Chapter 285 Mr. Hearst Says Sorry
Hendrix, lugging that three-tiered food box Esme sent, rolled into Ashley's ward for the second time that night.
Ashley was lying there, quiet as a mouse.
Hendrix tried to sneak up in his wheelchair, hoping to surprise her, but as he got closer, he started sweating bullets.
What the heck did he see?
Her face was so messed up it was almost unrecognizable—cheeks sticking out, eyes sunken, lips cracked like a dried-up riverbed, and her hair just lying there, lifeless.
Hendrix thought she was a goner.
"Ashley," He called out softly, feeling a chill down his spine and his heart pounding.
Ashley didn't open her eyes. She knew it was Hendrix from the sound of the wheelchair, but she was too drained to respond. She just wanted to be left alone.
Hendrix was freaking out. With shaky hands, he checked if she was still breathing.
Feeling a faint warmth, he managed to calm down a bit.
He had been so scared that she might be dead he forgot to check the heart monitor's wavy lines still doing their thing.
"What happened to you? It's only been two days. Did a vampire suck your blood?" Hendrix asked.
Ashley weakly replied, "Yeah."
Hendrix was choked up, "Does your head hurt? Can't eat? Isn't there a nutrient drip? No, nutrients can't replace food; that could kill you. These useless quacks can't even treat a concussion. I'll tear this hospital down."
Ashley found it too noisy and frowned, "Hendrix, I'm very tired; I want to sleep."
Seeing her so weak, Hendrix didn't dare leave. She was so frail that a puff of wind could knock her over. "I'm bored in my ward. Why not keep you company here? You're a patient, I'm a patient. We can commiserate with each other and find comfort in shared experience."
Ashley said softly, "Can you shut up?"
Her head hurt so much.
Hendrix didn't dare make another sound. Instead, like a stone, he propped his chin and watched her sleep.
How could someone be so beautiful? Even when sick to the point of losing her looks, she was still so beautiful.
She slept peacefully, not arguing with him, not opposing him, not provoking him, gentle as a lamb.
Hendrix selfishly wanted to build a golden house for Ashley, to hide her inside and not let anyone else see her.
But he was definitely not like that heartless Damian, who abandoned her! He wanted to love and cherish her for a lifetime.
The main thing was that Ashley seemed smart and capable, but with Damian, she was like a naive and gullible schoolgirl.
He couldn't let Damian deceive her again.
With this thought, Hendrix's heart ignited with determination.
That night, he slept in his wheelchair until dawn and didn't see Damian again.
Meanwhile.
Damian's insomnia and depression were triggered, and he had to contact Jessica for hypnosis.
His sleep, punctuated by nightmares, finally came to a stop when he woke with a start.
"Mr. Hearst, another nightmare?" There was 24-hour security on Damian's floor, and Thomas was on duty tonight. Seeing the door open, he quickly followed.
"Yeah," Damian said.
Thomas saw it was 2 AM and said worriedly, "Should I contact Jessica? Your wound is still healing; you need sleep for your recovery."
Damian glared at his arm like it was a piece of trash. If he could, he'd trade it in a heartbeat to make up for Dorian's lost leg.
"I won't die," he muttered coldly, like the arm was just an extra piece of baggage.
Thomas had no clue what was up with Damian. Ever since he got back from Ashley's place, he hadn't said a word, just radiating this heavy, dark vibe. And he hadn't visited Ashley in two days.
Something was definitely off.
Thomas didn't dare say anything; he just followed Damian silently.
They ended up on the balcony, where the night sky and moonlight were on full display. The storm had passed, the rain had stopped, and the sky was crystal clear, stars twinkling.
If they hit the beach now, she'd probably love it, right?
Next time she saw the ocean, who'd she be with?
Damian shook off his messy thoughts, "Let's head down."
"Yes, Mr. Hearst." Thomas led the way, the hallway dead quiet in the middle of the night.
Finally, Damian was willing to go over. This was how it should be. Even if they fought, a gentleman should apologize first instead making the girl back down.
Thomas was lost in his trance and he almost bumped into Damian's back.
He was stunned. Damian wasn't going in?
He peeked through the small window on the door.
Ashley was sleeping quietly, the humidifier's soft mist spreading. The room was lit only by a nightlight, making it all cozy.
Hendrix was asleep in his wheelchair, out cold.
And his hand was holding Ashley's hand!
Damian wanted to storm in and rip him apart!
But Thomas never expected Damian to just turn and walk away without a word.
Thomas looked again, fighting the urge to kick Hendrix's wheelchair in anger.
At first, he felt sorry for Hendrix having another surgery, but now he wished Hendrix would lose a limb.
Damian went upstairs, shut the door, and refused to be disturbed by anyone.
It seemed Ashley and Hendrix were going to be together.
This was silent rejection to him.
Damian closed his eyes, feeling a burning sensation, like his retinas were about to melt.
The next day.
When Ashley woke up, she saw Hendrix grinning at her with his chin in his hand.
Ashley almost jumped out of bed, "When did you get here?!"
Hendrix kept grinning, "I never left."
Ashley weakly held her forehead, "You..."
Hendrix eagerly opened the food box, "I kept it in the fridge overnight. It might not taste as good as fresh, but it's still pretty good. I tried one; it's better than what that guy bought!"
Ashley was speechless.
"I was wrong. You don't want to mention that man, so I won't. Have some dessert," Hendrix said.
Ashley turned her head, avoiding his hand.
Hendrix got a bit edgy. "I asked the nurses. They said you haven't eaten in two days, just relying on nutrient drips. I mean, Ashley, you're beautiful, but you can't really live like a fairy, drinking dew all your life, can you?"
Ashley was silent, like a paper doll.
Seeing her like this, Hendrix felt anxious. She needed food, any food.
"Ashley, I'll ask you one last time. Are you really not going to eat?" Hendrix said.
Ashley pursed her lips.
"Fine, don't regret it." Hendrix took a big bite of the pastry, his mouth full of sweetness, then leaned over, and supported himself on one side to kiss her on the lips!
