جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 230

ALINA’S POVThe closer I got to the hospital, the sweatier my hands got.I forced myself to focus on the road and think of nothing else, but my heart was beating so hard and so fast it was almost impossible.I made it to the hospital in one piece. Even then, I felt as though a single touch or a single word would shatter me.“Aria Vale,” I said to the receptionist.I could not remember the room she was kept in.She called one of the workers to lead me down the long corridor to the last door on the floor.I halted at the glass window.There she was, lying in bed, eyes closed, dressed in a surgical gown.Her bruises looked fresher than I had expected.She looked like a mess. Like a broken version of me. Like everything I felt inside had somehow taken human form.My hands pressed against the glass as I watched her. Her wrist was still cuffed to the bed. That alone gave me a sense of peace.The door opened, and a doctor I hadn’t noticed was in there stepped out.“Doctor!” I called, making

Alina’s POV.Clover is awake.My baby is awake!I stayed in Edrick’s arms while the doctors checked Clover.I knew if I let go of him, I’d end up running into the room. He was the only one holding me.It felt like an eternity, but the waiting room door opened. I finally released myself from Edrick’s hold. We practically raced forward before the doctor had taken two steps toward us.A smile spread across his face.“I've finished examining Clover,” he said. “She's doing very well.”I squeezed Edrick’s hand as I held my breath.“She’s recovering just as we'd hoped. Her vitals are stable, and there are no signs of any immediate complications.”I finally let out the breath I'd been holding.“Does that mean she's okay?” Edrick asked.“Yes,” he replied with a reassuring nod. “She'll need to stay in the hospital for a few more days so we can continue monitoring her, manage her pain, and make sure the wound is healing properly. If everything continues to go well, she'll be ready to go home aft

Edrick’s POVMy phone rang at the worst possible time. But it was from John.“I need to take this,” I said. Alina gave me a quick nod.“Sir, I have an update on Aria.” John’s voice came through.I immediately sat up. “What happened?” I took a step away from Alina.“She’s fine. She’s conscious and stable now. The doctors have cleared her to leave the hospital.”I released a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding.“And where is she now?”John paused for a moment.“We have taken custody of her. She’s being escorted to the station to begin the arrest process.”My jaw tightened. Finally.“So it’s happening?”“Yes, sir. She’ll be processed and questioned at the station. The charges against her will follow from there.”“Can we come? Now?” I asked. Knowing Aria was finally stable made my stomach churn, but somewhere beneath the anxiety was a small sense of relief.“Yes, at the station,” he said.“Good.”I ended the call and turned to Alina.She was still seated on the rug, but her eyes we

ARIA’S POV.I watched Liana and my husband’s retreating backs, their hands entwined, how he carefully led her out like she was the most precious thing he owned.And worse, how he did not even bother to look back at me.Not once.I wanted to throw something at them.At her.Anything. An object sharp enough to cause bleeding. A broken bottle.I wanted a gun, to blow her head off.He’s my husband! Mine!The headaches were coming back.I pinned my hand to the side of my head, as if it would press the pain down.“Ow.”It was back. The headache was back.No. Not just back.It was tearing through my skull.It was back, and this time, it felt like it was here to finally take me.I wanted to scream, to let the pain out.But I could hear the nurse’s voice at the back of my mind.“Don’t you dare scream! I’ll give you another shot.” Just right before she injects me with that painfully numbing medicine.The one that kills my body and allows the pain to roam freely.It didn’t stop the pain.It neve

Edrick’s POV“But, Daddy…”His sad eyes met mine. “Why did she leave? Did I do something…”“...No, son, no. Your mommy just has other things to attend to.” I swallowed.“So, she still loves me?” he asked.“Of course she does!” I forced a smile. It made him smile a bit.I am such a fool. Such a fool for not thinking about this part. I have never paid much attention to the closeness between Aria and Jaime. If I had, I would have known he’d miss her so much.“So, when will she be back?” he asked. With the way he looked at me, I knew my answer would determine whether or not he would feel better.“Soon, son. Soon. Before you know it.”He nodded, then leaned back a bit.“That’s good.” A smile appeared on his face.It wasn’t as bright as the one he had earlier, but it was something.“I also want a snack,” he said, standing up.“Okay,” I said. “Go get some from your nanny.”He started running for the door.Something twisted in my chest.“Wait,” I called.He stopped just as he was about to clo