CHAPTER 242
"Dr. Woods."
Arianna smiled warmly as she approached him.
"Are you here to check on Charlie? Did the attending doctor call you in?"
"Yes," Alan nodded, pausing briefly before continuing, "The attending doctor and I just performed a thorough examination. Charlie’s recovering well, and he’s showing strong signs of wanting to pull through. I believe he’ll wake up soon."
Those words were exactly what Arianna had been longing to hear. It felt like her wishes were being answered just as she thought about them.
Was this what people meant by the rainbow after the storm?
All the struggles she had endured felt completely worth it in that moment. Overcome with joy, she instinctively covered her lips with her hand, temporarily lost for words.
Alan watched the sparkle in her eyes, happy for her on a deep level. He had heard everything she said to Charlie earlier, and he was genuinely thrilled that she was finally getting the happiness she deserved.
His only regret was that he wasn’t the one giving her that happiness.
After a few moments, Arianna managed to calm down a little. Looking up at Alan, she said,
"Dr. Woods, you’ve done so much to help Charlie during this whole ordeal. I’d love to treat you to dinner again as a thank-you! Do you have any time later?"
She had already treated him once before, but it still felt insufficient to express her gratitude.
Dinner...
Alan hesitated for a moment before answering, "My flight is this afternoon."
"Flight?" Arianna asked, a little taken aback. "Dr. Woods, are you leaving?"
"Yes," he replied gently, "I'm heading back."
Alan had always lived abroad, and the only reason he had stayed around for so long was to treat Charlie. Now, it seemed like his work there was done, and his time had run its course.
Too much of his time had already been taken up.
In truth, finding a time to have a meal with Alan had always been difficult. Something always came up that made it inconvenient.
Arianna didn’t want to delay him any further and said, "Have a safe journey, Dr. Woods. When you're back for a holiday, let me know and I’ll show you around. As for that dinner, we’ll set another time when you visit again."
During the past few months, she had been overwhelmed with everything and hadn’t had a chance to properly thank him.
‘Next time…’ Alan thought to himself, a pang of reluctance suddenly filling him. He couldn’t help but wonder—if they had managed to meet for dinner that first time, would things have turned out differently?
With the goodbye now looming, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this might be the last time he’d see her.
He glanced at his watch and then spoke, "We might not have time for dinner, but there’s still time for a cup of coffee. How about that? Consider it a send-off."
"Sure," Arianna agreed.
They walked to the café just across from the hospital. Alan ordered an Americano, while Arianna went for a latte. She raised her cup with a bright smile. “Looks like coffee will have to stand in for wine as my way of saying thanks.”
Alan smiled faintly as he lifted his cup, gently tapping it against hers before taking a sip. Though he was accustomed to the bitterness of his Americano, today it tasted unusually sharp.
Without a second thought, he tilted his head back and finished the cup in one gulp.
Arianna raised an eyebrow, surprised. “You must’ve been really thirsty, Dr. Woods.”
Drinking it so fast—it had to be bitter.
Alan set his cup down and locked eyes with her, his face suddenly serious. “Arianna, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Arianna placed her cup on the table, sitting up straight. “You can tell me anything, Dr. Woods.”
“You…”
The words Alan had been preparing seemed to vanish the moment she spoke.
He had wanted to confess his feelings, to unburden his heart before he left. But now, looking at her, he hesitated. He feared that revealing his emotions would place an unwanted weight on her, and he couldn't bear to risk their friendship.
The pain of holding onto unspoken feelings was something he was willing to endure if it meant preserving what they had. That’s why many chose silence—because speaking out could risk everything.
Alan's eyes flickered with conflict. He wanted to say the words, but they stayed trapped in his chest.
He gazed at her, silently expressing what he couldn't speak out loud.
*“Arianna, I care about you deeply. You're an incredible person, and I wish I had realized that sooner. I envy Xander for getting another chance while mine has slipped away forever. All I want now is for you to be happy—truly happy.”*
Finally, he managed to speak in a calm voice. “Arianna… If you ever need anything, you can always reach out.”
Arianna, having expected something more from his serious tone, felt a wave of relief wash over her.
She smiled warmly.
“I’m lucky to have a friend like you, Dr. Woods. And if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
For a brief moment, Alan felt the urge to reach out and ruffle her hair, but he stopped himself. Instead, he nodded softly and said,
“Of course.”
His phone vibrated, and he glanced down to see a call from his driver, likely a reminder that it was time to head to the airport. Silencing the call, he looked back at Arianna.
“I should go now, Arianna.”
“I’ll walk you out—” she started to say.
But Alan gently interrupted her. “No, let’s say goodbye here.”
Though he couldn’t voice his true feelings, all he wanted was for her to send him off without carrying the weight of his unspoken emotions.
Arianna looked a bit confused but nodded when she saw the sincerity in his eyes.
“Alright, Dr. Woods. Have a safe trip. Goodbye.”
Alan smiled, rising to his feet and walking away, each step taking him farther from her.
His car was waiting by the curb, and as the driver opened the door, Alan paused for one last glance back at the café.
All he wished was for Arianna to be happy, even if it meant he might never see her again.
With that final thought, he turned away, got into the car, and as the door closed behind him, the car began to pull away.
