CHAPTER 40
ALEXIA P.O.V
I pulled the covers over myself and shut my eyes, forcing them closed.
Sleep didn't come.
I tried—God, I really tried—but my mind refused to rest.
With a frustrated sigh, I sat up and swung my legs off the bed. Slowly, I pressed my ear against the door. Apart from the faint footsteps of passing nurses, the hallway was quiet.
Carefully, I turned the handle.
It didn't budge.
Click.
"They locked it," I muttered, annoyance rising in my chest.
I leaned in again, making sure no one was around. Once I was certain, I stepped back—
BANG!
I kicked the door open.
Thankfully, it didn't come off its hinges.
I slipped out into the hallway. The hospital was eerily silent… too silent.
That's when it hit me.
"I'm the only one here… aside from Clara."
A small smirk formed. "Must be some VIP section."
Speaking of Clara—
Guards stood outside her room.
Great.
Just my luck.
But as if the universe decided to cooperate for once, the door opened and Allen stepped out. I quickly walked over.
"Alexia?" His brows furrowed. "You shouldn't be walking with that injury. What are you doing here?"
Oh.
Right.
The injury.
I instantly slowed my steps, forcing a limp.
"I came to see Clara. And don't worry—my leg will sort itself out."
His expression softened slightly. "She's still unconscious… I'm afraid."
My heart dropped.
"But she's fine, right?" I asked quickly.
"She is."
I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.
"What a relief… I'll come back when she wakes up."
I turned—but too fast.
The world tilted.
My vision blurred, and I stumbled backward—
Strong arms caught me.
Allen.
My hands instinctively gripped his neck as his arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me close.
To anyone watching…
It looked very wrong.
"What's going on here?"
That voice.
Cold. Sharp. Dangerous.
Asher.
"I was helping Alexia back to her room," Allen explained calmly.
"What is she doing here in the first place?" Asher's icy gaze locked onto mine.
Was it just me… or was he actually angry?
"She came to see Clara."
She, she, she.
I'm literally standing right here.
"No one is allowed to see her. No one."
"Relax, I was leaving anyway," I muttered. "No need to be so grumpy."
Apparently… not quiet enough.
Allen bit back a laugh.
Asher's expression darkened.
"Allen. Leave us."
I frowned.
What now?
"Asher—"
"Go."
Allen gave me a sympathetic look before walking away.
I shrugged it off.
Asher stared at me.
I stared right back.
"What?" I snapped silently with my eyes.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving," I said aloud, turning away.
"What are you doing here?"
I stopped.
"As Allen said, I came to see Clara. Nothing more."
"What's your relationship with Tyler?"
My brows drew together. "Why do you want to know?"
"Answer me."
"I won't." I turned to face him fully. "You don't get to command me. My relationship with Tyler is none of your business."
"Why are you always this stubborn?"
"At least I'm not inconsiderate."
I turned and began limping away—
Then suddenly—
I was lifted.
"What—hey! Put me down! I'm not talking to you!"
"Stop struggling."
"Fine," I huffed, folding my arms.
Honestly… this was easier than pretending to limp.
We reached my room.
His gaze flickered to the broken door handle.
Slowly… he looked at me.
I avoided his eyes.
A low chuckle escaped him.
Wait—
I snapped my head up.
He was… laughing.
Asher Slade.
Laughing.
"Even a robot can laugh? I'm impressed."
He gently placed me on the bed and tucked me in.
For a moment—
Just a moment—
He looked like… something else.
Something softer.
Something dangerously close to—
A husband.
The thought hit me out of nowhere.
And strangely…
It didn't feel wrong.
"Why are you smiling?" he asked.
I froze.
"I'm not."
"Yes, you are. Your face is red too."
I immediately pulled the blanket over my head.
"I have a fever. You're making it worse."
His voice softened. "How are you feeling?"
And just like that…
I answered honestly.
"It hurts… but it'll get better."
He nodded.
"Thank you."
I blinked. "For what?"
"For saving Clara."
…
Of course.
My chest tightened.
That's all this was.
Gratitude.
Nothing more.
"She's my best friend," I said quietly. "I'd never leave her."
He nodded again.
"Of course. Alexia, I—"
"I think I should rest now," I cut in quickly. "Thank you for bringing me back, Mr. Slade."
Silence.
"Is everything okay?"
"It is."
I turned away, blinking back tears.
He lingered… then left.
The moment the door closed, I exhaled shakily.
What was I thinking?
He's out of my reach.
And yet… a part of me refuses to accept it.
Maybe I imagined everything.
Maybe… it was never there.
When I opened my eyes again, dawn had arrived.
I yawned—
"Careful. You might swallow me whole."
I frowned.
Perfect.
"Great. The first thing I see when I wake up is your face."
