Chapter Nine

IVY’S POV

When I opened my eyes again, the white hospital walls were gone.

I was lying in a huge, soft bed inside a grand room filled with gold trim and rich velvet curtains. Sunlight streamed through tall arched windows, painting warm patterns across the silk sheets. The space looked like something straight out of a fairy tale...far too big and fancy for my confused, foggy mind to wrap around.

The heavy wooden door creaked open, and a familiar face stepped inside.

“Hello, Ivy. How are you feeling this morning?” Doctor Rachel asked, smiling brightly as she approached my bed with a small metal tray.

I blinked against the light, my thoughts still slow and heavy. “I... I think I'm okay,” I mumbled, my voice raspy from sleep. “Just a little dizzy.”

“That’s completely normal,” she said softly, setting her tray on the bedside table. She leaned over and helped me sit up against a pile of plush velvet pillows. “Let’s get you comfortable first.”

She checked my pulse, wrapped a cool band around my arm to test my blood pressure, and shined a tiny light into my eyes.

“Physically, you’re recovering remarkably well,” Rachel explained, her fingers moving swiftly as she noted down numbers on her medical pad.

“Your body is healing nicely, your heart rate is stabilizing, and your blood pressure is finally coming down to a healthy range. But because your system went through such severe trauma, both you and the baby still need round-the-clock monitoring. Your Alpha insists on absolute perfection when it comes to your health, he has me checking your vitals four times a day!”

I looked down at the sheets, unsure of what to say.

Doctor Rachel chuckled, a fond warmth in her eyes as she adjusted my blanket. “Don’t mind him too much. Alphas get impossibly possessive when their mates are carrying. When I had my first child seven years ago, my own mate lost his mind! He wouldn’t let me leave the house for three months without a full squad of guards following two steps behind me. I couldn't even go to the bathroom in peace! I thought I was going to lose my mind!”

A tiny, weak smile touched my lips, but it faded as fast as it came. I listened quietly, but inside my head, the same agonizing question kept spinning. Why couldn't I remember anything?

I cleared my throat, my voice barely above a whisper. “What... what is his name?”

Doctor Rachel paused, her expression softening. “His name is Prince Leo.”

I swallowed hard, looking around the massive chamber with its towering marble columns and high ceilings. “And... this is his house?”

“Yes,” Rachel answered with gentle patience. “This is the Royal Palace. Leo is the Prince, and this is your home now. You are carrying his royal heir, Ivy.”

I placed my palm gently over my lower stomach. Beneath my skin, I felt a faint, warm flutter..like the tiny beat of a butterfly wing. A soft sigh escaped my lips. But the second I tried to remember how I got here, or who I was before waking up in this bed, a sharp, burning pain shot right behind my eyes. I winced, reaching up to touch my face. My fingertips brushed against the rough, raised lines of fading scars across my cheeks. My past was a blank, empty wall.

Doctor Rachel noticed the sudden sadness dropping over my face. She set her pad down and placed a warm, reassuring hand over mine.

“Hey, take a deep breath,” she urged kindly, her chatty tone softening into gentle care. “You have to be patient with yourself, Ivy. Neurological trauma takes time to mend. Your brain went through a massive shock, and when the body experiences severe stress, it puts up a protective wall to guard your mind while your physical frame recovers. If you rest, eat properly, and stick to your medication, the fog will clear. It’s just a matter of time.”

She reached for a small syringe on her tray and tapped the side of it with her index finger, clearing a tiny air bubble.

“Now, let’s get this dose in,” Rachel explained thoroughly, pointing to the clear fluid inside the glass tube. “This isn't anything harsh. It’s a concentrated blend of neuro-nutrients, iron, and gentle pain relief specifically designed for expecting mothers. It helps support your placenta, keeps your energy up, and stops those nasty tension headaches before they start.”

She signaled for me to give her my arm. I held it out, turning my head away as she wiped my skin with a cold alcohol swab and gently pushed the needle in.

As the cool medicine seeped into my vein, a heavy suspicion settled deep in my gut. I realized that despite all her long explanations about my blood pressure, my vitamins, my baby, and my mate, she had carefully danced around one major detail. No one had actually told me how I got hurt. They never mentioned what caused the deep bruises on my ribs or the scars on my face, or how I ended up bleeding in a hospital bed in the first place.

They were keeping secrets. They were hiding the truth from me.

I pulled my arm back and looked straight into her eyes, my voice trembling and small. "Doctor... what really happened to me? How did I end up in the hospital?"