Chapter 311
Chapter 311
Aria couldn’t find any toiletries in the quest bathroom. After a moment’s thought, the headed to his en suite. As she stepped invade se traked a
-only then did she notice the floor was slick with water, and a faint scent of shower gel lingered in the atr
She was certain of one thing Owen
had just showered.
As soon as Aria saw Owen, the question that had been on her mind slipped out before she could stop herself.
Owen had only wanted to spend some quality time with Aria and get closer he never expected they’d end up at the clinic together.
Now, Aria realized Owen had deliberately showered despite his high fever.
Her opinion of him definitely took a nosedive.
Owen instinctively pressed his lips together. His face, caught in the light, froze for a moment–a flicker of awkwardness crossing it. He said, trying to sound casual, “I heard showers could help bring down a fever, so I tried it… But I guess it just made things worse.”
Owen glanced at her, wondering to himself if she’d actually buy this excuse.
“Ah, I see,” Aria said mildly, her tone deceptively neutral.
Owen breathed an inward sigh of relief. Scooping up a spoonful of steaming soup, he blew on it twice before bringing it to his lips.
Just as Owen was about to swallow his soup, Aria suddenly teased, “Honestly, I almost thought you were faking it just so I’d have to take care of you.”
Caught completely off guard, Owen choked on his soup. He broke into a fit of coughing, tears streaming from his eyes.
Seeing this, Aria hurriedly took the bowl from Owen’s hands and quickly pressed a few tissues to his mouth. “I was just kidding! Why are you so jumpy?”
Owen was seized by a violent coughing fit, his body convulsing with each hacking cough.
Owen wanted to speak, but the coughing wracked his body uncontrollably. He kept the tissue pressed to his mouth, and the IV needle in the back of his hand trembled violently with every spasm.
Aria’s eyes widened in alarm at the sight. Instinctively, she grabbed a handful of tissues and clamped them over his mouth.
Her movements were swift and forceful.
Owen was so startled that his coughing miraculously stopped.
Owen slowly raised his head, his gaze locking with hers once more.
“You stopped coughing?” Aria asked.
His throat still tickled, but Owen suppressed the urge to cough and shook his head. “I’m fine,” he said hoarsely.
His face was an unnatural shade of red from coughing. When he spoke, he avoided her gaze, looking distinctly sheepish.
Aria’s gaze deepened thoughtfully as she picked up the glass of warm water from the table and handed it to him. “Take it easy,” she said gently.
Owen took the water and sipped it slowly. Finally, his sore throat felt better.
Too sheepish to meet her gaze, Owen didn’t notice that Aria was watching the rhythmic bob of his Adam’s apple.
Aria couldn’t help but notice the veins along his neck, standing out clearly as he swallowed. With each movement, they pulsed ever so slightly, disappearing beneath the collar of his shirt and hinting at the chest hidden underneath.
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Chapter 311
Aria instantly snapped out of her daze and quickly averted her gaze, het ears burning with embarrassment:
For a split second, she actually thought, ‘Wow, Owen looks… kind of irresistible. Am I losing my mind?”
After Owen finished the water, Aria took the glass from him, raised the bedside tray table, and set the bowl of soup in front of him. Here, have some to settle your stomach first,” she said.
It was the chicken noodle soup she’d made herself.
Owen smiled and nodded. “Alright.”
With his left hand–the one connected to the IV–resting on the
Owen used his right to slowly savor the soup, relishing this brief, peaceful moment.
Aria had cooked just enough soup for one, Watching Owen finish every last bite, a gentle sense of lightness rose in her heart.
Feeling comfortably full and content, Owen asked, “Have you eaten yet?”
“Yeah,” Aria replied.
Owen nodded as he lay back on the clinic bed. Thinking of Hannah’s situation, he said, “The Gibson family will probably hire a defense attorney for her.
myself.”
should be able to go back to the firm tomorrow–I’ll take charge of b
After a brief pause, he went on, “Also, regarding the Gibson family’s previous hiring of paid trolls–since they caused damage to your reputation, we’ll pursue legal action for that as well.”
Aria studied him. “With how you are right now, you really should take another day to rest.”
Owen shook his head. “I should be fine by the day after tomorrow.”
Owen kinda regretted taking that extra shower–and now he was ‘forced‘ to
come
to
the clinic.
Owen knew Aria wouldn’t get proper rest if she stayed there.
AD
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