexander. His usually sharp and authoritative presence was now replaced with something more vulnerable. His suit was wrinkled, his hair disheveled, and the dark circles under his eyes betrayed the sleepless nights he must have endured.

'Why is Alexander here? Has he been watching over me since I lost consciousness?' Aria wondered. The thought seemed impossible. Alexander Sinclair, the ever-busy CEO, surely wouldn’t spend his time caring for someone like her. 'No,' she reasoned. 'I'm just an adopted daughter. A nobody. He must have had other reasons.'

Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of Alexander's phone. She immediately closed her eyes, feigning sleep as he stirred awake. He groggily glanced at her, seemingly relieved that she was still resting, and slipped out of the room to answer the call.

As the door clicked shut behind him, two nurses entered the room, oblivious to Aria's consciousness.

"Mr. Alexander is so kind to his wife," one of the nurses remarked, beginning to check Aria’s vitals. "He’s so busy, yet he still comes to see her every day."

"That’s nothing compared to the blood transfusion he gave her," the other nurse replied, her voice tinged with admiration. "He didn’t even care about his health. He kept insisting on giving more blood, even after reaching the maximum he could safely donate. He was so worried the blood bank wouldn’t arrive in time."

"Mrs. Alexander is so lucky to have a husband who loves her that much," the first nurse said as they finished their checks and left the room.

The two nurses finished their checks and left the room. Aria’s eyes slowly opened, her thoughts reeling from what she had just overheard. She stared up at the ceiling, her thoughts spinning. 'He risked his life to give me a blood transfusion? The idea seemed impossible. Why would he go to such lengths for her?' She shook her head slightly. 'No, it must have been for Grandma’s sake. He’s protective of his family, and I’m just another person under his protection because of her.

'It wasn’t for me,' she reassured herself. 'It was out of obligation. I’m just an employee in his eyes. Alexander isn’t the kind of person who would stand idly by while someone died', she reasoned. 'He probably did it out of a sense of duty... nothing more.' she concluded.

Aria tried to push the thoughts away, convincing herself not to read too much into what the nurses had said. Just then, the door opened, and Alexander stepped back into the room. His sharp eyes immediately found hers, and he froze for a moment, registering that she was awake.

"You’re awake," he said, his voice a mixture of relief and hesitation. Aria tried to sit up, but her body protested, the weakness still lingering in her limbs. Before she could make much effort, Alexander was already at her side, gently but firmly stopping her from getting up.

"Don’t try to get up," Alexander urged. "I’ll call the doctor." He turned and quickly left the room, returning moments later with Dr. Hensley.

The doctor performed a brief examination, checking her vitals and nodding approvingly. "You’re recovering fast, Mrs. Sinclair. If you continue like this, you’ll be able to leave in a few days," Dr. Hensley said with a reassuring smile.

"Thank you, Doctor," Aria responded softly, still processing everything.

Dr. Hensley turned to Alexander, who stood silently by the bed. “See, I told you she’d be fine. Looks like she made you more nervous than you’d care to admit.” he teased, a light grin tugging at his lips.

Aria, overhearing this, felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She clasped her hands together under the blanket, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation.

Alexander stiffened, his expression unreadable. “Who said I was anxious? Don’t talk nonsense,” he snapped, though his eyes flickered with something unspoken.. "Stop talking nonsense, Hensley."

Dr. Hensley let out a good-natured chuckle, patting Alexander on the shoulder before making his way out of the room. "Take care of her," he said as he left.

With the doctor gone, an awkward silence filled the room. Alexander shifted uncomfortably, clearly not used to being in this kind of situation. He stood for a moment, unsure of what to say or do. Finally, he cleared his throat, turning toward the door. "Rest well," he said, his tone gruff as he made a move to leave.

"Please, hold on, Alexander," Aria’s voice came out almost in a whisper. Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed his hand, her fingers closing around his in a gesture that felt both desperate and unsure.

Alexander froze, his heart skipping a beat at the unexpected contact. Slowly, he turned back to face her, their eyes meeting in a moment of vulnerability.