Aiden woke up with a slight headache. He slowly tried to open his eyes, but the headache increased, causing him to give up the idea for a while.
He decided to listen and understand where he was, and that’s when the memories of the accident rushed into his mind.
‘Ariel!’ He quickly sat up from the bed and opened his eyes, ignoring the headache.
He looked around the hospital room and realized he was brought to his hospital, so why wasn’t Ariel beside him?
Where did they take her? Was she okay? Did she survive?
His heart was fleeting away from him as he lowered his feet to the ground, the cannula in his hand proved that he’d had an infusion. But that’s not what he cared about at the moment.
He needed to find Ariel, he would never forgive himself if something ever happened to her just because he was being an unreasonable jerk.
He was going to apologize for the accident, maybe… for his bad choices of words too.
“Oh come on… boss! Where do you think you’re going?” Carla opened the door at the same time Aiden wanted to open it and walked out of his room.
Aiden sighed, stepping aside to let her in.
“Where are you going, boss? You need to rest for hours before moving about,” Carla informed, concern in her voice.
Aiden slowly shook his head, “Where is she?” He asked quietly.
Carla frowned for a second as she thought about who Aiden was talking about then her face lit up.
“Oh! Ariel?! She was brought in with you but since I know the status of your relationship, I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable by placing you both in the same room as a couple, you know… since you’re not-”
“Where is she, Carla?” Aiden asked, his face angry.
He didn’t like the fact that Carla always used the little opportunity she got to remind him that Ariel wasn’t really his wife.
Carla nodded, “Oh, right, just the room in front of yours. But, can I check your vitals before you go, I need to make sure-”
“No need, I’m fine,” Aiden weaved past her and left the room, heading to the door in front of his.
Carla opened her mouth to say something to him, but she decided against it, he was about to see it himself anyway.
Aiden didn’t bother knocking, believing that Ariel would still be sleeping or unconscious; he wanted to be the first person she saw when she opened her eyes.
He slowly pushed in the door and walked into the room, but, what he saw made his heart ache.
Ariel was sitting on a chair with Ken sitting beside her while she ate from the food tray he was carrying on his lap.
They seemed to be in a happy discussion because Ariel was smiling softly at him as ate.
He was hurt, so she was awake yet she didn’t even bother to come and check up on him, as if he didn’t matter to her.
But who was he kidding? He had reminded her on several occasions that she meant nothing to him; was he really expecting himself to mean anything to her?
They were barely friends with each other, just some strangers living under the same roof.
He couldn’t stand the sight.
Aiden wanted to turn and walk away, but Ken’s voice stopped him.
“Aiden, you’re awake?” Ken sounded happy seeing his friend alive.
Ariel froze as she heard Aiden’s name. She should have left the moment she woke up.
Aiden gripped the side of the door tightly with his fingers before he slowly turned and faced the people inside the room.
“How are you doing?” Ken asked as Aiden walked closer to them.
Ariel kept her face down, not wanting to see his face and be tempted to pity him because of the accident.
He was a mean man.
Aiden’s headache was getting worse, but he didn’t leave, he quietly stood behind Ariel’s chair, staring at the back of her neck.
Ken stood, “Here, you can sit; you’ve just woken up after being unconscious for the whole day,” he shifted the Chair to Aiden to let him sit beside Ariel.
Aiden saw the seating arrangement and agreed. He slowly lowered himself beside her, but he caught her shifting her leg away from him as if she didn’t want to be near him.
But what Ken said rang in his head again; he looked at Ken, who was now sitting on top of Ariel’s hospital bed. “You said I’ve been unconscious for a whole day?” He questioned, surprised he didn’t even know how long he’s been out from reality.
Ken nodded. “Yes. Ariel wasn’t really affected, she had woken after a few hours of sleep, but you, it seemed as if you took all the hit,” Ken explained.
“But, you’re okay, none of you acquired any serious physical injuries,” Ken informed.
Aiden immediately snapped his head to Ariel, searching her with his eyes to check for any injuries.
“Are you hurt?” He asked softly, not removing his eyes from her.
