“Hello!” I answered the phone as I cleared my throat.
“Scarlett, Nora is awake. She wants to meet you,” Armond said over the phone. His voice sounded deep and exhausted.
“Alright, I will hurry over right now!” I exclaimed with a jolt of shock as all traces of my drowsiness vanished into thin air.
After I ended the call, Ashton’s hand was still draped across my waist. As the blankets slid off my naked body, I felt a hint of shyness due to the exposure.
Quickly, I set my phone aside. “Nora is awake! I have to go visit her,” I told him urgently.
Ashton nodded sleepily. Although he had just woken up, his handsome feature gave him a very alluring look.
Just as I was about to rise to my feet, Ashton captured me in his embrace. “Stay a little longer…” he rasped lowly.
“Nora is awake! There must be a reason for Armond’s early call! I must visit her,” I said and pushed his hand away.
“Okay,” he mumbled in response and did not comment any further.
I felt a tinge of childish frustration when he closed his eyes. Without hesitating, I bent down and blew a puff of air into his ear.
Immediately, his body stiffened in surprise. “Are you teasing me?” Ashton’s gaze darkened as he gazed at me.
“I was just trying to wake you up,” I replied innocently.
Without warning, Ashton flipped my body and caged me underneath him.
The sudden movement left me stricken with shock as I stared at him with widened eyes. “Ashton, you…”
“You don’t have to rush. Instead of waiting for a woman’s help, Armond should be able to handle it himself. Let’s settle the more urgent matters first!” Ashton murmured before he kissed me affectionately.
It took an hour before we stopped.
Immediately, I scurried to the shower and changed my clothes in fear that he would continue.
When I emerged from the bathroom, the lower half of Ashton’s body was clad in a towel as he scribbled in his notebook. Hearing my footsteps, he handed over a box clutched in his hand. “Eat two of these!”
“Are these vitamins?” I asked as I took the box from his hand and peered inside before looking at the handbook. It was filled to the brim with supplements.
“Aunt Sally brought them from Archulea.” He nodded and flipped the notebook shut. “It is good for your health.”
Despite my reluctance, I did not want to waste my elder’s gift. Thus, I forced myself to consume the supplements.
“Hurry up and shower,” I urged Ashton when I noticed his languid movements. “Then you can accompany me to visit Nora!”
Along the journey to the hospital, Ashton gave me an apologetic gaze after he finished talking on the phone. “I don’t think I can visit Nora with you.”
“It’s alright. Why don’t you stop the car right ahead? I’ll hail a cab to the hospital!”
I did not receive a reply from Ashton. It looked like he had no intention to halt the car too. Upon seeing his actions, I decided to play along.
In order to avoid any delay, I grabbed my purse and prepared to leave the car.
However, Ashton did not unlock the door. Instead, his dark gaze remained fixated on me.
“What’s going on?” I asked in confusion.
“Are you planning to leave like this?”
“Is there something wrong?” I replied and nodded my head in confirmation.
His mood seemed to sour when he heard my answer. As I observed his expression, Ashton seemed to have a helpless look on his face.
In a rush to leave the car, I decided to discard that thought. With a quick wave, I began to stride towards to hospital.
As I approached the building, I caught sight of a young couple. The young lady clung to the man and refused to let him out of her arms. “When my mum’s sickness is better, I’ll come and visit you. Don’t get angry, please.”
Her partner simply nodded his head in compliance. Despite that, he still looked dissatisfied.
The woman raised herself on the tip of her toes and kissed his cheek. “I promise to keep you company for a long, long time. Are you happy now?” she asked.
The woman’s adorable antics and sweet kiss must have warmed his heart. Immediately, he nodded his head in approval, albeit he still seemed unhappy with her decision.
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. Young love is so passionate!
Right at that moment, I couldn’t help but recall Ashton’s parting words. Are you planning to leave like this?
Realization dawned upon me as I hurriedly made my way back to where he had dropped me off.
Ashton was still in the midst of reversing his car at the hospital entrance. A wide smile graced his face when he caught sight of me.
“I’ll see you tonight!” I ran towards the car and told him softly. Following that, I planted a delicate kiss on the side of his cheek.
The sight of his baffled expression was amusing to me as I bid him farewell and headed to the hospital.
“I’ll see you tonight!” His deep voice resonated behind him.
With a bright grin, I bid him farewell and made my way into the hospital.
In the ward, Nora looked pale as she lay in bed with her head heavily bandaged. Armond sat by her bed while peeling fruits. “Was there heavy traffic?” he asked when I entered the room.
“No.” I shook my head in slight bashfulness. “I left my house a little late.”
“Is she feeling better?” I shifted the topic back to Nora.
“She just ate and is fast asleep right now. You should stay here and keep her company. I have some matters to attend to,” Armond said with a nod of his head.
