“Did you take the wrong meds or something?”
From the second Alexander walked in, he hadn’t stopped smiling.
Jason had known him forever, and that guy had always been the calm and composed type.
This goofy grin stretchy across his face?
Totally creeping him out.
Alexander leaned casually against the table, lips tilted up.
“Just bumped into a girl on the rooftop.”
“Huh?”
“She thought I was taking secret pics of her, snatched my phone and gave me a whole lecture.”
Jason squinted.
“You actually look kinda pleased.
Don’t tell me you’ve got a thing for her?”
Alexander didn’t answer, just smiled.
That made Jason even more curious.
He, Eric, and Alexander had grown up together.
Alexander was an only child and had been raised like a future heir.
But after Alexander went through a major illness a few years ago, spending over two years getting back on his feet, his parents seemed to chill out.
They stopped pressuring him and just let him do whatever as long as he was happy.
These days, he was into everything — music, painting, skiing, racing…
You name it.
But the one thing he always kept away from?
Women.
The guy’s personal life was spotless, like pure white paper, which had Jason half-wondering if maybe his preferences leaned the other way.
So hearing that he was suddenly interested in a girl?
Jason was dying to know more.
“So, was she hot?”
Alexander thought back to that moment.
Her damp hair hung over her shoulders, her gaze lifted slightly to the distance.
Even with the dim lighting, her skin looked flawless, her features soft and stunning.
And the way she grabbed his phone?
Somehow, even more striking.
“Yeah, she was gorgeous.”
“What’s her name?
Did you at least get her number?”
“Didn’t get the chance,” Alexander sounded disappointed.
“Pretty sure she’s here for a family member.
Got a call and rushed off.”
Jason rolled his eyes.
“Seriously?
What a waste of a good story.”
Just then, his phone buzzed.
Picking it up, he heard Eric’s cold voice: “Dead yet?”
“Dead.
Come pick up my body.”
“Cut the crap.
Get your ass out here.”
When they left NS Hospital, Eric was already across the street in his car, engine still running.
Once inside, they realized Eric had come alone.
“Where’s Lucas?”
“Off work.”
Jason gave him a look.
“Your assistant actually gets off-time?
Thought that guy followed you 24/7.”
Eric ignored him.
Glancing at Jason’s bandaged hand, he asked Alexander, “You alright?”
Alexander smiled lightly.
“All good.
Jason took the hit for me.
If not, I might’ve been in trouble.”
They were both just unlucky.
The moment they pushed the glass door at the hotel, it shattered.
They managed to react in time, but Jason’s hand still got nicked.
Eric started the engine.
“He probably tried to use you as a human shield and messed up.”
Jason’s face twitched.
“With that dark little brain of yours, no wonder your wife wants to leave you.”
“Wait, they’re getting divorced?” Alexander sounded intrigued.
When Eric got married, Alexander was too sick to attend.
He’d been abroad most of the time since, and never even met the wife.
He’d only heard bits from Jason and the others — that she was pretty, obedient, but kinda dull.
Back then, those heartless guys were betting in the group chat that Eric’s marriage wouldn’t last three months.
But three months turned into years—it’s been over three years now.
Alexander had assumed their relationship was solid by now, so when he just got back and heard they were splitting, it really caught him off guard.
Especially since, judging from what Jason said, the divorce was initiated by Eric’s wife.
That only made him more curious.
Speaking of which, Jason suddenly seemed to forget about his injury, his eyes lighting up as he said, “Listen, just two days ago, we ran into her at the company.
He thought she was tailing him, but she completely ignored him, gave him an earful, and left.
He still insisted it was just a couple’s quarrel…”
Eric’s face darkened.
“Can you just shut up for once?”
Jason clicked his tongue.
“Can’t handle being dumped, huh?”
Eric’s temple vein twitched.
Alexander gave Jason’s leg a light tap, and the latter reluctantly stopped teasing.
Then he shifted gears with fake casualness, “By the way, Eric’s got shares in NS Hospital.
He could probably pull a few strings and find out more about that girl.”
“What girl?” Eric asked.
Jason couldn’t help but embellish the story and filled him in on what had just happened at the hospital.
Eric looked just as surprised, but didn’t say no.
Instead, he asked, “So what does she look like?”
“From how he described her, she’s basically heaven-sent.”
Alexander chuckled, “Yeah, kinda like that.
She’s gorgeous.
Her temper’s a bit fiery though—honestly, kinda cute.”
Eric nodded thoughtfully.
“Anything else you remember?
I can make a call, see what I can find.”
Alexander shook his head.
“No need.
Judging by her personality, she’d definitely get pissed if she knew I looked into her.
Better to let things happen naturally.
If fate wants us to meet again, we will.”
Jason raised an eyebrow.
“From one meeting, you already know what kind of personality she’s got?”
“You can just tell.
She thought I was filming her and straight-up yanked my phone.
That kind of reaction says a lot—bet she hates people snooping around.”
Eric agreed, “Yeah, too much effort might backfire.”
Jason scoffed, “Look at you two—one getting divorced, the other single as ever—talking like you’re love gurus now.
Haven’t you thought to ask me, the seasoned heartbreaker?”
Eric didn’t even bother responding this time.
Alexander glanced at him and saw that ‘ask me, I beg you’ look on his face.
He hesitated, then went for honesty.
“If you really understood women, would you have been dumped, like, a dozen times?
Pretty sure we’re good without the crash course.”
*****
Amelia rushed back to the hospital room, panting slightly.
The doctor was checking on Grace.
She immediately quieted down and stood at the side, eyes locked on her mom, too worried to blink.
While checking, the doctor asked the caregiver, “Are you sure the patient’s eyes moved just now?”
The caregiver nodded quickly, “Yes, just when the nurse came to change the dressing, I saw her eyeballs shift a little.
The nurse saw it too, right?”
The nurse replied, “I think they moved…
but it was super quick.
I’m not totally sure I didn’t imagine it.”
The doctor didn’t respond and continued the examination.
Amelia’s heart was in her throat.
As soon as the doctor was done, she asked anxiously, “Dr.
Bennett, is my mom waking up?”
Dr.
Bennett shook his head.
“Hard to say right now.
One eye movement isn’t enough to conclude anything.
We need to keep watching.
If she starts showing more frequent movements, like shifting her head or nodding, that might mean she’s regaining consciousness.”