Susan had stayed up for a while but couldn’t hold out any longer, and so she fell asleep in front of Hayden’s bed. Julian had not only to attend to his own matters but also to watch over Hayden, who was on an IV drip, occasionally needing to call the nurse in to change the medication. Aurora had slept for two hours before she got up. Upon waking, she saw Julian sitting at the desk, working intently. She gently lifted the blanket and walked towards him.
“Julian, get some sleep. I’m worried you’ll wear yourself out,” she whispered in his ear.
“It’s okay, I can handle it.”
Aurora saw the red veins in Julian’s eyes and felt a deep pang of sympathy. Since returning to the country and being with Julian, he had always been meticulously protective of her. No matter what happened, he was always there in front of her, sharing the burden, even though his status could have allowed him a more carefree path. It seemed profoundly unfair that just because he was a man, he had to shoulder so much.
“Julian, take a break,” Aurora insisted, cupping his cheeks. Julian wanted to resist, but faced with Aurora’s concerned look, he agreed.
“Alright.”
He lay down in Aurora’s bed, and she covered him with a blanket.
Love was not a matter for one alone but required mutual understanding and support to endure. After Julian fell asleep, Aurora tidied up his documents, locked the computer screen to secure the confidential files, and restored tranquility to the hospital room. Aurora stood by the window, gazing at the distant skyscrapers.
Previously, she harbored hatred for Clothville due to the many bad memories of her years there. However, at some point, she had begun to love the city, perhaps because of his companionship, which showed her that there was more to life than just pain.
She had planned to leave the city once her revenge was complete and all was settled, but now her feelings had changed. She wanted to settle down and build a life and a happy family with him. In her mind, she envisioned a beautiful future that she believed would one day be realized.
Aurora’s smile, faint but genuine, was noticed by Hayden as he awoke. It wasn’t the innocent smile she used to wear around him but had a hint of feminine charm, with gentle, tender eyes. Hayden knew this smile wasn’t for him. Knowing how happy she now was, he should let go, but his heart was unwilling; he wanted her to stay by his side and smile at him just like that.
Feeling his gaze, Aurora quickly turned around and saw Hayden watching her from his bed.
“Are you hungry or thirsty?” she asked with concern.
“I’m thirsty,” Hayden masked his true feelings, his throat parched.
“Okay, I’ll get you some water,” Aurora said with a light smile. She poured a glass of water and supported his back to help him sit up and drink. Hayden smelled the fragrance of her hair, his desire for her growing.
As Aurora held the cup to his lips, Hayden instinctively reached out, touching her hand. Aurora was not accustomed to physical contact with any man other than Julian, and she instinctively pulled her hand away. The cup fell, spilling water on the blanket, splashing a few drops on Susan’s face and startling her awake.
“What are you doing?” Susan, sleep-deprived and disturbed, was instantly irritated upon seeing Aurora standing by her side.
“It’s just a glass of water, can’t you even manage that without making a mess?”
“It’s my fault,” Hayden defended Aurora.
“Just as you’re up, you pour it for him,” Aurora said as she put away the water glass and stepped back. Had Hayden’s actions just now been intentional or not?
Last night, Aurora had been shocked and frightened, her guilt temporarily clouding her judgment. Now, she had regained her composure.
Hayden was already married to Susan. It should have been Susan taking care of him, yet he had asked her to stay. Was he trying to get close to her using this as an excuse?
His words from the previous night still echoed in her ears; he and Susan had just married, and yet there he was, drinking alone in the yard late at night.
He must still have feelings for her, she thought. She had stayed this morning out of guilt, but if Hayden had ulterior motives, that was a different matter entirely.
Aurora returned to Julian’s side, awakened by Susan’s shrill voice. She gently touched his face.
“Julian, it’s okay, go back to sleep,” she soothed him, as if comforting a child.
Perhaps Julian was just too tired; his mind foggy, he childishly muttered, “I want you to sleep with me.”
As he spoke, he stretched out his arm, pulling Aurora onto the bed. Unable to escape his strong grip, she quietly lay down beside him, shoes removed.
Since Susan was already awake and Hayden no longer her concern, Aurora saw no need to stay if Hayden harbored such intentions; it was better to avoid any impropriety.
Aurora did not reject Julian, nestling into his arms instead. Julian, eyes closed, enveloped her in a familiar embrace, pulling her close and covering them both with the blanket, his hand firmly around her slim waist-dominant yet gentle.
Susan scoffed coldly from the side, “Shameless.”
She was truly jealous of Aurora, not only for receiving Hayden’s unwavering love over the years but also for the tender care Julian showed her. It was clear to anyone how much Julian spoiled her, his kindness to her was boundless, surely enviable to anyone.
Aurora recalled the slap she had received that morning for no reason. If Susan thought she was showing weakness because of Hayden’s injury, she was sorely mistaken.
Her guilt and anxiety were because of Hayden, not Susan.
With a smirk, Aurora retorted, “We’re engaged, sleeping together is only natural. Speaking of shamelessness, you might be the original, remember what you did at eighteen?”
Aurora’s jibe about Susan drugging Hayden changed Susan’s expression, “You!”
“Keep it down, there’s a sick person here, and don’t disturb us. We’ve been up all night and have no time for your nonsense,” Aurora said, dismissing her. She closed her eyes, resting in Julian’s arms.
Hayden gave Susan a stern look, and she dared not erupt, quietly going to pour water for Hayden instead.
Aurora had intended to just lie down, but she truly fell asleep.
She forgot they were in a hospital room, surrounded by two other people, thinking she was at home, naturally clinging tightly to Julian.
Her head rested on Julian’s shoulder, and as he turned, their noses and lips nearly touched.
Both the man and woman on the bed were striking in appearance; even in sleep, they seemed perfectly matched.
They held each other tightly, not wanting to let go even in their dreams, leaving Hayden speechless.
If they were awake, perhaps they could pretend, but how could they feign in sleep? Their love had become instinctive.