Ch. 286..290: Charmed by the Billionaire CEO Chapter 286-290

Chapter 286: Acting buddy

Entering his chamber, Gabriel strode toward the mini bar and pulled out one bottle for himself, and started gulping it. He wanted to stop thinking about Ashley but he couldn’t.

This had happened after so many years that his mind was getting occupied by some other person. First, it was always Sandra whom he couldn’t stop thinking about. Even after her demise, his thoughts were only accompanied by her, then how can he suddenly let another person invade them?

Slumping down to the floor next to the couch, Gabriel dropped the empty bottle and shut closed his eyes as he rested his head on the couch behind him.

"She is just medium Gabriel. You can’t let her overshadow your mind" he mumbled as his breath fastened.

Snap opening his eyes, Gabriel looked ahead. His bloodshot eyes were blazing anger but, he wasn’t aware of whom this anger was directed.

He knew he had to get close to Ashley but his heart was slowly starting to melt for her. This uneasiness he felt when he couldn’t see for a day made him go crazy and he hated being this weak.

He only had Sandra in his heart and she was the only reason why he was targeting Tristan and no matter what he can’t let anyone ruin his goal.

Destroying Tristan was the only motive of his life. In that way, he would be able to give justice to the woman who died because of him.

*****

Somewhere in the Warrington City of Country S, a man stopped his car in front of a gigantic building. Stepping out of the car he then walked inside and reached the top floor where he had his men guiding the hallway.

"Is everything under control?" he asked looking at his men who bobbed their heads in agreement with him soon stopping in front of the door.

Giving his men a nod they soon stepped back and the man entered the house, with the door shutting close behind him.

"Finally you got the time to show me your face" A feminine voice with a hint of disappointment asked stopping the man midway.

The man shuddered at her deadpan voice which send down chills to his spin but he maintained his composure.

"I was busy handling some external issues," the man said lowering his eyes as he couldn’t stand the scrutinizing gaze of the lady. Just like her voice, even her eyes were sharply glaring at him.

"So busy that you wouldn’t even answer my calls. You know I don’t like being ignored or you want me to show you your place, Lucas"

Lucas flinch at her threat and shook his head vigorously. "Sorry, it won’t happen again" he answered surrendering to her warning. There was no way he would upset this woman further.

"Hmm, now tell me how far Gabriel has managed to woo Ashley Knight" composing her displease tone she asked.

Lucas shook his head in defeat and watched the lady frown. "Has Gabriel lost his charm or he is only able to please soft-hearted girls" the lady scoffed.

"I thought he was better than Tristan but my bad I failed to see through his abilities" Lucas watched as the lady spoke. He wasn’t in the position to answer her back but wasn’t Tristan her only goal, then why was she praising him?

Keeping his thoughts to himself, Lucas then heard the woman speak," I want him to pursue Ashley as soon as possible. She can be with Tristan for too long. Do you get me"

"Y-yes" Lucas bobbed his head frantically and watched her face turn ugly at the mention of Ashley’s name.

"Get lost. And next time you come, I expect good news until then don’t show me your face" yelling at Lucas, the lady shoved him out.

He knew the woman was a maniac and her mood changed like a ticking clock He too didn’t waste a second and walked out of the house. The moment he shut the door behind him, Lucas heaved out a sigh with his palm resting on his heart.

"When will all this end" he mumbled and quickly composed himself before walking away.

*****

The next morning, Ashley woke up as usual and left for the class. Since Tristan was fast asleep, she left him a note before leaving the house.

Reaching the destination, she headed to the rehearsal room where she found Riel and Christina already waiting for her arrival.

"Ashley, how are you feeling now? I heard you weren’t well yesterday" Christina asked with concern.

Ashley eyed Miley who bobbed her head confirming it was she who informed Christina about her health, felt relief and she bobbed her head," It’s good" she answered.

Yesterday when Ashley’s manager informed her that her boss wouldn’t be attending the class due to some health issue, she tried to continue the class with Riel. But soon even he started to feel sick and they had to end the class midway.

"And what about you Riel? Are you in good form or do you still feel sick" Christina then turned her eyes to Gabriel who seem to look in a good mood.

"Yes, Why wouldn’t I be after all my acting buddy had returned, Now my sickness is long gone" Riel winked at Ashley playfully and watched her roll her eye at him.

With a pleasant smile on his face, the trio soon began the class.

