" Why did you stop?" Mason queried as they settled on one of the seats in the hospital park.
Alyssa looked straight ahead at the park. The population had visibly decreased probably because it's lunch time or the children were tired from playing after a long time.
"Well..." She sucked in her lower lip and sighed. She felt her cheek growing hot as the scene of Quinn exploring her body with his large palms popped up in her head.
"Well....you know the rest of the story" She said softly unable to look at him. She was very scared, scared that he would judge her like other people have always been doing.
Mason sighed. He knew the rest of the story but not all. He was sure they would talk about it with time. He was already grateful she chose to tell him even part of the story that could be considered personal which showed the amount of trust she had for him. In his heart, that moment, he swore to never betray the trust she had for him.
Alyssa lowered her eyes, her lashes creating some sort of cover to her eyes that carried different emotions in it. Mason's silence was beginning to make her nervous.
What if he thought I intentionally went to Quinn Winters room, will he cut off ties with me? Does that means once again, I will be left alone?
" You...won't you say anything?" She glaced at him through her lowered lashes and saw his head lowered down.
Mason raised his head only to meet with her eyes. Her eyes seemed to be pleading for him to say something. That was when he realised he hadn't said a word aloud. Everything he had been saying was in his mind.
He took her tender hand in his and pressed it lightly.
All of the words he wanted to say suddenly disappeared from his head.
They sat in silence with Mason's palm still wrapped around her palm. Words weren't needed between them. It was enough for he to know Mason still cared. It was like a reflex action for Mason. Whenever he was short of words to express his feelings, he would hold her hands in his occasionally pressing it in reassurance.
"You okay?" Mason finally talked while strolling back to Alexia's ward.
Alyssa nodded in reply and smiled at him. She opened the door and found out that everything in the room had been cleared. Even Alexia was no where to be found.
She quickly looked at Mason that stood beside her. She tugged his sleeve and stared at him unable to utter a word. Her eyes were already filled with tears.
Mason muttered something under his breath and quickly led her out of the room. They saw a nurse walking down the hallway and Mason quickly stopped her to inquire where Alexia had been moved to.
The nurse eyes twinkled brighter and she was unable to hide her excitement to show them Alexia's new ward.
"Come with me please" She said as she turned and began walking fast. Even her feet was very excited.
Alyssa and Mason exchanged glances and then proceeded to follow her. After taking a sharp turn in the hallway, they entered the elevator.
''Here we are!" Her excited voice rang out as them stopped in front the ward.
"Thanks"
Alyssa looked around and couldn't help but notice something different about the floor. She opened the door and entered followed closely by Mason.
She was in awe and had to rub her eyes briefly to ensure she was in the right place. The ward was no different from a house. There currently stood in the the wide room. Several doors leading to other places were closed but she felt like she could see through all of them.
She moved briskly towards Alexia on the bed and pinched her cheek. Alexia scrunched her nose and then opened her eyes.
"Ally?" Her voice sounded, hoarse from sleeping
"Yeah it's me. Go back to sleep"
She obediently closed her eyes and before long she drifted into another round of sleep.
" It seems like someone is trying really hard" Mason said sarcastically.
"Huh? Who is trying hard?"
Mason settled himself on the soft cushion.
"Isn't it obvious? Why else do you think Alex room was changed to this place?"
Alyssa gave his words some thought and her eyes twitched slightly
"Can't be right? Why would he?" She muttered under her breath while playing with her fingers.
"Well...he is capable of doing more than that. He has the Winters blood running in his vein after all."
The door opened and a group of men carrying boxes marched inside.
"Madam!" They chorused before neatly arranging the boxes on one side of the room.
Alyssa wished the floor to open up and swallow her. They had actually called her "Madam" in front of Mason.
"Well I didn't want to believe it when I thought of the possibility you got married to him. It seems it's actually true. " Mason said with a sigh. It was hard to saw what was going through his mind but she could have sworn she saw regret flash past his eyes.
"Well...I..."
"No need to explain. I think "Madam " suits you. Should I start calling you from now on?"
Alyssa sent a glare in his direction.
"Madam Softy" He jested with a smug grin.
There was a knock on the door and Alyssa quickly went to open it. She instantly recognized the person to be Quinn's personal driver. She beamed Quinn was going to pick her up.
"Give me a minute."
"Hey...actually the.."
"It's okay. Go ahead, you don't need to worry about anything. I will stay with Alex tonight."
She smiled at him, her eyes filled to the brim with gratitude.
"Oh Manson. Thanks a lot. I don't know what to do without you" Alyssa said and moved to hug him.
Mason hugged her back and sighed sadly with his eyes closed. He gently pushed her away from him and led her out of the door.
"See you soon" He smiled and waved at her before closing the door.
He kept on sighing till he felt something wet touch his hand. He laughed bitterly at his tears. If only he hadn't hesitated...
*
The driver had already gone down ahead of her probably to prepare the car.
She skipped softly on her step to the care. The driver opened the door for her and she slid inside. To her disappointment, Quinn was not in the car. She sucked in deep breath to mask her disappointment.
The driver noticed her disappointment so he cared to offer her an explanation.
" He was in a meeting so he informed me to pick you up. "
Alyssa nodded but then something occurred to her.
"How is your mother? Is she feeling better? "
The driver glanced at her and then focused back on the road.
"My mother is perfectly fine. Nothing is wrong with her." He said sounding confused.
"Ah...I must have mistaken you for someone else" She said and turned to look out of the window. After about an hour or so the car halted.
Alyssa helped herself out of the car and quickly walked upstairs to take a shower. When she was done, she got out of her room and looked at the door to Quinn's room. She brushed off the thoughts that were forming in her head with a shrug. The corner of her eyes caught a faint light that escaped through the half opened door of the study.
*He must have forgotten to put off the light*
She explained to herself as she walked closer to the study. She had already stepped into the study before she saw Quinn's back facing her. She didn't know what his reaction would be if he sees her in his study. Before she could leave the room, Quinn already sighted her and smiled at her.
His smile sent her blushing. She buried her face in her palm so that he won't notice her reaction to his smile.
After he was done with his phone call, he walked close to her and smiled at her again. If only he knew what his smile was doing to her.
Alyssa quickly lowered her lashes. Of her heart was going to continue pounding against her chest ever time he smiles at her, it will be better to avoid him if she wants to survive and prevent heart problem.
" How was your day" Quinn asked his icy breath fanning her face. He had gotten too close to her but she found herself unable to move back. Her eyes moved back and forth as she tried to steady her breath. She held on to the table and managed to reply
"It was okay."
Quinn nodded but it seemed he wasn't satisfied with her answer. Like he was waiting for something else.