Chapter 004

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Jordan stood there, clearly startled, mouth opening to argue, but I stopped him cold.

“I already know everything, Jordan,” I said, my voice sharp.

He clenched his jaw, hesitating, but before he could speak, the soft, repetitive beeping from the machine suddenly sped up. My attention snapped back to Adrian, lying pale and still on the hospital bed. And then—his eyelids flickered.

“Oh my god,” I gasped, taking a step closer. “Adrian! You’re awake!”

Jordan took a single glance, his expression shifting from anger to unease. “I... I need to go,” he muttered before practically sprinting out of the room.

Ignoring him, I moved to Adrian’s side, watching his eyes blink open with the faintest hint of awareness.

“Adrian is awake!” I repeated, louder this time, heart pounding.

In moments, Adrian’s mother, Evelyn, swept into the room with her usual poise, followed by a maid. She observed the scene, a quiet sigh escaping her lips as she regarded me.

“There’s no need to make such a fuss,” she said calmly, her voice gentle but unwavering. “It’s just muscle memory; his body may respond without him fully waking. This is perfectly normal.” She gestured to the maid, dismissing her.

I felt my cheeks grow warm. “No one told me that... How was I supposed to know?”

Her stern expression softened, and she chuckled lightly. “Perhaps you’re right,” she admitted. “My apologies. I should have explained it sooner.”

A warm smile crossed her face as she extended her hand. “I’m Evelyn, Adrian’s mother. It’s lovely to meet you formally.”

“Thank you, Evelyn,” I replied, shaking her hand.

She looked me over, an approving gleam in her eye. “You look lovely tonight, dear. The gown suits you.”

The unexpected compliment made me blush. “Thank you.”

Evelyn gave a slight nod. “Now, if you’re tired, don’t feel pressured to come down for the party. We’ll manage without you if you need the rest.”

I paused, feeling a twinge of worry. “But wouldn’t it be rude not to greet your guests?”

Her expression softened even more. “You’re a knight now; that title comes with certain privileges. People will understand if you’re not at every event. Take some time to settle in and gather your strength.”

She began to turn, pausing as she added, “In fact, you’ll need to get used to staying here.”

I hesitated, glancing around. “Where should I put my dress, then?”

Evelyn’s brows furrowed, a slight frown on her lips. “Excuse me?”

I quickly rephrased, realizing she hadn’t understood. “I mean… where will I sleep?”

She seemed puzzled, and a slight hint of amusement crept into her eyes. “You’re my son’s wife now. Legally, you’ll stay in his room.”

I swallowed, flustered. “Is… there another bed?”

Her eyebrow arched. “Another bed?”

“Or maybe an extra mattress?” I asked, feeling awkward under her scrutinizing gaze.

She didn’t answer immediately, letting a beat of silence stretch before finally replying. “You’ll sleep in the same bed as my son. He may need help in the night; it’s your responsibility to be there for him.” Her tone left little room for argument.

“Of course,” I mumbled, nodding quickly, not wanting to push my luck.

With a slight roll of her eyes, Evelyn gave me a pointed look before heading to join the guests downstairs. As soon as she left, the room fell silent again, except for the faint hum of the machines. Adrian’s eyes had closed once more, and I exhaled softly, sinking into a chair beside him, the weight of everything settling over me.

I must have sat there lost in thought when a soft knock broke the silence. I went to open it, and there stood a young maid, a polite smile on her face.

“Hello, I’m Maya,” she introduced herself, bowing slightly. “I’m here to discuss Mr. Adrian’s care requirements.”

I nodded, curious and slightly puzzled.

She handed me a folded piece of paper. “These are specific instructions to ensure he remains comfortable.”

I took the sheet, unfolding it slowly and scanning the list. Most of it was straightforward, but then I stopped on one line that made my eyebrows rise: “Nightly massage.”

I looked up at Maya, struggling not to laugh. “Is… is this for real?”

She returned a polite smile, not reacting in the least. “Yes, it is, ma’am. Mr. Adrian will benefit from it during his recovery.”

I nodded, feeling a mixture of amusement and dread as I took another look at Adrian, still lying peacefully.

“You’ll get the hang of it, I’m sure,” Maya added, stepping back. “And I’ll be here to help if you have any questions.”

With that, she gave a final bow and disappeared down the hall, leaving me to process everything.