****

By the time Tristan woke up, he had been sulking as Ashley didn’t even bother to wake him before she left. He was so used to watching her as soon as he opened his eyes in the morning that he started feeling strange when he didn’t find her next to him.

Getting ready to leave for work, Tristan glanced at his phone, hoping for a call from her but all she did was leave a note for him.

"Couldn’t she wait for me to wake up? I would’ve dropped her" he mumbled with the same gloominess and walked out of the room.

Tristan didn’t dare to call Jack because he knew somehow Ashley would come to find that he had been keeping a tab on her and that will lead her to throw him out of the room this time.

No, he couldn’t risk that. Sleeping on the couch was way better than sleeping outside the room.

Left with no other choice Tristan decided to wait for her call and silently had his breakfast before he left for work.

Chapter 287: Tenfold horrible punishment

Hospital

Two days passed since the accident and Alice was already getting bored doing nothing. But even in that tedious moment, she received the good news that swayed her heart with happiness.

Ashley was pregnant and that one particular made her impatient. She wanted to meet her friend and congratulate her, but she couldn’t as she had to stay here in the hospital for a few more days and it was all because of this man.

’Idiot’ she mumbled keeping her eyes on Noah who was sitting on the couch busy doing his work.

If not for his constant threats, the doctors would have discharged her before the due date. But now she had to stay here even more than expected and it was all his fault.

Unable to control her frustration, Alice picked up a spare pillow and threw it at him.

"Alice.. what are you doing" the pillow landed straight on his face distracting Noah from his work.

"It’s all your fault" she sneered ready to throw something else that would reach easily to her hold.

Scared of her throwing something heavy, Noah quickly closed the laptop and moved aside.

Alice would turn into a different person whenever he ends up pissing her and he didn’t want to be the victim of her anger.

"Why did you ask the doctors to extend my stay? Did he assure you that I was doing good then why-" she didn’t finish her statement and picked up a glass ready to throw his way.

"Alice no... stop" Noah felt like today was going to be the last day of his life.

Alice had lost her mind, but why. It was all for her well-being.

Stopping her hand mid-air, Alice flared her nostril in anger before she dropped her hand down, placing the glass back on the side table.

"Get lost. I don’t want to see your face right now" she demanded waving her hand, asking him to leave before she ends up changing her mind.

Noah gasped like a fish, don’t know what to do but the moment she shot a glare at him his legs automatically found their way out of the room.

Noah stood outside the room and took a few deep breaths to calm his beating heart. He just escaped his death and was glad he did.

Heaving out a deep breath, he opened his eyes only to find the two guards outside the room staring at him in awe.

Moving his eyes back and forth between the two Noah let out a forceful smile and started to walk away from there when his phone started to ring and he stopped in his tracks.

Taking a glance at the caller he immediately answered the call. "Any news?" Noah’s entire aura changed and his eyes turned dark when the person on the other end of the call ended up giving him a piece of information.

"Boss that night after killing the culprit, Natale went to meet Miss Avera and there seems to be another person along with them but we couldn’t find any details about him," Sky said on the call dictating everything he was able to find out.

When Jack informed Ashley about Natalie’s wrongdoing, he also told her that she made a call to someone before she left the spot. It seemed like she was notifying someone and that’s when he asked Sky to get him the details on the car which Natalie drove that night.

Jack was able to see the number plate, and it didn’t take them long to get the leads.

"Keep following her and see what these two have to talk about"

"Yes boss"

Ending the call Noah turned around and stared at the closed door.

Natalie tried to harm his girl and he wasn’t going to let her sneak away so easily. And as for Avera, he still didn’t know how they two knew each other but if his assumption about them turned out to be positive then, both will suffer tenfold horrible punishment.

*****

Skylar Corps

Tristan indulged himself in meets he postponed for the next day. He didn’t realize he had been lined up with so much work but thanks to Karl and Gwen who managed most of his work in his absence.

"So Charles wants his granddaughter to handle the project with us," Tristan asked as he signed papers kept in front of him.

"Yes, and he expects a positive response" she answered taking back the file from Tristan.

Resting back on his chair, Tristan bobbed his head as he kept thinking something when suddenly he asked, "If I am not wrong her name is Linda, the same girl with whom Karl studied back then"

Tristan had no idea that Gwen didn’t like Linda, but when he saw his sister purse her lips at the mention of her name, he couldn’t stop asking.

"What with your face? Why do you look so displease? You don’t want the girl to lurk around Karl" his words took Gwen by surprise and she snapped her eye wide open only to watch him chuckle.