Ariel didn’t lift her face, she only shook her head lightly.
Aiden nodded then faced Ken.
“Does Grandma know?” He narrowed his eyes.
Ken nodded, “She was here when you both were still unconscious, and just as she left, Ariel woke up, and I had to stay with her. Grandma was so worried, she almost fainted when she heard the news but Carla managed to calm her down.”
Aiden nodded. “Then it’s better if we go home now, so she could relax knowing we’re both okay. Ariel, let’s go home,” he spoke softly.
Aiden wanted to take her away from Ken as fast as possible; even if she was still going to keep ignoring him at home, at least he would be sure that she wasn’t talking to any other man.
Ariel shook her head, “We can’t leave,” she replied.
Aiden frowned. “Why?”
Ken sighed, swinging his legs as he sat on the bed. He had been looking and observing Aiden and Ariel to find out if what Viktor had said about them was the truth, but so far, he could only see a girl who didn’t like the company of a man and a man who was just trying not to be rude with his speech to her.
He couldn’t sense any love between them, so what was Viktor blabbing about?
Aiden could not understand why Ariel said they couldn’t leave. Or, did she want to go back with Ken again?
He frowned as he thought of it again; it was one of the reasons he got distracted while driving; he hated to think that Ariel had that power over him; she was able to make him lose focus any time he thought about her.
He hated it so much, that he was angry at himself for not being able to keep any of the promises he made himself yesterday about not ever caring about what she did and keeping his distance from her.
So far, he’s been doing the opposite. He’s been caring about everything she did and stalking her life.
“I asked a question, Ariel. Why don’t you want to go home with me? Do you want to go and sleep with Ken again?” He asked angrily, causing Ariel to gasp in shock and hurt.
Ken stood from the bed, “Enough! Aiden. You can’t be speaking to a woman that way. To your wife, even if it’s just a contract, at least, give her respect as a woman and as a fellow human. I don’t really care what you accuse me of, but her? I can’t stand your attitude toward her anymore,” Ken was fuming.
Aiden scoffed, he looked at Ariel and saw her glaring at him, then he looked at Ken and saw him looking disappointedly at him.
He slowly stood and faced Ken. “Wife? She’s no wife of mine, she’s just a loose whore – Ugh!” Aiden groaned as he felt a sharp slap on his cheek, he closed his eyes, his ears ringing and his headache pounding like a parade drumming.
He literally saw stars!
Ariel had had it. The moment she heard Aiden call her a whore, she sprang from her seat and delivered him a well-deserved smack on the cheek.
She stood in front of him, fuming.
“You dared to slap me, Ariel?” Aiden’s eyes were darkened dangerously as he stared at her.
He could not yet believe that he was slapped, and by a woman too, a tiny woman.
“And I promise to do it again if you ever dare to disrespect me in that manner again!” Ariel replied in a beat, not backing down.
Ken was taken aback by the sudden action from Ariel. Never in his life had he seen anyone stand up to Aiden like that.
He pitied his friend, but he was proud of Ariel.
Aiden slowly stepped into Ariel’s space, “You’ll be sorry for this, Ariel, it’s a promise,” He threatened in a low tone.
“It’s your mother who should be sorry for raising such a nuisance to society,” Ariel clapped back without delay.
Her reply hit Aiden right below the belt, his facial expression twisted with anger, and Ken immediately stepped forward and held his hand.
He knew that Ariel had just ventured into Aiden’s forbidden zone.
“I’m going to fucking make you regret marrying me, Ariel,” Aiden narrowed his eyes at her.
Ariel scoffed and angrily stepped toward him, their faces almost touching. “I’m already regretting it, Mr. Chaz,” She smiled slyly.
Before Aiden could reply, suddenly, a voice sounded outside the door, followed by the twisting of the room’s door nob.
“Right this way, Grandma, they’re both in here,” Carla’s voice said as she pushed open the door.
Aiden and Ariel shared a panicked look. Ariel was about to step away from Aiden to make it look as if she was casually standing in front of him.
However, just when the door was pushed open, Aiden grabbed her waist, drew her into himself, and kissed her lips.