Chapter 250


    ra whipped around, her gaze locking with Ian''s deep-set eyes. She immediately dropped her fork


    and darted to the bedside. "Ian, you’re awake? Do you feel off anywhere?"


    Ian nced at Brodie and croaked out, "ra, who is this guy? I don''t like him. Get him out of


    here."


    ra looked at Ian in disbelief, "That''s Brodie, the one who saved me once. Don''t tell me you''ve


    forgotten. You don''t have amnesia, do you? You do know who I am, right?"


    "Of course, you''re my wife-to-be." With that, he pulled ra into his embrace and nted a kiss on


    her lips.


    Then he cocked his head towards Brodie. "Ever heard of giving a couple some privacy, or is that too


    much to ask?"


    Brodie couldn''t help butugh at this brazen move. "I''ve just never seen someone so chipper right


    after waking up. You haven''t been faking this wholea thing, have you, Mr. Hayes?"


    Ian, trying to maintain a casual demeanor, clenched his teeth in annoyance. "Why don''t you lie


    down and give it a try yourself?"


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Attempting to rise, Ian winced as his wound throbbed in protest. He inhaled sharply, giving ra a


    look of pitiful reproach. "ra, he''s aggravating me to the point my wound hurts. Just kick him out,


    will you?"


    Before ra could respond, Brodie interjected. "No need to throw me out. I''ll leave once ra


    answers my question."


    "She won''t want anyone but me, so beat it!"


    Ian had overheard their entire conversation. He suddenly understood why Brodie knew so much


    about ra—they had shared their childhoods together, and those memories lingered vividly in her


    mind.


    What were they? Childhood sweethearts with a storybook friendship? Was Brodie''s aim to snatch


    ra from his grasp?


    This thought sent a wave of unprecedented anxiety through Ian.


    He had never considered Anders and Ryker a threat, confident in ra''s indifference towards them.


    But Brodie was different. Their shared childhood memories were a bond he couldn''t allow ra to


    revisit.


    ra, sensing Ian''s distress, spoke soothingly. "You''ve just woken up; calm down. I''ll call the doctor


    to check on you."


    After pressing the call button, she turned to Brodie. "Mr. Brodie, he''s a bit agitated, and I apologize


    for that. We can catch up another time."


    Brodie, with no intention of pressing her, simply smiled lightly. "Don''t forget to look after yourself,


    too, okay?" He held ra''s gaze for a few more seconds with his profound eyes before turning and


    walking away.


    The doctor examined Ian andmended, "Your girlfriend has taken good care of you. You''re


    recovering quickly and should be discharged next week. Make sure to treat her well. She''s had a


    tough few days."


    After imparting some care instructions, the doctor left them alone. Once again, the hospital room fell


    silent.


    Ian gazed at ra''s petite face, his heart aching with tenderness. "ra," he called out softly, his


    voice hoarse and slightly vulnerable.


    She moved closer, her eyes filled with warmth. "What''s wrong? Does the wound hurt? Let me


    check."


    Ian caught ra''s hand and ced it over his heart. His eyes held hers with an intense, tangled


    gaze. "It''s not the wound. It''s here that hurts." The pain was so acute he wanted to press her


    against him andfort her thoroughly.


    ra felt the heat of Ian''s skin burn her fingertips, the warmth shooting up her arm straight to the


    depths of her heart. A wave of warmth spread outward from the core of her being. She leaned into


    Ian, her moist lips nting a soft kiss on his chest. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and her


    delicate lips curled up slightly. "Does it still hurt now?"