"Everyone back then knew Linda had a crush on Karl except for that man, who only saw her as his classmate" Tristan stated and watched Gwen drop her jaw in shock as she pulled a chair for herself before taking the seat.

"I had the same feeling when I met her for the first time. She didn’t leave a chance to capture Karl’s attention at her but unfortunately, she couldn’t succeed" Gwen gritted her teeth recalling their first meet. She hated it when Linda doubted her relationship with Karl.

"You two already met. When?" Tristan asked having no clue Gwen had already met Linda.

"That’s a long story, I will tell you some other day. But thank you brother for the confirmation. Now I have to be more alert around her. I can’t let her fly like a bee around Karl" Gwen declared with a determined look in her eyes surprising Tristan.

Cringing at her expression, the corner of his lips twitch in embarrassment and he asked," Are you watching too many dramas, Gwen? You look like those female leads who try to keep their boyfriend away from other women.

Snapping out of the trance Gwen smiled cheekily but got a deadpan response in return." Now get back to work and don’t let your difference cause any harm to the project. Work-life and Personal life must be handled individually" advising her, Tristan then asked her to leave.

Keeping Tristan’s words in mind Gwen then entered her cabin where she found Karl standing next to his table ready to leave.

"Were you aware that Linda was Charles Acme’s, granddaughter?" Gwen asked and watched Karl snap his attention at her.

"Yes"

His answer made Gwen gasp." Still, you didn’t bother to inform me first and let me attend the meeting on my brother’s behalf"

Gwen couldn’t believe Karl would keep this little secret to himself and let her find her on her own.

Karl stared at Gwen’s furious face and took a deep breath before he approached her.

"I know I should’ve informed you beforehand but I couldn’t." Karl’s eyes softened when she didn’t clear the frown on her forehead.

"I thought it would be Charles who would be working with us but he ended up changing his mind at the last moment and appointed Linda as the head" Karl tried to explain. He was rest assured that they would be dealing with Charles, but that old man ended up replacing Linda as the new chairwoman.

Gwen listened to his explanation carefully and realized it wasn’t Karl’s fault entirely. How was he supposed to know the discussion happened in the Acme Groups but what made her upset was the fact that he kept Linda’s identity away from her?

"But still you made a mistake by not informing me about Linda" keeping the same grumpy face she walk past him and sat on the chair." And that’s enough for me to be upset with you" she declared moving her eyes from him as she started to work.

Karl felt like crying. His one thoughtful idea made him land into a big problem. He was able to handle work-related issues but coaxing Gwen was a big deal.

Chapter 288: Wild cat

After ending the call with Noah, Sky drove to Natalie’s place. Standing outside her house for some time, he finally saw her car leaving the Scott Mansion and without wasting a second he silently followed her.

About twenty minutes of driving, she finally stopped her car in front of a coffee shop and quickly stepped out walking inside.

Sky too climbed down his car and followed Natalie making sure nobody gets suspicious of him.

He took the seat right behind where Natalie was waiting for Avera and decided to act like a customer ordering a coffee for himself.

Time passed by yet Avera didn’t show up and he started doubting if he got the wrong details. He was about to call someone when the door of the coffee shop opened and Avera walked in with her eyes roaming around the shop.

The moment her eyes caught the sight of Natalie, she didn’t waste a second and headed towards her.

Since Sky was disguised as a normal person, Avera didn’t doubt his presence and walked past him taking the table behind.

"What took you so long?" Natalie snapped as soon as Avera sat in front of her.

"Lower your voice. You can’t yell at me" Avera gnashed her teeth as she kept looking around watching if anyone was staring back at them.

Once she was assured that no one saw them, she averted her attention on Natalie. "You don’t have to worry. The driver’s body wasn’t identified and they didn’t find any leads that will get into any trouble" Avera made sure she took care of everything.

She was confident about her plan and was glad that it worked as she expected it to.

Natalie bobbed her head in satisfaction." What should I do about this?" she further asked pulling out a cell phone from her bag.

"Have you cleared the call log?" Avera asked and watched her shake her head in denial.

"What are you waiting for Christmas? Clear the call history if you don’t want anyone to sneak into your number and take down all the information" Avera didn’t want to leave any proof that will get them both into trouble. It was better for them to think ahead.

"I will ask someone to do that for me" Natalie agreed and placed the phone back into a bag.

