Chapter 55

Thalia had been worried all afternoon. Now that Asher was out of danger, she longed to see him. After all, he had taken that knife for her.

"Listen to me! Come home now!" Randolph commanded sharply.

Thalia shook her head, her gaze resolute. "Dad, I know you're angry, but I can't go home yet. Asher risked his life for me. I have to see him. If he wakes up and I'm not there, he'll be devastated."

Lord Blackwood Sr. looked approvingly at her before turning to Randolph. "Randolph, my wife's words were out of line earlier. I apologize personally, and hope you won't take them to heart." He added, "Asher would certainly want to see Thalia first when he opens his eyes."

Lady Blackwood Jr. said, "Please don't be angry. It's wonderful that the children have such strong feelings for each other."

With even the powerful Lord Blackwood Sr. apologizing, Randolph found it difficult to maintain his stance. Lady Blackwood had indeed been unreasonable, but the rest of the family seemed sensible.

After a moment of silence, he looked at Thalia. "Very well. You can stay. I'll go home to check on your sister."

After Randolph left, Thalia apologized again for her impulsive actions.

Lady Blackwood Jr. sighed, taking her hand. "My dear, please stop blaming yourself. This wasn't your fault. I know you never wanted to see Asher hurt. Ultimately, this was a failure on our family's part. Your father was right."

Tears welled in Thalia's eyes. "I need to see Asher."

Lady Blackwood Jr. squeezed her hand. "Let's go together."

When Asher opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Thalia's worried face. Seeing him finally awake, emotion overwhelmed her, tears immediately streaming down her cheeks.

"Asher, you're finally awake," she said, her voice breaking.

Asher's lips twitched into a weak smile. His voice was tender despite his condition. "Don't cry. I'm not going anywhere."

Lady Blackwood Jr., nearby, wiped her own tears. "I was terrified. Thank God you're alright. If anything had happened to you, I couldn't have borne it."

Lord Blackwood made a sound of disapproval. "Must you always be so dramatic?"

Thalia's tears flowed freely. Seeing her distress, Asher attempted to wipe them away, but the movement was painful as the anesthesia wore off.

Thalia quickly took his hand. "Asher…"

"Lia, don't cry," Asher said, a faint smile on his pale face, his eyes filled with tenderness and concern. "As long as you're safe, nothing else matters."

"No, that's not right," Thalia said, wiping her tears. "We both need to be okay."

"What sort of talk is that?" Lady Blackwood Jr. frowned. "Of course you'll both be fine."

"How's Lucy?" Asher asked.

Thalia's eyes were red-rimmed. "Lucy's fine. She's completely safe."

"Good."

Lady Blackwood Jr. shook her head fondly. "Nearly dying and still worrying about everyone else. You need to rest and heal. Don't concern yourself with anything else. We'll handle everything."

"Mother, Father, could you give us a moment?" Asher asked weakly. "I'd like some time with Thalia."

Understanding, Lord and Lady Blackwood quietly left the room.

Asher looked at Thalia with concern. "Lia, they weren't hard on you, were they?"

Thalia shook her head, her heart aching. Even lying in a hospital bed, he was still worried about her.

Fighting back tears, she forced a smile. "You need to get better quickly. We still have an engagement ceremony to hold."

Asher's colorless lips curved into a smile. "I promise."

Lord and Lady Blackwood had barely left the intensive care unit when they received an urgent call. The caller's voice was fraught with tension. "We have a situation, sir!"

At the detention center, Vanessa Miller had claimed she was pregnant and, according to protocol, needed to be taken to the hospital for examination. On the way, a vehicle had deliberately crashed into the transport car, forcing it to stop. Several well-trained men emerged from the vehicle and took Vanessa away. The officers were seriously injured, and the vehicle was too damaged to pursue.

After hearing this, Lord Blackwood's face registered disbelief. "She was actually broken out?"

"What's happened? Who was taken?" Lady Blackwood Jr. asked.

Lord Blackwood took several deep breaths, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Vanessa Miller."

"What!" Lady Blackwood Jr. was shocked. "Wasn't she already in custody?"

Lord Blackwood frowned. "Father was right. This situation isn't as simple as the Walsh family claimed. Someone is protecting her. We need to find out who's behind this immediately."

After several days in the ICU, Asher was transferred to a regular hospital room. He felt as though he'd been trapped in an endless dream. Upon waking, Asher felt utterly exhausted; even breathing seemed to require effort. He slowly opened his eyes. The sharp smell of antiseptic filled the air. Sunlight streamed through the window, gently bathing his face in warmth. Asher raised his hand to shield himself from the brightness. A sudden pain shot through the back of his hand where the IV needle was inserted, the movement pulling against the tender skin.

"You're awake." Thalia appeared in the doorway. Seeing him conscious, she quickened her pace to the bedside, setting down a thermal container. "I was just preparing some food for you. Perfect timing—you can eat now."

Asher turned his gaze toward the container she'd placed on the bedside table, surprise flickering in his eyes. "You cooked?"

"Yes." Thalia smiled shyly. "I made it myself. Would you like to try it? It's my first attempt, actually."

Asher gradually adjusted to the bright sunlight, his face softening, his features radiating warmth. His lips curved into a gentle smile, his eyes sparkling. "I'd love to."

Thalia leaned forward, and the soft floral scent of her perfume surrounded him. Anticipating a kiss, Asher's heart leaped. His eyes held a smile as he prepared himself, a mixture of anticipation and slight nervousness building inside him. It would be the first time Thalia had initiated a kiss.

However, the head of the hospital bed slowly began to rise. "I'm adjusting your bed so you can eat more comfortably," she explained.

Asher felt a small pang of disappointment, followed by amusement at his own assumption. He'd behaved like a lovestruck teenager.

Thalia set up a small table over the bed, covering it with a napkin before placing the thermal container on top. She opened it to reveal stir-fried greens and poached beef. "The doctor said you need to be careful with your diet while in hospital—everything should be mild. I've made greens and beef for you, a good balance of protein and vegetables."

Asher gazed at her tenderly, silently studying her face. For days, her face had appeared repeatedly in his dreams. Now she was the first person he saw upon waking, and Asher felt a happiness so profound it almost seemed unreal.