Free Web NovelChapter 365: Chapter 365
Nathan’s POV
Aria wore soft clothes and held a small box in her hand.
“I heard you were working overtime,” she said gently. “You must be hungry.”
She opened the box and brought out the content.
“I made it myself, do you want to try it,” she added, looking at me with those bright eyes of hers.
I moved toward her before I even realized it. My wolf leaned forward, drawn by her familiar, warm scent.
“Didn’t I ask you to not to come whenever I am working late?” A voice growled, my voice, except it wasn’t me speaking freёweɓnovel.com
“I won’t come next time,” she said suddenly, lowering her head, packing it back up. “I am sorry.”
I reached for her but all I touched was air. My hand went cold, I was in an empty office. There was no Aria. It was just a memory from two years ago... back when she was still my wife.
The past crashed over me like a tidal wave, dragging regret, guilt and everything I never said.
I clutched my chest as I remembered her face that day. She looked hurt and quiet, trying not to cry.
Pain surged within me. My wolf whined low, wounded in a place no healer could reach.
Tonight, the way she was worried about Rowland...
That used to be how she worried about me.
I tilted my head back, staring at the sky beyond the city and all I could see was endless darkness.
Aria’s POV
I stood beside Rowland’s bed, my arms crossed, staring at him while he drifted back to consciousness. The steady beep of the monitor grated on my nerves.
His eyelashes fluttered.
He squinted at me. “...Am I dreaming?”
My brow twitched.
“Why would Aria be at my bedside... even if she looks annoyed... still a nice dream...” he muttered.
I knocked him lightly on the forehead.
Not hard enough to hurt, just enough to remind him this was reality.
“What are you talking about?”
He blinked, then jolted. “Aria? Why are you here?” He yanked the blanket up to his chin like I’d caught him doing something illegal.
I closed my eyes briefly. Moon Goddess, give me strength, I muttered.
“Get a grip and act normal,” I snapped.
My wolf was already tense from guilt and worry and right now I had zero patience for his nonsense.
He immediately softened, lowering the blanket a little. Even pale and weak, his face still had that irritatingly refined look, but now paired with a guilty grin.
“Tell me,” I said, my voice going cold, “why did you eat spicy food when you can’t handle it?”
He shrank back, his eyes wide and pitiful. “Didn’t you give it to me?”
My eye twitched.
“You ate it just because I gave it to you? Don’t you know your own limits?” I slapped the mattress in frustration.
The bed shook. He looked like he’d bitten into something bitter.
“You hardly ever feed me,” he complained. “How could I not eat it?” fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
I stared at him. Was he a grown man or a neglected pup? My wolf huffed, deeply unimpressed.
I warned through clenched teeth, “Don’t ever try this again, Understood?”
He instantly brightened, clearly deciding the storm had passed, and tried to sit up. The moment he lifted himself, pain twisted his face.
My wolf reacted before I thought. I stepped forward, sliding a pillow behind him and pushing him gently back down.
“Stay still!” I glared.
He sucked in a breath, but his eyes...They were shining with mischief, even now.
“Okay,” he said softly, smiling like he knew something I didn’t.
I felt tired all the way down to my bones.
“Aria,” he said after a moment, rubbing his chin, his eyes sharp now. “I remember calling an ambulance before I passed out. How did you know I was here?”
Uh oh. My wolf stilled.
His gaze narrowed playfully. “Don’t tell me you’re secretly in love with me and have people following me? The moment I get sick, you appear—”
I swatted his pointing finger away. “Stop fooling around while you’re sick.”
He deflated into the pillow. “Oh.”
That “oh” was so tragically small my wolf almost whined.
I exhaled slowly.
“I’m fine now,” he said more seriously. “You should go home. Lana needs you.”
I blinked at him, surprised.
Then I tucked the blanket around him, the movements gentler than my tone had been. “There’s a folding chair. I’m staying tonight. Kara’s with Lana.”
His eyes went wide. “You’re going to sleep in the same room as me?”
I stared at him.
How did he turn basic caregiving into something suspicious? I smiled sweetly and knocked his head again. “It might’ve been an accident giving you chili, but it’s partly my responsibility. I’m being responsible.”
“Responsible...” he repeated, his eyes lighting up like I’d said something scandalous.
Watching him, I felt a headache forming.
Before I could speak further, Raymond crossed his arms dramatically. “No way. I’m a patient with charm, and you’re perfectly healthy. I can’t trust you!”
He slammed the call button.
I froze.
The nurse walked in.
He pointed at me like I was a threat to public safety. “She’s definitely up to something. I want a private room!”
I couldn’t even speak.
The nurse bit back a laugh, but professionalism won. She gave me an apologetic look, one that I understood.
Patient preference came first, if Rowland wanted to be alone, then he would be granted that.
I closed my eyes. My wolf sighed deeply inside me. Of all the dramatic, ridiculous, impossible men in this world...
Why did I have to feel responsible for this one?
