Chapter 7

~~OLIVIA~~

I had woken up from my afternoon nap when the hospital room door swung open.

"Who is there?" I sat up on the bed, feeling a bit better after waking up from my sleep. My headache had also lessened. However, my eyes widened in shock when I saw Mark return to the room. His yellow eyes met my blue eyes, locking with them, and I became so nervous that I lowered my head.

"Hi, how are you doing?" Mark asked, his voice soft as he walked up to the hospital bed to meet me.

Before I could respond, the hospital room door burst open again, and Dr. Sam entered and peered at us.

"What do you want, Doctor?" Mark asked, before I could. His voice was laced with irritation as he peered at Dr. Sam's face.

"Mark, I should be the one asking you that question. You came here uninvited, and I need to keep watch to ensure that you are not doing anything to harm my patient," Dr. Sam replied ruthlessly, and my eyes widened in shock.

"How can I hurt Olivia? She is my sister and it's my duty to protect her!" Mark said protectively, and my eyes widened in shock to see him so possessive of me.

Dr. Sam scoffed, "Mark, you and Olivia are not siblings. So don't act like you care!"

"Mmm." Mark gritted his teeth, wanting to retaliate, and I quickly chimed in, "Brother Mark, please, just calm down."

Mark's gaze shifted to meet mine. His expression was cold, clearly not liking how Dr. Sam was interrupting him.

"Dr. Sam, is there anything the matter?" I asked, shifting my gaze to Dr. Sam, as I couldn't remember asking for him.

"Nothing, Olivia. I just want to be sure that you are in good health," Dr. Sam replied, his voice gentle, while I smiled at him.

"I am fine, Doctor," I replied in a nervous voice as Mark walked up to the bed to meet me.

Mark set down the package of meals that he had brought, clearly ignoring Dr. Sam, as he said, "I brought your dinner. Have you eaten?"

My cheeks flushed hearing Mark's inquiry. I did not know why I was so nervous around him. I didn't use to act like this before. So I shook my head and replied, "No. I haven't."

"Good. We can have our dinner together then," Mark said, his voice warm as his right hand set up the meal.

Dr. Sam looked at us and saw that Mark was not going to leave soon. He looked at me and said, "Olivia, if you need anything, do not forget to ring the nurse's bell closer to your bed."

"Okay, Doctor," I replied, lowering my head.

As Dr. Sam walked towards the exit door and pulled it open, he glanced back at Mark, who was busy opening the food that he had brought. He said, "Mark, do not forget that the hospital has surveillance cameras."

"I am aware, Sam. Do not waste your time with such pointless reminders," Mark replied, his tone relaxed as he set up the meal before me.

When Dr. Sam left, Mark stood beside my bed and looked at me. I could feel his gaze crawling over my skin and it made me uncomfortable.

Mark was supposed to be my adopted brother. So why was he looking at me with desire, like he was a hungry wolf wanting to devour me as his meal?

"I wouldn't hurt you if that's why you are acting nervous around me," Mark said, his masculine scent filling my nostrils, and I nodded.

The rain thrashed against the window, and Mark went to close it as we were left alone in the hospital room. His pine tress scent filled my nostrils as he returned to stand next to my bed.

"I bought your dinner but I don't know if you will like it," Mark said softly, as he pulled the package of food towards me. His right hand reached for the ice cream pack and my eyes widened in shock.

*Why was Mark buying ice cream for me?* My heart raced, but I didn't want to dwell on it.

"Thank you," I replied, after Mark pulled the ice cream cover off for me. The delicious vanilla scent filled my nostrils and my tongue and throat salivated.

"Do you want me to feed you?" Mark asked, his tone soft as his hand reached for the spoon to take it out of my ice cream and feed me.

"No… why should you do that?" I asked him shyly, my cheeks flushed at his closeness.

Mark looked at my face in a way that sent shivers down my spine as he demanded in a gentle voice, "Why shouldn't I feed you? I do not want you to be scared of me, or angry with me because of what my mother did to put you in this condition."

My eyes welled up with tears, but I didn't want to spoil the romantic ambiance in the room.

"It's fine. I hold no grudge against your mother," I replied, as my hand reached for the ice-cream spoon. I scooped a spoonful of the ice cream and licked it.

I looked at Mark's face, seeing him gulp, his eyes glowing with desire, and I immediately looked away from his handsome face.

I knew that Mark had so many girlfriends, so I swiftly waved any form of unthinkable idea about him away from my head.

*Mark was only doing this to make me forgive his family and not move over to Dr. Sam's house,* I reasoned.

"Do you like the ice cream? I didn't know if it was your favourite. But I assumed that vanilla ice cream is most women's favourite," Mark said, his tone soft, but my smile and admiration for him faded.

"Yeah, you have so many girlfriends. How could you not know?" I said, and Mark grinned as he moved nearer to my bed.

"Do I smell jealousy? Who told you that I have many girlfriends?" Mark asked, his eyes watching me with interest and it made my skin crawl again, as I wasn't used to Mark caring for me.

"But you have many girlfriends," I replied, looking at his face in a challenging stance.

"No," Mark drew near my face, and he used his right finger to wipe the ice cream off my lips and licked it.

My eyes widened in shock at his actions as it felt like he had already kissed me from touching my lips and licking his finger.

"I…" I couldn't say the words or meet his face.

*What had come over Mark?* I pondered, and before he could say another word—as I wanted him to leave me alone, because I wasn't used to this part of him.

I didn't know what had gotten into Mark. Had he woken up on the wrong side of the bed today?

The other time, I had wondered why Mark defended me. And now, he was acting like I was his girlfriend. 'Wait, did Mark have feelings for me?'

As I wanted to send him away so that I could eat my food in peace and think about my life, his phone rang and it was an incoming call from his father.

"Excuse me, Olivia, I will join you soon," Mark said, as he moved away from me to answer his call.

I breathed heavily as his masculine scent of pinewood faded away from my nostrils.

Quickly, I grasped the ice cream spoon and ate it faster before Mark would finish his call, as he answered the call in the room. He stood a short distance away from my bed.