Sky who was sitting right behind them listened to their conversation. They weren’t able to get the man but his cell phone, Natalie still had it with her and now he has to get hold of that mobile to get all the call records and voice calls as proof.

While the girls were busy having some conversation, Sky was waiting for an opportunity and after some time, he did get the chance when suddenly Natalie and Avera stood up to leave.

Avera walked out of the shop while Natalie headed toward the counter to pay the bill.

Taking the chance to get closer to the target, Sky quickly tailed behind her and the moment she turned around after paying for the coffee, she ended up colliding with him, leading the bag in her hand to fall down.

Natalie gasped when the stuff inside her bag scattered on the floor. Before she could get down she heard the man, whom she collided speak.

"Oh, I am so sorry." Sky apologize and quickly kneeled down picking the stuff from the floor and keeping it in her bag.

Once he was done, Sky stood up and passed her an apologetic look, which somehow soothe Natalie’s sour face.

" I am really very sorry" she again heard him say the same and this time the anger on her face completely dissipated.

The man in front of her was handsome as hell and it was enough for her to forget whatever happened between them.

Bobbing her head, she took the bag from his hand and walked out of the shop. Once Natalie and Avera drove their separate ways, Sky’s blank face suddenly curled up into a victorious smile and he looked at the phone in his hand.

Making a call, he asked his men to clear the footage of him in the shop and once everything was clear he left the coffee shop.

*****

Acting institute

After a lot of hard work, Christina decided to take a break before they resume the session. Both her students were living up to her expectations and she didn’t want them to drain all of their energy in one day.

"Take some rest. We will resume our class after twenty minutes" Christina informed before excusing herself from the rehearsal hall.

Riel heaved out a sigh, finding no one around but only the two of them. Wasting no time, he took the chance to pursue Ashley." What happened to you?" his tone came out a little gentle surprising Ashley and she snapped her head in his direction.

"Didn’t you hear what Christina said earlier? The answer is the same"

"But she forgot to mention the name of your sickness." he didn’t stop there and tried to pester her with that stupid grin on his face.

Morning before coming here he had made up his mind that he won’t let his thoughts get deeper involved with Ashley on a personal level. But everything went down the lane when he saw her enter the rehearsal room.

His heart instantly bloomed when he saw her and the void he had been feeling since yesterday began to disappear.

Ashley couldn’t understand why Riel was so adamant about irking her with his over-friendly behavior. Even after she warned him, he still didn’t seem to understand.

"Why can’t you just leave me alone" stopping midway, Ashley snapped at him.

Finding her getting pissed, Riel felt satisfaction and the smile on his face broadened.

"I can’t" he declared making her frown.

"May I know the reason why?" she asked crossing her hands against her chest. Her gaze scrutinized his every expression but found no change in them. The playfulness on his face didn’t falter and that made her blood boil in rage.

"Because I am interested in you Ashley Brown. You have captured my attention" Riel’s eyes bored into her and the corner of his lips curled up when he saw her face crumple in anger.

"You..." Ashley raised her hand to slap him but he stopped before it touched his face and swirl her around with her back facing him and her wrist firmly gripped into his clutch.

"Easy my wild cat" his breath fanned next to her face, freezing Ashley on spot.

Chapter 289: Are you sure, you are the only woman

Riel smirked finding her unresponsive and was about to lean closer when Ashley counterattacked him using her elbow hitting him right on his face.

The moment his grip on her wrist loosened, she swirl him around and kicked him on his knees making him land flat on the ground.

"Aggh..." Riel groan in pain but instead of getting upset, he found her quite amusing.

"Keep your hands off me" pointing her index finger, Ashley warned him. She felt disgusted with his touch.

Finding her expressions amusing, Riel dropped his head down and started laughing.

"You are something Miss Brown" Riel couldn’t help but admire the woman in front of him.

Ashley clenched her jaw in anger as she watched him smile shamelessly. His behavior was annoying her even more. She couldn’t help but felt like going and smacking that smile off his face. She asked for one simple thing and that was to stay away from her but he couldn’t understand it.

"How shameless can a person be?" Ashley couldn’t help but ask.

Calming himself, Riel stood up and adjusted his appearance before he took a step closer to Ashley. His eyes roamed all over her face as if he was mesmerized by her beauty.

She had a pair of eyes that conveyed her innermost emotions and he felt like getting spelled by them.

"I said I want to pursue you and I mean it. But I also know it’s not that easy because you already have a man in your life. But that doesn’t mean he will be in your life forever. Anything can happen, relationships break and I will be looking forward to the day when you leave him" his eyes were still playfully provoking her but the words he spoke took her by surprise.

