Chapter 6: A Dangerous Encounter
The hospital corridor felt endless as Aria walked down it, her mind still reeling from Grandma Sinclair's words. Babies. The idea of being responsible for making someone else happy by giving them children hadn't even crossed her mind when she signed the contract with Alexander. She signed up to be his fake wife, not to start a family. But how could she refuse Grandma Sinclair's innocent wish without raising suspicions?
She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice the presence of someone as she bumped into him in the hallway.
"I'm so sorry," she mumbled, raising her head—she froze. Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening as she looked into the cold, familiar face of the man standing before her.
Her ex-fiancé..** Ethan.**
She felt a hand clamp around her wrist and, before she could scream, she was dragged into an empty hospital ward.
Aria gasped as she was slammed against the wall, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
Ethan was in hospital clothes, his head bandaged from the injury she had inflicted on him during her desperate escape the last time they had crossed paths. His grip on her wrist was iron-tight, and Aria winced from the pain shooting through her arm.
"You," Ethan growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You think you could get away after what you did to me?"
Aria's breath hitched. She tried to twist her wrist free, but his hold only tightened, sending sharp pain up her arm. "E-Ethan, let go! You're hurting me!" she pleaded, her voice trembling as she tugged, desperate to break free. She had thought she'd escaped him for good. She had hoped she'd never see his face again.
"You think you can just run off after what you did?" he sneered, pulling her closer until his face was inches from hers. His breath reeked of anger and bitterness. "You owe me, Aria. And now, you're going to pay."
Aria's heart raced, panic rising in her throat. Ethan's eyes were wild, filled with anger and resentment. She could barely process what was happening before Ethan's free hand shot up, gripping her shoulder tightly and pressing her back against the wall. His face twisted into a menacing smile. "Let's finish what we started that night," he snarled.
She struggled, trying to push him away, but Ethan was stronger, and his grip only tightened as he leaned in closer. Fear coursed through her veins as she realized just how dangerous he was. "Ethan, please! Stop! Let me go!" she cried, panic flooding her voice.
Ethan's hand moved up her neck, his fingers brushing her jaw, and she felt bile rise in her throat. His touch made her skin crawl. But then, something inside her snapped. She wasn't the weak, scared woman he thought she was. She wasn't going to let him overpower her again.
With all her strength, she pushed against his chest, landing a sharp blow to his side. Ethan stumbled backward, but the momentary victory was short-lived. His face contorted with rage, and he retaliated, slapping her hard across the face. The sound echoed in the room, and Aria's head whipped to the side, her cheek stinging with the impact.
"Stupid woman," Ethan hissed, grabbing her again, his face twisted with fury as he prepared to hit her once more.
Suddenly, the door to the ward burst open, and before Ethan could react, he was sent sprawling to the floor with a swift kick. Aria, dazed from the slap, looked up through blurry eyes to see Alexander standing between her and Ethan, his eyes burning with fury.
"Are you okay?" Alexander asked, his voice low but filled with concern as he gently pulled Aria to her feet and examined her face for any sign of injury.
Aria could barely form a response, still reeling from the shock of Ethan's attack. She nodded weakly, trying to hold back tears as she clutched Alexander's arm for support. Her head was spinning, her cheek still stinging from the slap, but the sight of Alexander standing protectively in front of her brought her some relief.
Ethan, still on the floor, scrambled to his feet, rage contorting his features. "You again?" he spat, his voice dripping with venom as he glared at Alexander. "I'll show you what happens when you meddle in other people's business!"
Before Ethan could make a move, several of Alexander's bodyguards led by his personal assistant Lucas burst into the room, quickly surrounding Ethan and pinning him to the ground. They restrained him with ease, their black suits contrasting sharply with the sterile white hospital ward. Lucas turned to Aria, bowing slightly. "Apologies, Young Madam. We failed to protect you."
"Young... madam?" Ethan's eyes widened as he struggled against the bodyguards. "You're married?" His voice dripped with disbelief. Then, his lips twisted into a mocking grin. "So fast, huh? Already found yourself a new husband? Just yesterday you were my fiancée, and now you're playing house with this brat. Who knows who you'll hook up with tomorrow. You've always been good at finding ways to make money."
His words cut like a knife, but before Aria could respond, Alexander's calm voice cut through the tension.
"Shut him up," Alexander ordered coldly, his gaze never leaving Ethan. The bodyguards immediately covered Ethan's mouth, silencing his mocking laughter.
Alexander then turned to Aria, his expression softening ever so slightly. "Let's get you out of here."
He gently guided her out of the ward, his hand resting protectively on her back.
As they stepped out of the hospital walking towards where Alexander's car was parked, Aria turned to him, her voice hesitant. "About Ethan... I just—"
Alexander interrupted, his tone firm but not unkind. "You don't need to explain anything to me."
Aria stared at him,her heart pounding as she tried to process everything that had just happened. She had expected him to be furious, but he wasn't. He was in control, calm, and protective. It was confusing,
"But don't you want to know why he—?"
"I know enough," Alexander said, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "Ethan is your past. I don't care about what happened before. . Understood?"
Aria blinked in surprise. She had expected anger, maybe even accusations, but instead, Alexander remained composed. His words hung in the air as the car drove off.
"Just keep taking care of my grandmother, and I'll handle the rest. If you're ever in danger again, you call me. Understood?"
Aria was taken aback by his words, unsure how to respond. There was a part of her that wanted to tell him everything, to explain the hell Ethan had put her through. But the other part of her—the part that had learned to survive on her own—told her to stay quiet. She had never relied on anyone before, and she wasn't sure she could start now.
"Thank you," she finally whispered, her voice barely audible.
Alexander glanced at her briefly before nodding. "Don't mention it."
As the car drove away from the hospital, Aria leaned back in her seat, her thoughts swirling with confusion and uncertainty. She didn't know what the future held, but one thing was clear: her life had taken a drastic turn, and there was no going back now.