Ace sat in front of Aria, worried that she hadn't woken up even after thirty minutes. He was lost in thought when he heard a weak voice calling his name. Immediately, he snapped out of his thoughts, and the weak voice of Aria was like a voice of a siren.
"Aria," Ace called, his voice filled with relief.
"Ace," Aria called back, her voice barely above a whisper.
Aria's eyes slowly opened, and Ace's face lit up with a smile. "Aria, thank God you're awake," he said, holding both sides of her cheeks and running his thumb over her smooth, delicate skin. He stared at Aria, and she gazed back at him deeply.
The next second, Ace bent forward and landed a kiss on her forehead affectionately. Helena walked into the room, seeing Aria awake, and quickly walked to the bed, taking her hand. "My dear, I was so worried. Hope everything is good," Helena said, smiling.
Ace asked, "What happened after you went out of the lunchroom, Aria?" His voice was soft, but there was a hint of tension beneath the surface. He shouldn't bother her with this question, but he also had to settle scores with those girls.
Aria explained how she was lured away from the lunchroom and beaten by Diana and her friends. Ace's face darkened as he listened, his eyes flashing with anger.
As Aria finished her story, Ace's face was like a black hole, void of any emotion. Suddenly, he apologized, "I'm sorry, Aria. Don't worry, I won't let it pass like that." Ace's voice was low and menacing, sending a shiver down Helena's spine.
Helena suggested reporting the incident to the principal, but Aria reminded her that their relationship was still a secret, and they couldn't risk exposing it to the principal.
Ace reassured them, "Don't worry, I'll teach them a lesson personally." Aria thanked him, and Ace smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Everything for you, my dear. Not that I don't want them to know that you're my beloved, beautiful girlfriend. Mom will be thrilled to have a daughter-in-law like you."
Aria blushed, and Helena's mouth dropped open in surprise. Ace was flirting with Aria at a time like this? Helena was speechless, her mind racing with thoughts.
Just then, Helena remembered something and blurted out, "Tell mom she'll be here in some minutes." Ace nodded, and Helena smiled, feeling a sense of relief.
After a few minutes, Carla, Aria's mother, walked into the ward with Max by her side. Seeing her daughter on the hospital bed, Carla rushed forward, asking, "My dear, what happened to you? I got a call from Helena and quickly rushed here. Oh my, it looks serious."
Aria reassured her mother, "Mom, don't look at me like that. I'm seriously good. I'm feeling good now. You don't have to worry."
Carla asked, "Who did this to you?" But Aria was at a loss for words. Helena intervened, lying to Carla, "Aria had some problems with some girls in school, and she got into a fight with them."
Ace introduced himself to Carla, who was taken aback by his handsome appearance. "Good evening, Aunty," Ace said, smiling.
Carla smiled back, "Good evening, my boy. What's your name?"
"Ace, Aunty," he replied, running his hand through his hair, looking utterly embarrassed.
Carla asked, "You're Aria's classmate?"
Ace corrected her, "No, Aunty, I'm her senior."
Aria quickly intervened, "Mom, he saved me. That's why he's here."
Carla thanked Ace, "Oh, thank you for saving my daughter."
Ace smiled, "No problem, Aunty. It's my duty as her senior."
He looked at Aria, "I'll take my leave now. Take care."
With that, Ace left the hospital room, leaving Aria and her mother to catch up.