Chapter 771

Not only did Lena grab Aaron’s thigh, but as she fell to her knees, her face ended up dangerously close to his crotch. Her face went nuclear red—redder than that one time they’d accidentally walked in on each other in the bathroom, years ago. She jerked back, yanking her hand away so fast she nearly toppled over again. Before she could fully process the horror, Aaron swept her into his arms, all stoic and wordless, and marched off the rooftop.

By the time they reached the hospital, Lena spotted her parents, their worried faces a beacon in the chaos, with Nate right there beside them.

“Lena, are you hurt? What happened?” her mom asked.

“Aaron, is she okay?” her dad added.

Aaron replied, “She should be fine, but I recommend a full examination just to be sure.” Her parents nodded like he’d handed them a prescription for calm-down juice.

Then Nate stepped forward. “Lena, are you hurt?”

Her throat tightened, and her eyes stung, but she shook her head, biting back the tears.

“What about your legs?” Nate asked, catching what everyone else missed.

Oh, right—she was still being carried.

“My legs are fine. Just… numb,” she blurted, squirming in Aaron’s arms, trying to escape the whole awkward scene.

But Aaron? Nope. He tightened his grip. Without a word, he marched toward the examination rooms.

Nate narrowed his eyes and followed. “Mr. Ace, you can hand Lena over to me now.”

Aaron didn’t even bother glancing at him, just carried her into the room and then strolled back out solo.

“Thanks for saving Lena,” Nate said.

Aaron shot him an icy look. “You think a ‘thank you’ fixes everything?”

Nate stiffened. Yeah, Aaron was totally blaming him for not being there when Lena needed him, and honestly? He wasn’t wrong.

Nate didn’t argue. What could he even say? He just stood there, letting the guilt eat him alive.

Chapter 731

Aaron didn’t stick around. Without a word, he walked off to make a phone call.

Lena knew she wasn’t seriously hurt, but the medical staff went full overachiever anyway—blood tests, CT scans, the works—to make sure whatever drug she’d been dosed with wasn’t going to mess her up.

When she finally left the exam room, Aaron was MIA. Instead, she walked out to find Nate and her parents waiting, their anxious eyes snapping to her.

She stepped forward and hugged them tightly. “Dad, Mom, I’m so sorry for worrying you.”

“It’s okay, sweetie. You’re safe now, and that’s what matters.” Mr. and Mrs. Lane gently patted her back.

When her parents finally let go, Lena looked up and met Nate’s gaze. His eyes were heavy with guilt, practically screaming that he blamed himself for everything that had happened.

She smiled. “I’m fine.”

Yeah, fine this time. But what about next time? The thought lingered, sharp and unwelcome. Sure, if Nate had been stuck overseas or somewhere unreachable, she could’ve let it slide. But he was here—here. He was supposed to be with her, not letting work drag him away while danger waltzed right in.

Nate had managed to thank Aaron earlier, but now? Standing there, face-to-face with Lena, her gentle reassurance practically knocking the wind out of him, he couldn’t even bring himself to say, “I’m sorry.”

Lena got it. Everything he wanted to say was written all over his face. And with her parents hovering nearby, this definitely wasn’t the time for a heart-to-heart.

“Dad, Mom, you should go home and rest. You’ve been up all night,” Lena said.

Mrs. Lane shot her a look—the classic mom glare. “Do you really think your father and I could just sleep after all this? How could we possibly rest?”

“I’m fine now, seriously!” Lena teased. “But if you two don’t sleep soon, I’m gonna pass out. I’m exhausted.” She kissed them both on the cheek. “Let Uncle Aaron take you home, okay?”

Her eyes darted around the room as she said it. “Wait… where is Uncle Aaron?”