Chapter 54

When Thea woke again, bright sunlight streamed warmly through cracks in the window, illuminating her body. It was so beautiful; Thea almost thought she had reached heaven. She tried to move but found she was too weak. "Am I dead?" she wondered.

A moment later, someone opened the door. Several people in white lab coats entered and checked her condition. The sensation of touch confirmed she was alive and this wasn't a dream. Everything felt real.

Thea's voice was hoarse. "Can you tell me who saved me?"

No one answered. The doctors glanced at her before leaving. Thea wanted to say more, but a wave of dizziness washed over her, and she drifted back to sleep.

The next time she awoke, it was the middle of the night. She felt much better. Carefully, she got out of bed, her bare feet touching the cold floor. Recognizing her surroundings, she realized where she was: Nicolas's house. So, Nicolas had saved her. She felt a mixture of relief and uncertainty.

Before she knew it, she had wandered out of her room and into the dark living room. She could make out the silhouette of someone sitting on the couch; the television was on. The dim light from the screen illuminated Nicolas's sharp features. He sat stoic, his expression unreadable, as the flickering images played in his eyes.

"Nic," Thea began, but the television distracted her. A video showed her struggling in the water. Jake and Madelyn were nearby, their expressions indifferent. Thea had been desperately swimming toward them for a life jacket, but the video clearly misrepresented her intentions.

A harsh voice from the TV declared, "Thea is such a hopeless fangirl for Jake. Look at her, even in that state, still trying to save Jake. I wonder how he'd react if he saw this."

Many comments accompanied the video; some pitied Thea's devotion, while most ridiculed her obsession. Thea checked her phone; the video was already trending. Although she knew Nicolas probably didn't care about such things, his grim expression caused her anxiety.

Noticing her, Nicolas lifted his head, his cold eyes sweeping over her. He gestured. "Come here."

She bit her lip and walked to him obediently. Before she could sit, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto his lap. Thea stiffened, her breathing quickening. "Mr. Hendrix, what are you doing?"

Nicolas tightened his grip, forcing her to meet his gaze. Despite their intimacy, his eyes remained cold. His voice was hard. "Still have feelings for Jake?"