Chapter 13
Late at night, Jaslands Hospital was calm, the soft lights casting a warm glow in the quiet halls.
Earlier, Haley had caused quite a stir at the hotel entrance, leading her parents to call her repeatedly. So, she decided to head home for a bit.
Meanwhile, Ellie had taken a hit to the head and needed to be monitored for 24 hours due to feeling lightheaded from blood loss. Aaron was adamant that she stay in the hospital.
Aaron had only minor injuries. After the doctor treated his wounds and prescribed some antibiotics, he settled into the hospital room to keep Ellie company while she got her IV.
“Just focus on getting better,” he said gently, guilt in his eyes. “Don’t think about anything else. Are you hungry?”
Ellie shook her head. It was just a small bump on her forehead, and she wasn’t one to make a fuss. Their dad was at home, depending on them to earn money for his medicine. She couldn’t just lie around in the hospital.
“Aaron, I really don’t need to stay here. Let’s head home once the IV is done,” she insisted.
Suddenly, a stylish middle-aged woman entered the room, her face filled with concern as she saw Ellie with bandages on her forehead.
“Oh, sweetheart!” Nancy, Alex’s mom, exclaimed, her heart breaking at the sight.
“Nancy, what are you doing here?” Ellie asked, surprised, then quickly glanced at Aaron for support.
“Please, have a seat,” Aaron offered, standing up to give her his chair.
Nancy sat down, taking Ellie’s hand in one of hers and Aaron’s in the other. “I know you two have been through a lot. Don’t let that jerk get to you. I’ll make sure he pays for what he did,” she assured them, her tone firm.
Ellie shook her head. She knew Alex’s stubbornness all too well. Getting him to apologize was like waiting for a miracle. “We’re okay, Nancy,” she reassured her.
Just then, the driver knocked and stepped inside. “Mrs. Warren, Mr. Alex Warren won’t come over and has already left, he said.”
“That bad boy,” Nancy muttered, her frustration evident.
The next morning, Ellie was determined to leave the hospital. Nancy, frustrated with her son’s stubbornness, came to sort things out herself.
After settling the bills and offering her apologies, she dropped her final pitch. “Carlos knows you’re back. He had the kitchen make your favorite fish. Even if you’re not planning to stay, it wouldn’t hurt to have a meal with him, right?”
Reluctantly, Ellie agreed to visit the Warren family, but Aaron refused to come along.
As soon as she walked into the living room, she spotted Alex. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and she quickly looked away. After greeting Alex’s father, she slipped into Carlos’s study and stayed there until dinner, finally coming out to join the family.
During dinner, Ellie felt a sense of relief when she realized Alex wasn’t there.
On the way back, Nancy insisted the driver take Ellie home. They got out at the city center. Once the driver left, she grabbed a cab back to her apartment.
As she was unlocking her door, a large hand reached around from behind, covering hers to turn the key. The familiar scent of wood and a hint of tobacco made her jump. She spun around to see Alex.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, surprised.
