~Aaron~
I stayed at the hospital day after day, only switching shifts with Rhoda to go home, shower, and change. I didn’t bother going to the office. It was either home or the hospital-nowhere else.
When I walked into Joan’s hospital room, the sterile smell hit me first-antiseptic, mixed with the faint metallic tang of IV fluids. The steady beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound aside from Rhoda humming under her breath, wiping Joan’s forehead with a damp cloth.
“Hey,” I muttered, my voice rough.
Rhoda glanced up, offering a tired smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Hey,” she replied softly, letting out a long sigh as she dipped the towel back into the bowl of warm water, wringing it out with trembling fingers before dabbing Joan’s pale skin again.
“How’s she doing?” I asked, lowering myself onto the edge of the bed since Rhoda occupied the only chair. I’d had the doctors move Joan to a private ward-I couldn’t stand the thought of sharing space with other patients. Watching strangers recover while Joan hovered between life and death felt unbearable.
Rhoda sighed again, her shoulders slumping under the weight of exhaustion.
“The doctor checked on her today. She’s stable… her pulse, vitals, everything looks okay.” She paused, her voice tightening as she looked up at me with weary, brown eyes. They were bloodshot, rimmed with dark circles. “But she’s not waking up. I just want her back.”
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. I wanted her back too. I wanted to see those green eyes teasing me, her crooked smile, the sarcastic jabs she always threw my way. I wanted all of it-everything.
Silence settled between us, for a while.
“I’ll check in with the doctor,” I said eventually, rubbing Joan’s leg gently, my eyes lingering on her face. Her usually vibrant red lips had faded into a pale bluish hue.
I stood up and left the room, the door clicking softly behind me. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, glancing at the screen. Adrian.
“Got any news for me?” I asked without a greeting, answering the call as I made my way down the sterile corridor. Adrian was looking into the CCTV footage from Joan’s street, trying to track down whoever did this to her.
“Footage was wiped,” he replied bluntly. “But I saw her walk into her apartment. Nothing suspicious before or after. Whoever did this knew what they were doing.”
I clenched my jaw, frustration boiling under my skin. My hand curled into a fist. “Keep digging. The police are combing through the crime scene. They’ll find something. No one’s that smart.”
Adrian hummed in agreement. “How’s she holding up?” His voice softened slightly, different from his usual tone.
“Still unconscious,” I said shortly, not wanting to dwell on it. My throat felt tight just saying the words.
There was a brief pause on the line.
“Fight for her, Aaron. If you really love her… you’ll hold on. Things didn’t end well between you two, right?”
I ran a hand through my hair, irritation flaring slightly. “My personal life isn’t your business.”
He chuckled dryly, but there was no humor in it. Adrian and I had history. Loss had tied us together in some twisted way, even if we couldn’t stand each other half the time. We were two broken pieces from different puzzles.
“She’ll make it,” he said quietly. “Your hope might be the thing that keeps her going.”
His words echoed in my head long after the call ended.
I made my way toward the waiting room, scanning for Doctor Jax when I spotted someone I never expected to see-Angelina.
She stood up quickly, her eyes lighting up as she approached. I shoved my hands into my pockets, my stomach knotting.
“Aaron,” she breathed, reaching out like she was going to touch me. I stepped back instinctively.
I hadn’t seen her since our breakup. Even when she showed up at my office, I’d had my secretary send her away without a second thought.
“What are you doing here?” I asked flatly, my voice colder than I intended.
She pouted slightly, tucking a strand of perfectly styled hair behind her ear. “I heard about what happened to your sister’s best friend. We once lived together, remember? I just wanted to check in. How’s she doing?”
My brows furrowed. “How did you hear about that?”
“Her neighbor told me she was rushed here,” she said quickly, her gaze flickering for a fraction of a second.
Something felt… off.
“And you’re here to see her?”
She nodded, stepping closer again. I didn’t move.
“She’s not in a state to see anyone,” I replied coldly.
Her eyes widened with faux concern. “Oh my gosh, is she… dead?” She covered her mouth dramatically. “I’m so sorry. Rhoda must be devastated.”
I just stared at her, my thoughts racing.
How the hell did she know Joan’s neighbor? And how did she even know where Joan lived? They’d never been close-not in Spain, not ever. Joan couldn’t stand her. She’d made that clear more than once.
“What can I do to help? Anything to make you all feel better?” she asked sweetly, blinking up at me.
“She’s not dead,” I said sharply, watching her reaction closely. There was the slightest twitch in her jaw before she looked away. A flicker of something-relief? Disappointment?-passed through her eyes too quickly to catch.
“You don’t seem excited,” I added, my voice low.
She huffed, her smile tight. “Why would you say that? I’m happy she’s alive.”
I straightened up.
“You should go… now,” I said, brushing past her, heading toward the reception desk, hoping to catch Doctor Jax.
Pulling out my phone again, I dialed Denzel.
“Look into Angelina Martinez and report to me. Everything. Don’t leave anything out,” I said the moment he picked up. My voice was a low growl.
I had a feeling. A bad one.
And if she had anything to do with this… God help her, because it wouldn’t be fun.