Ashley stared into his brown eyes. They didn’t match the words he said but it was enough to stir her confidence.

She snapped back from her thoughts and took a step away from him." I don’t care what you say because you are never going to win me. My heart belongs to only one man and that is Tristan" Ashley voiced loudly.

She wanted to scream that Tristan was her husband and her relationship with him wasn’t that fragile for anyone to come and break. Riel was dreaming way too far and she wanted to put a stop to it.

"Hmm... are you sure, you are the only woman he had in his life and not the other way around?" Riel rubbed his chin as if he was thinking something.

"I doubt a man like Tristan Knight wouldn’t have had anyone apart from you. It’s hard to believe" Riel purposely tried to plant a doubt in Ashley’s mind.

He knew Tristan Knight would’ve never told her about Sandra and it was the right time for him to let her see through her husband’s past.

"What do you mean?" Ashley questioned knitting her brows. From the very first day they met, Ashley had always found Riel as a mysterious person.

Tristan had previously warned her about Lucas Scott and his nephew and she made sure to maintain a distance from them because Riel seem to know much more about her life.

A few days passed and she again met him in the restaurant which led to suspicion of how he was present in the same place as hers. But before she could question him, he disappeared.

She didn’t want to admit but it felt like Riel had been keeping an eye on her every move but she didn’t have enough facts to prove it.

Ashley was again going to let this matter slip away but once again he stood in front of her and this time at the same acting institute where she enrolled in.

Riel let out a chuckle and turned to look at her. He was satisfied to see that suspicious look on her face. That’s what he wanted. He wanted her to doubt Tristan.

The man she trusted so much was a murderer. He took someone’s life and now it’s time for payback.

"Nothing. I just wanted to confirm whether or not you are the one woman in his life. You never know when someone is hiding something from you" Riel shrugged his shoulder casually, keeping the same playfulness in his tone but his words were enough to irk Ashley.

Her envious eyes stared at him for a few seconds before she turned and storm out of the rehearsal room.

Riel’s eyes darkened the moment the door shut and his smile dropped replacing into a grim expression.

"You will never be happy Tristan Knight. I will make sure to destroy your relationship with Ashley" he muttered with determination before he too walked out of the room.

*****

Riels’ words had somewhat managed to stir Ashley’s thoughts. She knew she shouldn’t let an outsider come and judge her relationship with Tristan, but when she thought a little deeper she realized she didn’t know much about Tristan’s life before she appeared.

Taking a deep breath, she pulled out the phone and was about to call Tristan but stopped.

"What are you doing Ash? You are letting Riel’s words harbor doubts in your mind. It’s Tristan he was talking about"

Ashley didn’t know what had gotten into her but the second she realized, she regretted it. How can she let Riel’s words stir her trust in Tristan? She knew him more than anyone else.

Guilt crept into her heart and she dropped her shoulder in defeat. ’Was all this a sign of pregnancy’ she thought and looked down at her flat stomach as she caressed it gently.

Brushing every negative thought from her mind, Ashley called Tristan. A single ring and the call were answered.

"I thought you forgot your husband" Tristan’s sullen tone made Ashley smile.

"You were fast asleep. I couldn’t bring myself to wake you up" Though she was smiling, deep inside she felt guilty. She expected that this feeling of regret will fade away when she listens to Tristan’s voice, but now she felt more sorry.

"But still, you should’ve woken me up. You know I like seeing your face the moment I close and open my eyes"

Ashley felt her heart skip a beat and suddenly she felt her eyes well up. Biting her lower lip, she tried to suppress her emotions but she didn’t realize two more people were utterly shocked to see her crying silently.

"Why is she crying and who is she talking with?" Jack elbowed Miley who was too shocked to watch Ashley cry.

"We need to inform Mr. Knight," Miley said absentmindedly and Jack quickly pulled out his phone and made a call to Tristan.

"His phone is busy" Jack muttered and suddenly they both realized something and they snapped turned their head, looking at each other in shock.

"Don’t tell me, she is crying because of him"

Chapter 290: Let’s announce

By the time Ashley ended the call, she felt a lot better. Tristan’s voice was enough to brush off every doubt. She trusted Tristan more than Riel’s words and there is no way she would let him manipulate her.

With that, she composed herself and returned to the rehearsal room.

