Author's note

"Zack, where are you?" Her voice was met with silence. "He really left me all alone." She then facepalmed herself. "Yeah, I'm the one who actually pressured him to leave, and I'm complaining..."

She collapsed on the bed and shut her eyes to get to sleep, she knew he would return soon.

A day later, Ivy was ready to be discharged from the hospital. There were no complications as it was a mild dosage. But before she left, she paid Edmond a visit. The room was dimly lit with soft beeping sounds from the machine used to monitor his vital signs. Her eyes were drawn to his pale face, his features relaxed in a coma-induced slumber as her heart ached with concern and empathy. "I hope you won't fire him when he wakes up." Ivy glanced at Zack, who was sitting beside her before returning her gaze to Edmond.

"Anything you want, wifey..." Zack responded leisurely, leaning on the corner of the room, his eyes pinned on her as she stood beside Edmond's bed. He then glanced at his wristwatch. "It's time to go..."

"Just a few more minutes, okay..." She retorted, shooting him a disapproving look, her eyes narrowing in displeasure. Before Zack had agreed to let her visit Edmond, they had a small debate in which she had to enumerate why it was necessary to pay him a visit. "Look at him, Zack, he is in a coma because he was my protector..."

"Excuse me, then who am I?" Zack snapped, deep lines etched on his forehead as he crossed his arms, obviously displeased.

This made Ivy chuckle, she shook her head and also crossed her arms, with a scowl mimicking the expression on his face. "Hubby, are you jealous? Because I can smell jealousy..."

Zack turned his face away, trying to cover the expression already visible on his face. "I walked in the cold to find you, I panicked..."

A wide smile curved up Ivy's cheek as she listened, she had to admit it warmed her heart to hear him say that. "I know, hubby..." She looked down at the tiled floor, trying to hide her red cheeks. She was truly touched by Zack's protective instincts and affection. She loved to feel the same emotions she felt that day he came just in time to rescue her. "I really don't know how to thank you enough for saving me over and over again. I think it's become one-sided. When do I get to do something for you..." She lifted her face to look at him, it was laced with sincerity flickering from her steady gaze.

Zack, upon seeing her flushed cheek, walked closer to her, a small smirk playing on his lips as he lifted his finger and pinched her cheek. "I know women blush, but I didn't expect you to be one of them."

Ivy bit her lips and slapped his fingers away. "I... I'm... not blushing." She said and quickly turned to the side to avoid his piercing gaze.

"Do you want me to perhaps show you to the mirror..." Zack placed his hands on her shoulder and turned her around to face him, the smirk still visible on his face. "It's as red as a tomato."

A hint of embarrassment washed over her as she covered her cheeks with her palm. "What do you gain by teasing me?"

She shrugged his hands off her, her eyes narrowing but avoiding eye contact with him. "And by the way, I didn't blush..."

"So you want me to prove that you really did blush." He raised his eyebrow, and Ivy could only let out a sigh out of frustration. Not expecting to go through with what he said, she didn't know he was darn serious about proving it to her.

Before she knew it, he was inches from her face. "Z...a...ck..." She stammered, stepping backwards trying to get away from whatever he was up to, but he wasn't backing down. "W...what are you doing? We are at the hospital..."

"It's very well obvious..." He replied casually, still coming closer. He then dipped his hand into his pocket, brought out his phone, and placed the screen to her face. "Can you see your red cheeks now?"

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Hi guys, I'm sorry for the slow updates, but I was serious about being ill. I saw some comments and reviews. I barely wrote this particular content. When I get better, I'll try to update at least two chapters a day. Thank you.