Alexander’s piercing gaze locked onto Aria as he crossed his arms, his tone demanding, “Won't you explain it to me? Why are you here?” His eyes narrowed, searching her face for a hint of truth.
Aria shifted uneasily on the hospital bed, casting her eyes downward as her fingers fidgeted with the blanket. “Alexander…” She hesitated, her voice wavering as though each word was weighed down with hidden guilt. “A friend of mine… He came to visit me at the hospital. We had an argument, and he… drugged me with a handkerchief.” She swallowed, taking a shaky breath before continuing. “I woke up in a moving vehicle, and when he wasn’t watching, I managed to jump out and run. After that, I don’t remember anything. The next thing I knew, I woke up here.”