Alice's face flushed as she realized they had been overheard by Hayden. She shifted uncomfortably, her hands fidgeting at her sides. Trying to escape the awkwardness, she quickly stood up, brushing her uniform down.
"I have some duties to carry out," she stammered, her eyes flicking between Melissa and Hayden. Without waiting for a response, she gave a weak smile and hurriedly excused herself, leaving the room in a rush.
The door closed softly behind her, but the tension in the room remained palpable. Melissa turned toward Hayden, her face hardening with anger.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice tight with frustration, the earlier warmth between her and Alice now gone.
Hayden remained calm, his expression unreadable as he leaned against the doorframe. His eyes held a softness that contrasted with the harshness of the moment. "Dad sent me to fetch you," he answered, his tone kind and measured, as if he were completely unfazed by her hostility. He stepped further into the room, his calm demeanor almost disarming. "We have an event to attend together."
Melissa scoffed, her arms folding across her chest as she turned her back to him. "Go on your own," she retorted sharply, her voice dripping with resentment. "Why do I need to go with you?"
Hayden remained silent for a moment, watching her closely. He walked over to the luxurious five-seater sofa and sat down casually, stretching his arm across the back as if he had all the time in the world. After a beat, he spoke again, this time teasing her in a way that made her irritation flare even more.
"Because you're my wife," he reminded her, his voice carrying a light, mocking tone. "Remember?"
Melissa's eyes widened, her fists clenching at her sides. The audacity. She was about to fire back, but before the words could leave her mouth, a weak voice from the hospital bed interrupted.
"Wife?" It was her grandmother, her voice raspy but filled with confusion. She had woken up, her pale eyes blinking as she tried to comprehend what she had just overheard.
Both Melissa and Hayden froze, turning their attention to the frail woman who had, until that moment, been in a deep sleep. Instantly, Melissa's anger dissipated, replaced with a surge of relief and joy. She rushed to her grandmother's bedside, her heart soaring at the sight of her awake.
"Nana!" Melissa exclaimed softly, her eyes misting with happy tears. She knelt beside the bed, taking her grandmother's hand in hers, caressing it gently. "I'm so happy you're awake."
Hayden also approached the bed, though he remained slightly back, his posture more guarded. His teasing air was gone, replaced with a quiet respect for the elderly woman. His eyes, however, were sharp, watching the interaction closely, as if calculating something.
Melissa's grandmother looked at her with a faint smile, though her eyes were filled with confusion. "Melissa..." she whispered, her voice weak but laced with affection. "What about Ethan?"
The mention of Ethan's name hit the room like a thunderclap. Melissa stiffened, her heart skipping a beat. She hadn't heard that name in a long time. The weight of it—of what it represented—was enough to knock the wind out of her. She blinked, struggling to form a coherent thought, but before she could respond, she sensed the shift in the air beside her.
Hayden's entire demeanor darkened. His jaw tightened, and though his face remained emotionless, Melissa could see the subtle change in his posture—the way his hands clenched into fists at his sides, the slight flaring of his nostrils. He turned his head away, staring at the wall, trying to hide the anger that simmered just beneath the surface. His teeth were clenched so hard that the muscle in his jaw visibly twitched.
Ethan. The man her grandmother had always hoped Melissa would marry—the man who had been a part of her life long before Hayden had entered the picture. But that was in the past, and everything had changed.
"Nana," Melissa began, her voice soft but firm, trying to navigate the delicate situation. "Ethan… Ethan isn't part of my life anymore."
Her grandmother's brow furrowed, her confusion deepening. "But… I thought you two were going to be together," she murmured, her voice laced with the innocence of someone who had been asleep for too long, unaware of the changes that had taken place.
Melissa swallowed hard, feeling the tension rising beside her. Hayden hadn't moved from where he stood, but she could sense his growing displeasure, feel the heat of his suppressed anger radiating off him. He remained silent, though, his eyes cold and distant as he continued staring at the far wall.
"It's… complicated, Nana," Melissa said, forcing a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. She gently stroked her grandmother's hand, hoping to soothe her, to steer the conversation away from dangerous territory. "Things have changed."
Her grandmother blinked, her face softening with understanding, though there was still a trace of sadness in her eyes. "I see…" she whispered, her voice trailing off as she sank back into the pillows, her energy quickly fading. Melissa squeezed her hand, grateful that her grandmother hadn't pushed further.
But Hayden… He still hadn't spoken, and his silence was becoming unbearable.
Melissa slowly stood up, turning to face him, unsure of what to say. His expression was unreadable, a mask of calm that she knew too well was hiding something far darker. She opened her mouth to say something—anything to break the tension—but before she could, he finally spoke.
"We should leave soon," Hayden said, his voice steady, but there was a coldness to it now. The teasing tone from earlier was gone, replaced with something harder. "The car's waiting outside."
Melissa hesitated, glancing between her grandmother and Hayden. She didn't want to leave—not when her grandmother had just woken up. But there was an unspoken demand in Hayden's words, and she knew better than to argue with him now.
"I'll be back soon, Nana," Melissa promised softly, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her grandmother's forehead. "Get some rest, okay?"
Her grandmother smiled weakly, nodding as her eyes fluttered closed once more. Melissa lingered for a moment longer before straightening up and walking toward the door, her heart heavy with a mixture of emotions.
Hayden was already there, waiting for her, his hands tucked casually into his pockets. He didn't look at her as she approached, his gaze focused ahead, as if the conversation about Ethan had never happened. But the tension between them was unmistakable, a silent storm brewing just beneath the surface.
Without a word, they left the room together, the door closing softly behind them.