At first, Avery believed the single authoritative word was directed at her. However, as the car began to pull away from the hotel, she realized the voice was instructing the driver to start the car again.
"Thank you," she whispered weakly.
In all honesty, Avery hadn't considered that there might be someone else inside the car. After all, someone had already exited earlier.
But she was wrong.
There was indeed another person aside from the driver!
Feeling guilty about her actions, Avery wanted to apologize once more. However, the word 'sorry' remained stuck in her mouth as she glanced at the person seated beside her.
It was a man, a truly remarkable one in every sense of the word. Donned in a sharp business suit, he exuded a slender and fit demeanor, but even from her vantage point, Avery sensed a dominating presence about him. It was as though an invisible wall set him apart from everything.
Working in the entertainment industry, Avery had encountered a multitude of beautiful and handsome individuals. She herself had garnered admiration from countless fans due to her striking appearance. However, this man was in a league of his own.
He belonged to a different category altogether.
Avery was momentarily stunned, and as she blinked, her stomach somersaulted, causing her to instinctively cover her mouth.
The man beside her frowned, but he didn't utter a word.
The nearest hospital was in the opposite direction of the hotel. The drive there should take about seven minutes. During that period, Avery struggled, her strength draining from her body, feeling helpless
"We'll reach the hospital soon," the man reassured her.
Avery started to relax a little, allowing herself to rest against the soft car seat. She closed her eyes, finding comfort in the thought of arriving at the hospital very soon.
***
"Sir, we've arrived," the driver announced as soon as he parked the car in the hospital's parking space.
After a few seconds, there was no response from his employer. He glanced behind him and noticed that his boss was focused on the woman seated beside him. And from the looks of it, the woman had fallen asleep.
"Should I wake her up, sir?"
"Should I wake her up, sir?" The driver hesitated, concerned that the woman might face repercussions for disrupting his boss's schedule for the evening. He knew his boss wasn't known for his leniency, even in front of a beautiful honey trap.
"No need," the man said to the driver.
"Then…" the driver's words faltered and wondered. Were they going to stay in the parking lot and wait for her to wake up?
"I'll take her inside the hospital.
Before the driver could fully comprehend his boss's decision, the man had already exited the car, circled around to the other side, and opened the door to assist the woman.
Aidan gazed at her peaceful face for a moment before gently placing his hand on her forehead, checking for any signs of a fever. Her temperature seemed normal. However, he couldn't shake the memory of how pale she had turned earlier and how she had struggled to hold back nausea. It seemed far too real to be an act. He doubted she would go to such lengths just to capture his attention.
"Miss, we've arrived at the hospital. Can you open your eyes and come inside with me?" Aidan's demeanor remained composed and detached, yet a hint of unexpected softness colored his voice.
But the woman, had already lost consciousness, rendering her unable to respond to his words.
Realizing she was fast asleep, Aidan decisively slid an arm under her knees and another behind her back, carrying her towards the hospital entrance, leaving the stunned driver with a wide-eyed expression as he watched them disappear inside.
"W-wait, sir!" the driver hurriedly followed him inside the hospital.
Avery was placed inside a single room ward.
"Let's go."
"Aren't we going to stay until she wakes up, sir?" the driver asked.
Aidan raised an eyebrow, pondering for a moment. Despite his thoughts, he shook his head. "We've already seen her to her destination; there's no need to linger."
He had an important meeting to attend and couldn't afford to stay any longer.
Just as he lifted his feet to leave, the door to the ward opened, and the attending nurse emerged, holding a wallet.
"Patient's family member?" the nurse called out, then proceeded to say, "I found this on the patient's belongings. It's unwise to leave valuable items around the patient. As her family member, you should probably hold on to this."
As the nurse said this sentence, she handed the wallet to Aidan.
"No. I…" Aidan began, attempting to explain he was a stranger to the patient, trying to prevent the nurse from giving him the wallet. However, his refusal was so abrupt that the wallet slipped from his grasp, falling to the ground and revealing its contents. The identification card of the woman inside the ward prominently displayed her name and details.
Avery Taylor Lin.
23 years old.
07/07/199*.
Aidan halted mid-sentence, his eyes fixed on the ID card.
