The next morning, Belle was surprised to see Nathalie lying next to her on the bed. Trying to recall what happened last night, she remembered that she fainted while talking to her.
‘She must have been so worried,’ she thought to herself as she tucked a strand of hair into the back of Nathalie’s ear.
She slipped out of bed carefully, trying her best not to wake her friend up. Then she headed to the bathroom.
“Are you going to the hospital now?” Belle was startled when Nathalie spoke as soon as she stepped out of the bathroom. Her friend was still lying on the bed with her eyes closed.
“Gosh, Nathalie!” she exclaimed, scratching her head and letting out a few sighs to calm her nerves. “Yes, I am, I need to see him.”
Natalie nodded at her, “Go! I’ll take care of the things in the office.”
“Thank you,” Belle muttered while facing her closet to prepare her clothes.
While rummaging thru her closet, Belle’s phone started ringing. Natalie grabbed it from the side table and tossed it to her.
“Hello?” she quickly answered, it was Jacob. “He’s awake now?” eyeing her friend who was now smiling widely at her, Belle couldn’t stop but smile as well. “Okay, I’m on my way.”
“He’s finally awake?” Nathalie asked and Belle nodded without looking at her as she put on her jeans. “Do you want me to drive you to the hospital?”
“No, just go to the office for now. But make sure to come over for lunch,” Belle replied, still smiling as she couldn’t contain the joy knowing Tristan was already conscious.
As soon as she was dressed, Belle gathered her things and placed them in her bag. She then kissed Nathalie on the cheek and rushed out the door.
When she got into her car, she wore her seatbelt and immediately started the engine. But before she drove off to the hospital, she uttered a prayer again. ‘God, thank you for protecting him from danger. Thank you for bringing him back to us.’
On a regular day, it would take thirty minutes to get to the hospital from her place. But Belle made it there in as short as fifteen minutes.
Before she got in, she dialed Jacob’s number to find out where Tristan had been moved. When he confirmed the room number, she headed straight to the elevator.
Stopping by the door to fix her clothes, Belle heard someone crying inside the room. She looked at the room number again. It was indeed the VIP room but she couldn’t figure out who was crying.
She turned the knob to take a peek and was surprised to see a woman bowed down on the bed with an arm over Tristan’s waist. Jacob turned his attention to Belle when the door opened.
Belle creased her forehead at him but he just placed a finger over his lips. She walked over to him and Belle tried her best not to make a sound.
Still, Tristan noticed her presence. He lifted his gaze and looked over at her. “W-Who is she?” he asked, looking at his assistant.
“Ah sir, this is Belle Roberts, she’s your executive secretary,” Jacob responded.
Belle turned her head at Jacob, confused as to what was happening. ‘Why is Joyce here? Why doesn’t he know me?’
Jacob didn’t show any reaction to her, no response to her confused look, none at all. As if she somehow understood the situation, she bowed down to Tristan instead.
“Good morning, sir. Glad to see that you’re now awake,” then she smiled at the man.
Tristan’s brows were knitted but he nodded at her before looking at Joyce again. Caressing her hair, he tried to shush her, coaxing the woman to stop crying.
“I’m okay now, don’t cry,” Tristan said.
Joyce stole a glance at Belle and sat down on the chair next to Tristan’s bed. “I was so worried. I thought I already lost you,” then she started sobbing again.
Belle couldn’t help but roll her eyes. She wanted to throw up watching the overdramatic scene. She glanced at Jacob and he seemed to share the same thought.
But despite the irritation, Belle can’t help but feel hurt at the same time. ‘Why can’t he remember me all of a sudden?’
Belle’s wondering was interrupted when the door flew open. In came Frederick, followed by John right behind.
“How are you?” the old man asked as soon as he got near his grandson. He didn’t even glance at the woman sitting next to his bed.
“I’m fine now grandpa. Still feeling pain in some parts, but nothing painkillers can’t handle,” he smiled.
“You can still smile after keeping us up all night?” Frederick snorted.
John approached Tristan as well, lightly tapping his hand, “I’m just glad you’re out of danger now.”
“Thank you, John,” then he turned to his grandfather. “And I don’t believe you stayed up all night for me. I can still see marks of the pillow cover on your cheek,” he smirked.
Frederick subconsciously touched his cheek, causing both John and Tristan to laugh. But aside from them, Belle, Jacob, and Joyce all stayed mum.
The whole time Tristan was talking to his grandfather and John, he couldn’t help but look at Belle. But the woman was just looking outside the window.
The more he looks at her, the more he feels that there’s something deeper between the two of them. He can’t convince himself that he’s just his executive secretary.
As for Belle, she’s happy that Tristan is now awake and that Frederick has already visited him. But she can’t hold her emotions back anymore. She couldn’t swallow the fact that Joyce was with them in the same room.
“Excuse me,” she muttered before she stormed out of the room. She then headed to the balcony, not far from Tristan’s private room. Letting out a heavy sigh, the tears she’d been trying to hold in started streaming down her face. She’s in pain and she can’t deny that. Not to herself at least.
A few more minutes and tears later, someone tapped Belle’s shoulder. She turned around only to find Frederick smiling lazily at her, followed by the father and son duo.
“Not feeling good?” Belle nodded at the old man who just sighed at her response. “I feel the same,” he added.
“Why is she here?” John asked his son.
“I have no idea. I received a call around dawn that Tristan was up. I was in the waiting lounge at that time, and I fell asleep. Then I arranged for him to be moved to the VIP ward. Around six in the morning, I left for a bit to talk to his doctor. When I came back, she was already there,” Jacob narrated.
Frederick clicked his tongue, “I don’t feel good about that woman,” he sighed.
John tapped his old friend’s shoulder, trying to calm him down. They’re all aware of Joyce’s doings, so not one of them can stay calm as she stays next to Tristan.
Letting out a harsh sigh, the old man stomped the ground with his cane. “Is there no way to get rid of her?”
As he said that, they heard a phone ringing not far from where they were huddled up. Looking at each other, they suddenly felt tense, knowing that someone might have heard them.
“Ssshhh…”