Under His Guard

Episode5

ARIA HALE

You disgust me.

I replayed all the conversations that occurred tonight in my head. I stirred in bed, unable to sleep. It was usually something I struggled with all my life since I had been diagnosed. I had eventually learnt to live with it.

In between tolerating my stepmother’s snide remarks and my father’s suspicious gazes, I figured I wouldn’t be able to do the same for Adrian. I had no grace in me to lend him.

He had broken my heart. He was cheating on me with Cassie and still dared to come visit the house and dine with us.

Just how heartless could he be? Lying to my f*****g face? How much of a fool did I resemble?

I had questions but I was too weak to sit through one with him. I was both mentally and physically drained. I needed to take a breather first.

I changed into a thin nightgown and crawled under the covers, turning to my side. The night breeze slipped in, through the window, cool against my skin. I closed my eyes and tried to will myself to sleep. But nothing happened.

I still couldn't sleep.

Instead, my body betrayed me. What starts as a dull ache beneath my ribs, blossoms into something sharper. I winced, clutching my sides. My breathing became shallow and my vision blurry. My fingers curled into the sheets as I tried to ride it out quietly.

Instead, it intensified.

I coughed like my lungs were on fire.

There was a soft knock at the door. “Miss Hale?” Kade’s voice filtered in low and softly.

“I’m—i’m fine. Don’t come in—ow!” I groaned when it felt like my body was finally giving in to death. I couldn’t feel my limbs anymore.

The door opened. Kade trudged in and studied me for a second—curled up in pain and breathing sharply. He shut the door gently behind him and hurried to my side.

“You’re not,” he said, crouching beside the bed. He kept his hands to himself, like he was afraid touching me might do something worse.

I hate that he was right. That he was seeing me in such a vulnerable state. I hate myself more for being this weak and useless.

“I don’t need—” My voice cracked and I started coughing. Before I could register it, I noticed how stricken he looked.

Blood splatters escape from my mouth. My hands instinctively cover my mouth. There is a spot of blood just below his eyes.

I see panic in his eyes. If I weren’t dying already, I might have asked the ground to open up and swallow me.

“What…what can I do? You’re bleeding!” He said, his voice rising.

I fly out of my bed, my weak legs shaking as I make my way to the bathroom. He steadies me in his hands and follows me.

I turn on the faucet and rinse my mouth and my face. I stare at my face in the mirror. I look paler than normal. I could pass as a ghost in a movie.

My eyes landed on Kade through the mirror and I caught him staring at me too. A million thoughts swirling in his head. I chuckled. His forehead creased in a frown.

“I’m good. You know being terminally ill is so fun. You think no, this is the day I definitely die but oh, how wrong you are!” I paused. “It’s just a series of death attempts that are never successful, no matter how much you want them to be.”

Another bitter laugh escapes my lips and my throat prickled. I wipe the tears at the corner of my eyes with the back of my palm. I turned to him.

“If you’d excuse me,” I started, “I would like to go to bed now.”

He hesitated. He wasn’t sure if he should leave my sight or stay. A flicker of emotion crossed his face—it was the same I had seen that day at the hospital. As always, it disappeared as quickly as it came.

He nodded and helped me into bed, tucking me in. He glanced at me again before making his way out.

When the door shut after him, the tears came freely.

Minutes later, my phone lit up.

CASSIE.

My heart dropped. I knew I shouldn’t open it but I did anyway.

“Heard what happened at the dinner. You really didn’t have to make a scene, Aria. Adrian was just confused. You know how men are.”

My fingers hover over the keyboard, unsure if I should respond and what I should.

Another message comes in.

“We should talk. Tomorrow. Family shouldn’t let misunderstandings get in the way.”

I stare at the screen, bile rising in my throat.

Did she just say, family?

I turned my phone facedown and curled back into the bed.

Cassie arrived the next morning, strutting in like she belonged here. Anyway, she did. My parents love her.

I heard her before I saw her. Her laugh drifted up the staircase. The one that adults adore. That makes people lean into her.

I sat at my vanity, my reflection bouncing back at me. The dark circles under my eyes are a testament that I didn’t sleep a wink last night.

There’s a knock on the door.

It opened before I could answer it. Cassie stood there with a tray in her hands, wearing a cream shirt, a black leather skirt, and ankle boots. Her beautiful blonde hair falls in soft waves and her smile is ever so radiant—and mocking. She looks so alive.

“Morning.” She said gently. “I thought you might need this.” She strode inside without waiting for permission and set the tray down on my table.

Tea. Toast. Fruits.

“How thoughtful.” I swallowed.

Her grin spread wider. “You didn't come down for breakfast. Everyone was worried.”

I almost laughed at the joke.

“I’m fine,” I replied.

She studies my features. “You had a rough night.”

“Did I?”

She tilted her head. “Adrian said you were….emotional.”

There it was.

Emotional? The audacity.

I turned fully to face her. “Did he?”

She sighed softly. “He didn’t mean it like that. He’s just confused.” She twirls her fingers around me. “This has been hard on him too.” She sat on the edge of my bed, her left leg going over the right.

On him.

I chuckle humourlessly. As she sat there rubbing this in my face, my brain replayed the voice note I had received at the hospital.

“You’ve never liked me.”

She doubled back in surprise. “Aria…”

“It’s true.”

She stood abruptly. “I came here to support you.”

“No,” I say softly. “You came to mock me.” Her mouth opened then closed.

“You’ve always been fragile. People walk on eggshells around you. Adrian was lonely. He felt neglected—”

“So you slept with him.”

The room is still. Cassie doesn't deny it.

She exhales. “Lower your voice.”

That’s the moment I knew.

“You planned this,” I whispered.

Her lips twitch. “I took an opportunity.”