"Sir?" The driver grew increasingly anxious as his boss froze in place after the wallet fell. The nurse had already left after receiving an emergency call.
"Are you alright, sir?"
Aidan resumed his facade of calm indifference, though his fingers betrayed a subtle tremor for a moment.
"I'm fine," Aidan replied to his concerned driver.
Letting out a relieved sigh, the driver asked, "Should we go now?"
It was well past 9 pm, and the meeting should have already commenced. If they left now, they could reach his boss's destination within 15 minutes. But contrary to the driver's expectations, Aidan gave different instructions: "Head to Prosperity Palace and inform my uncle that I won't be able to meet him tonight."
Aidan carefully tucked the pink wallet inside his suit's breast pocket.
"Also... contact Liu Yan and instruct him to come here immediately."
***
Aidan stood by the bed, his gaze fixed on the pale face of the woman lying there, unaware of her surroundings. He carefully rearranged the quilt to ensure she was comfortably covered. He then turned around to address a man, who was waiting nearby.
"Have you finished what I told you to do, Liu Yan?"
Before their arrival at the hospital, Aidan had given Liu Yan an assignment—conducting a background check on someone. He hadn't disclosed the reason behind his sudden interest in this individual.
Although curiosity gnawed at Liu Yan, he refrained from voicing it and immediately did what was asked of him.
Liu Yan, the vice commander of the 1st Azure Army Guard, handed him an envelope. "Avery Lin. A 23-year-old female. Currently residing in a mid-tier apartment complex in S-02. She's a member of the idol group SERA under JJ Entertainment management. Twelve years ago, she relocated to Yorknew City and became a trainee at a talent agency, eventually moving into the dormitory of JJ Entertainment alongside three other women. She signed a 10-year contract with them."
Aidan examined the envelope in his hand before shifting his gaze towards Avery. "What about her circumstances before she moved to Yorknew City?"
Liu Yan stared at him, momentarily speechless. "Dude, you expect me to uncover everything about this woman in under an hour?"
Aidan turned his gaze towards Liu Yan, his expression deadly serious as he replied, "Yes."
Liu Yan clenched his teeth and replied, "Sorry to disappoint you. I just recently got out of the military base and had to wake up my subordinates to conduct a quick background check."
He let out a sigh and shot Aidan an annoyed glare. "You've just returned to the country after all these years, and you called me here? Don't tell me you didn't bring a gift for your best friend?"
Aidan stated blankly, "You are right."
Vice Commander Liu Yan was taken aback, wondering if he had him right. "... Really?"
Aidan continued to stare at him expressionlessly.
Liu Yan: "..."
Liu Yan was about to unleash a string of curses at his best friend, but as a doctor entered the room, a smile quickly replaced his frustration.
The doctor looked between the two attractive men and inquired, "May I know which one of you is the family member of the patient?"
Liu Yan started to reply, "We are not—"
Aidan stepped forward and stated, "I am."
Liu Yan turned his head sharply, utterly dumbfounded. His expression seemed to say, 'Since when? Why did I, your best friend, not know about this?'
Ignoring the incredulous glare from his best friend, Aidan faced the doctor and asked, "Is there something wrong, doctor?"
The doctor reassured, "There's nothing wrong. I'm merely ensuring that I don't disclose the patient's medical records to an unrelated individual."
Liu Yan flashed his best friend a smug smile and silently mouthed behind the doctor, 'Hah! Did you hear that? UNRELATED PERSON. YOU!'
Aidan continued to ignore his best friend's antics.
Unaware of the vice commander's playful movements, the doctor proceeded, "Thankfully, the patient's current condition isn't due to a serious illness."
Aidan listened attentively, his brow furrowing. "Then, what is the cause?"
"She's pregnant!" the doctor happily informed him. "It's normal to feel nauseous during pregnancy."
Aidan's usually composed and cool demeanor showed a hint of surprise. His gaze shifted from the doctor to Avery's peaceful sleeping face and then to her flat belly covered by the quilt.
"By the way, are you her husband?" the doctor inquired.
An unsettling silence descended upon the room.
After what felt like an eternity, Aidan lifted his gaze to meet the doctor's. A smile graced his lips as he replied, "Yes, I'm her husband."