Chapter 341 He's Back
In the sterile confines of the hospital room, only two figures remained. William, his smile a touch awkward, broke the silence.
"Ava," he began, "you needn't concern yourself with her. She's prone to flights of fancy."
Ava responded with a gentle reassurance, "It's alright. I find her quite endearing, actually."
With that, she swung her legs over the side of the bed, bending to retrieve her shoes.
Before she could slip them on, William was at her side, dropping to a knee. "Allow me," he offered, taking hold of her ankle and picking up a shoe.
Ava's instinct was to pull away, but William seemed to anticipate this. He looked up at her, his gaze steady. "Let me help you. Your blood sugar is low. If you become dizzy again, it could harm the baby."
With that, he bowed his head and carefully guided her foot into the shoe. His actions were chivalrous, the epitome of a gentleman.
Ava watched him, a sense of déjà vu washing over her. This scene... it was familiar. A memory stirred, of Alexander performing the same act of kindness.
She had been newly wed to Alexander then.
A sudden wave of pain seized Ava, causing her to clutch her stomach and writhe on the bed.
She had only been Alexander's wife for a week.
He had left early that morning, and she was due at school. But the pain was too intense, leaving her housebound. She had forgotten to take her painkillers in advance.
It was too late now. The medication she usually took required a two-hour lead time to take effect. If she took them now, the pain would have already subsided by the time they kicked in.
Her periods were always accompanied by severe pain, a pattern that had persisted for years.
She steeled herself, thinking, 'Just endure it for a few hours, and it will pass.'
Ava's small frame was curled up under the blanket, her body trembling. The deep blue fabric formed a mound as she tossed and turned, her murmurs of pain punctuating the silence. She didn't notice the door opening, nor the sound of approaching footsteps.
The blanket was lifted from her head, revealing a face etched with worry. "What's wrong?"
A large hand brushed against her forehead, slick with sweat but cold to the touch. "Alex, why are you back?" she managed to gasp out.
He had left for the office early that morning. "The butler informed me that you hadn't left for school and that you've been holed up in your room. You didn't answer my calls, so I came back to check on you."
Ava was taken aback, the surprise momentarily eclipsing her pain. 'He came back... for me?'
She had been in so much pain that she had dropped her phone, the screen cracking upon impact. It was possible that it was broken, which would explain why she hadn't heard Alex's calls.
Struggling to sit up, Ava insisted, "I'm fine."
"Your face is ashen," he countered, his fingers gently wiping the sweat from her forehead, his brow furrowed in concern. "I'm taking you to the hospital."
"I'm fine," Ava repeated, her voice firm. "I'm not sick, I just... just..."
"What?" Alexander prompted.
Ava lo wered her gaze, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "I'm just on my period. It's just normal menstrual cramps. I'll be fine in a few hours. You don't need to worry, go to work."
She thought to herself, 'I must look dreadful right now. My complexion must be ghastly. I don't want Alexander to see me like this. I want to present my best self to the man I love.'
Alexander's intense gaze made her uncomfortable, and she averted her eyes.
If she had known he would return that day, she would have forced herself to go to school or at least leave the house.
His hand cupped her chin, gently turning her face towards him. "Why are you avoiding me?" he asked.