"A handsome face, by the way."
"Wow. Someone has clearly been lying to you, Tyler."
"That someone is you."
"What?! I have never called you handsome!"
"Oh, you have."
"When?!"
"When you wanted to sneak sushi into camp. You were begging me—calling me all sorts of sweet names."
"That was because you blackmailed me!"
"Hm. That's not how I remember it."
"You're a jerk."
"Yup. Now—do you want to see Clara or not?"
My eyes lit up instantly.
"Yes!"
"Good." He handed me crutches.
I stared at them. "What am I supposed to do with this?"
"Walk."
I blinked.
"You're joking."
"You may have healed, but a normal person wouldn't be strutting around like it's a runway."
"I do not walk like that."
"You do, sweet cheeks. Now up you go."
"No."
Before he could argue, the door opened.
Wyatt rolled in a wheelchair.
"Ignore Tyler. Use this instead."
I smiled. "Much better."
As I sat, I noticed the logo.
Mine.
My company.
A proud smile crept onto my lips as I pressed a button—the chair moved smoothly.
Tyler immediately blocked me.
"What now?"
"Don't think I didn't notice your little stunt yesterday."
"What stunt?" I feigned innocence.
He gave me a look.
I raised my hands. "Fine. I felt trapped, so I went out."
He studied me… then sighed.
"Let's go."
"You're coming too?"
He nodded.
"Fine. Just don't cause a scene."
"That's your job."
We got to Clara's room.
Outside stood—
Asher.
And Tyler.
The tension?
Palpable.
Cold.
Sharp.
Heavy.
They weren't just glaring.
They hated each other.
And I had no idea why.
"Are you both going to keep staring, or will someone open the door?"
Allen stepped forward and opened it.
"Don't mind them," he said lightly. "They don't know how to treat a lady."
"You're absolutely right," I muttered.
I rolled inside—
And froze.
Clara.
Alive.
Sitting up.
Reading.
Before I could think, I nearly jumped out of the wheelchair and wrapped my arms around her.
"Idiot! You thought you could die like that?!"
"Eh… I tried," she shrugged.
I laughed despite myself.
"How are you feeling?"
"Great. Except these hospital gowns are ugly."
"Still complaining, I see."
"Of course."
Suddenly—
"YOU'RE AWAKE?!"
Naomi burst in, hugging Clara tightly before breaking into tears.
"I thought you were dead!"
"Dead? I haven't gone skydiving yet."
"But you're scared of heights!"
"Exactly. That's why I won't die."
We laughed.
Clara turned to me. "Your leg?"
"Just a scratch."
"Alexia… thank you."
"Always."
After a while, we left.
Tyler had disappeared.
"Want me to take you back?" Naomi asked.
"I'm good."
"You sure?"
"Affirmative."
Back in my room, I worked on my laptop—
Then paused.
A scent.
Familiar.
Impossible.
"Dylan?"
A sudden thud.
The door opened.
There he was.
"Did you just knock out my guards?"
"They'll wake up," he shrugged. "How are you?"
"I'm fine."
He stepped closer.
"I was worried."
"Why?"
"Because… I like you."
My breath caught.
"I—"
The door slammed open.
Asher.
Furious.
"Who are you?"
Cold.
Deadly.
"I don't see why I owe you an explanation," Dylan replied.
"I said—who are you?"
The air turned suffocating.
"I'm Dylan. Alexia's friend."
"She's not allowed visitors."
"And who are you to decide that?"
"Leave."
"No."
"Dylan…" I intervened softly. "You should go."
He hesitated.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"…I'll come back."
"Unlikely," Asher muttered.
Their eyes locked.
Then Dylan left.
The moment the door shut—
"What is your problem?" I snapped.
"You need to be careful."
"Dylan has done nothing wrong!"
"That's not the point."
"Since when do you control my life?"
"Since you started trusting anyone who flatters you."
"What are you implying?!"
His voice dropped.
Dangerous.
"The man who shot Clara… was aiming for you."
My world stopped.
"What?"
He showed me a video.
A confession.
I was the target.
Clara…
Just got in the way.
My hands trembled.
My chest tightened.
A tear slipped down.
"This is my fault…"
His hand gently wiped it away.
"It's not."
"But it is—"
The door burst open.
Tyler.
Rage in his eyes.
"What did you do to her?"
"Nothing that concerns you."
"Liar."
"Stop!" I shouted.
"Both of you… leave."
Tyler hesitated.
"Please…"
He nodded and stepped back.
Asher moved closer instead, brushing my hair aside gently.
"Don't blame yourself. No one saw it coming."
I nodded weakly.
And for the first time—
I didn't know what scared me more.
The enemy I couldn't see…
Or the feelings I couldn't control.