Chapter 12 I'm okay
2194 Words
Aria’s POV
After Ethan left to get coffee from the vending machine downstairs, I finally pulled my phone out again. The hospital hallway was quiet now except for the soft beeping sounds coming from the ICU machines nearby.
I stared at Liam’s number for a few seconds before pressing call. The phone rang once. Twice. No answer. I swallowed slowly and pulled the phone away from my ear before trying again. This time, the ringing felt louder inside the silent hallway.
Still nothing. My fingers tightened slightly around the phone. I knew he could see the calls. He just was not answering. A strange heaviness settled inside my chest. Finally, after the third attempt, I lowered the phone slowly.
Maybe he was busy. Or maybe, I pushed the thought away immediately. I typed a short message instead. I won’t be coming home tonight. I’m staying at the hospital with Chloe until her mother arrives tomorrow. I stared at the message for a second before pressing send.Then I locked the phone quietly and lowered my head back against the chair.
Miles away, Liam sat inside the study room. The soft light from the desk lamp reflected against the dark wooden walls. Mark stood across from him holding several documents while explaining something carefully. But Liam’s attention was elsewhere.
His phone vibrated once against the table. Then again. And again. His eyes shifted toward the screen briefly. Aria. The name remained there for several seconds before the ringing stopped. Mark paused slightly.
“Should I come back later, sir?” Liam’s expression remained cold. “No.” His voice stayed calm. Flat.
But his fingers tapped once against the armrest of his wheelchair before becoming still again.
A few seconds later, the message notification appeared on the screen. Liam looked at it silently.
His jaw tightened faintly. Then he locked the phone without replying. “Continue,” he said coldly.
The next morning, I woke up to the feeling of someone gently tapping my shoulder. “Aria… Aria…” I blinked slowly. My neck hurt immediately from sleeping in the chair awkwardly. For a few seconds, my surroundings felt blurry. Then reality returned. Hospital. Chloe. ICU. I lifted my head quickly from the edge of Chloe’s bed. Mrs. Greg stood beside me, worry filling her tired eyes.
“Mom…” My voice came out rough from sleep and exhaustion. “You came so quickly.” Mrs. Greg smiled sadly while touching my hair gently.
“I booked my ticket immediately after receiving the news.” Her voice sounded tired too. Like she had not rested properly during the flight.
I stood up slowly, but my legs felt stiff instantly.
Mrs. Greg’s expression changed the moment she looked properly at my face. “Oh, child…” Her brows tightened with concern.
“You look exhausted.” I quickly tried to straighten myself. “I’m fine.” But even I could hear how weak my voice sounded. Mrs. Greg sighed softly. “You need to go home and freshen up first.”
“I’m okay,” I said quietly. “Maybe it’s because I was worried about Chloe.”
Mrs. Greg’s eyes softened immediately. Then she reached for my hand gently and squeezed it.
“You’ve always cared for her like family.” My chest tightened painfully at the words. Because Chloe really was family to me. More than my own blood sometimes.
My eyes slowly moved toward Chloe lying weakly on the hospital bed. The bandages. The pale face.
The machines beside her. A memory suddenly rose inside my chest so clearly that it almost hurt.
I was nine years old again.
Standing quietly outside my house after my mother’s burial. People walked around speaking softly while I sat alone near the staircase holding my knees tightly. I remembered staring at the ground because I did not want anybody to see me crying. Then suddenly, a small candy appeared in front of my face.
I looked up slowly. Chloe stood there in her school uniform with two missing front teeth and messy braids. “Take it,” she had said seriously. I stared at the candy without moving. She pushed it closer impatiently. “Candy makes kids stop crying.”
Even now, the memory made my throat tighten painfully. Since that day, Chloe had stayed beside me through everything. School problems. Lonely birthdays. Dad forgetting me completely. Even after the marriage. Even after Liam restricted my movements, Chloe still called me every single day.
Sometimes just to make sure I had eaten. Sometimes just to hear my voice. Tears burned my eyes again immediately. Mrs. Greg noticed the change in my expression and gently rubbed my hand. “Don’t worry,” she whispered softly. “I already spoke to the attending doctor.”
I looked at her quickly. “She said Chloe should wake up within a few hours.” Relief washed through me slowly. Real relief this time. Not fear.
Not panic. Just relief. A shaky breath escaped my lips. “Thank God…” Mrs. Greg smiled weakly. “She’s strong.” I nodded immediately. “She is.”
For a few more minutes, we stayed beside Chloe quietly. Then Mrs. Greg turned toward me again.
“Now go home and rest properly.” “I can stay longer” But the truth was that I didn't want to return to the villa. “No.” Her voice became firmer this time. “You need rest too.”
I hesitated. Part of me did not want to leave Chloe yet. But my body already felt weak from exhaustion. Finally, I nodded slowly. “Okay.” Mrs. Greg smiled gently. “I’ll stay with her now.” I leaned down carefully and adjusted Chloe’s blanket slightly before stepping back. “I’ll come back later,” I whispered softly to her sleeping figure. Then I picked up my bag and left the room quietly.
Outside the hospital, the morning air felt cold against my skin. I wrapped my arms around myself while waiting near the roadside before finally hailing a taxi. The ride back felt strangely quiet.
Too quiet. As the car moved farther from the hospital, my anxiety slowly returned again. Liam.
I stared out the window silently. He never answered my calls. Not once. My fingers tightened slightly on my bag. Maybe he was angry. Or maybe he simply did not care. The thought left a strange ache inside my chest.
By the time the taxi finally stopped in front of the mansion gates, my stomach already felt tight again. I paid the driver quietly before stepping out.
The mansion stood tall and silent ahead of me.
Cold. Just like always. I walked inside slowly.
The maids greeted me softly as I passed, but I barely noticed. My exhaustion suddenly felt heavier with every step.
When I entered the living room, Liam was already there. My footsteps slowed immediately.
He sat near the large window with papers spread across the table beside him. One hand rested calmly against the wheelchair armrest. The morning light touched the sharp side of his face coldly.
I swallowed lightly. “Good morning…” Liam slowly lifted his eyes toward me, and froze me completely. The way he stared at me, It felt like I had done something unforgivable.
- Writer