Tristan on the other hand was happy to talk with Ashley and was about to resume back his work when he remembered Jack calling him when he was on the call with her.

Sensing he might be having something important to inform about, he quickly made him a call.

"Boss" Jack surprisingly answered. He wasn’t expecting him to call him back but now that he did, he composed himself.

"Any news regarding Gabriel?" Tristan asked coming straight to the point.

Jack opened and closed his mouth, dumbfounded by Tristan’s question but then he remembered he was yet to inform Tristan about Gabriel being with Ashley for sometimes even after Christina granted them a small break.

He hesitated for some time, knowing Tristan would get pissed but that was his job and he cannot disappoint his boss.

So taking a deep breath he told Tristan everything.

"What!!! She was crying the entire time she was talking with me" Tristan was so engrossed in her sweet words that he didn’t doubt her tone. She sounded happy all the time.

"Hmm..."

"Find out what conversation they had inside the rehearsal room. I want to know what that man said to Ashley that made her tear up" instructing Jack, Tristan ended the call in fury.

Tossing his phone on the table Tristan pinched the bridge of his nose and Karl entered the cabin.

Sensing Tristan’s bad mood, Karl asked," Is anything, wrong boss"

"Karl when is the table read," Tristan asked.

"Tomorrow boss" he answered and watched Tristan lean back as he bobbed his head.

Karl observed Tristan as he kept thinking and the moment their eyes met, his meaningful glance gave him the answers and he quickly retreated out of the cabin.

Moving his eyes from Karl, Tristan’s lips curled up into an evil smile and he picked up his phone to make a call to the very important person.

"Let’s announce," he said and ended the call.

"I can’t wait to meet you, my dear friend" letting out a soft chuckle Tristan resume back his work.

****

After Alice shoved Noah out of the room, he didn’t dare to enter back and kept standing outside until her mood calmed down.

Once the nurse informed him that Alice wanted to meet him, that’s when he decided to enter.

Alice was busy reading a magazine when she sensed Noah’s presence and she slowly glanced at him. He looked like a scared cat who was afraid of even taking a step ahead.

"How long do you wish to stand there Noah? Get back to the couch and resume your work. I don’t want your business to suffer because of me" she sounded calm but he knew it was just a façade. The anger was still there, the only thing was she smartly suppressed it.

Bobbing his head like a child, Noah slowly walked towards the couch and resume his work. A few minutes passed, with both of the sitting numb on their parts.

’How can I change his mind? I can’t spend my days sitting ideally in this room’ Alice thoughts as she peeked through the magazine in her hand.

She didn’t know how was supposed to convince him that she was better and didn’t need to stay in her hospital for too long. But every time she tries to speak, she somehow ends up getting hyper.

She could have handled the situation carefully but she herself couldn’t understand why she lost her temper earlier. Feeling guilty about Noah, she closed the magazine and placed it aside before she looked back at Noah.

He was quietly doing his work without lifting his head for once. ’Is he so busy that he isn’t even looking at me’ she thought and pursed her lips into a thin.

’Are you upset that he is following your words’ her subconscious mind questioned and she bobbed her head like a kid.

She couldn’t take the silence anymore and quietly climbed down from the bed and walked toward the couch. Taking the seat next to Noah, she mumbled," I’m sorry for yelling at you"

Noah who had already sensed her presence curled his lips upward but quickly composed as he decided to tease her a little. Putting on a sad expression Noah turned to look at Alice and pouted.

"You shoved me out of the room," he said and watched her feel more sorry for him.

"I know, but didn’t you deserve it" crossing her hands over her chest Alice leaned back on the couch.

"You know I hate hospitals, still you extended my stay here. I just feel like puking every time the nurse comes and injects me the medicines" Alice kept whining only to hear a burst of heartful laughter from Noah in return.

He was expecting to get coaxed by Alice but it was she who needed soothing. Letting go of his pitiful act, Noah turned around and sat facing Alice. "I know you don’t like hospitals but still you have to think from my point of view. I can’t risk your health, Alice."

Alice glanced at him from the corner of her eye but didn’t voice her thoughts knowing whatever Noah was telling was right. For him, it was always her, and there was nothing she could do about it.

"Fine... I agree to stay for a few more days but after that-" she stopped and pulled him by his collar until their face stopped a few inches apart and warned, "If you still try to come with an excuse of making me stay here even for a second, I will never kiss you"

"Are you sure, because of the way you are restraining from clasping your lips on mine, I doubt if that would ever happen"