Chapter 847

“Uncle Aaron, did you stir things up with my parents?” Lena asked.

Aaron didn’t bother denying it, and his silence was all the answer she needed.

“Aaron Ace! Are you kidding me? I trusted you!” Her voice echoed with frustration, but deep down, Lena knew arguing was pointless. Carol and Gabriel weren’t exactly known for backing down. If she couldn’t convince them to chill, they’d probably show up at the hospital and haul her home themselves.

Taking a breath, Lena tried a different approach. “Okay, what’s it gonna take for me to not move back home?”

Aaron’s answer was maddeningly casual. “Stay at my place.”

Lena blinked, stunned into silence.

“Just for a bit,” Aaron added. “Once your parents ease up, you can go back to your apartment.”

Lena’s stomach did a little flip. Living with Aaron? Yeah, no thanks. Sure, things weren’t as awkward between them anymore, but this? Way too weird. Still, her options were basically nonexistent.

“I’ll think about it,” Lena said, even though she was this close to caving.

“Your parents told me to bring your stuff back to their place by tomorrow.”

Her jaw practically hit the floor. So, she had to decide today? And by “decide,” they meant “move in with Aaron.”

“Fine,” she huffed. “You’ll get my answer this afternoon.” She was trying to sound tough, but she already knew there was no way out of this.

Aaron just hummed in response and walked off, leaving Lena stewing. Living with Aaron felt wrong. She needed another plan.

Of course, Lena’s idea of a backup plan? Me.

She burst into my hospital room looking frazzled, which was already rare enough, and—plot twist—Nate was there too.

“You? What are you doing here?” she asked.

Since things between them were, uh, complicated, I stepped in. “He’s here visiting me.”

Honestly, I was just as surprised as she was. I mean, Nate showing up out of nowhere? Weird timing. But before I could ask, Lena stormed in like she was on a mission.

Whatever was going on between them now, I had no clue. One look at Lena’s tight expression and Nate’s determined vibe, though? Yeah, he was definitely in full-on “win-her-back” mode.

“How thoughtful,” Lena said, her sarcasm dialed up to max.

“It’s the least I could do,” Nate replied, all soft eyes and sincerity.

Too bad Lena wasn’t buying it.

Cue the awkward silence. Neither of them was great at filling it, so the room felt like a pressure cooker.

I cleared my throat. “Prof. Neumann, why don’t you have a seat?”

Fun fact: if you ever want someone to leave without making it obvious, be too nice. Works like a charm.

That’s exactly what I was doing. I needed Nate out of there because, clearly, drama had RSVP’d to this party. And I needed Lena to spill what was going on with her and Aaron—and why was Nate suddenly working at this hospital?

And, thankfully, Nate got the hint. “No need,” he said, standing. “I’ll let you rest.”

He threw a quick glance at Lena as he left, but she barely reacted, just hitting him with a cool, “Take care, Prof. Neumann.”