Chapter 9

He entered the room, which was supposed to be for the married couple. Him and his wife. He swiped the key card and pushed the door open. He was welcomed to a dark and cold room. He looked for the light and turned them on. But the key card fell from his hand when he looked at the room.

The decoration which was done was all destroyed. Flower petals on the floor and there was barely any room on the floor to walk. He walked closer to find the room completely empty. Empty bottles of alcohol were scattered across the room and so was the duvet. His lips parted in shock as he looked at his surroundings.

But the last straw was when he saw the bloody footprints across the floor and the broken vase. His eyes widened at the amount of blood that was on the white granite floor. But the biggest question was, where was Carla? For a fraction of a second, his mind went blank but recovering from the shock, he ran out of the room to look for her.

He rushed outside without even bothering to lock the door. A few feet ahead, he found her white heels, which she wore during the ceremony, now were bloody and were abandoned by the side of the wall. He ran straight to the reception. Droplets of sweat appeared on his forehead fearing something bad might have happened to her.

He crashed at the reception desk and wasted no time and rang the bell. The receptionist, who had turned her back to him, quickly faced him hearing the urgent rings of the table bell.

“Where is she?” He asked as he breathed and panted heavily. He was extremely impatient. He was afraid that something dreadful might have happened to her. He didn’t want to have such negative thoughts but he could not completely abandon the possibility. He was just hoping she was fine.

“Where is she!” He growled like a beast and slapped his palm on the desk when he didn’t get an answer from the receptionist. She flinched at his tone and action and looked down and took a few steps back.

“She came some… some… time a…ago for a light an…and a cigarette,” the receptionist stammered, afraid he might harm her. He shot her a glare and the poor girl didn’t even look at him.

“Show me,” he said but she didn’t respond.

“Show me where she went!” He snapped and she nodded as she walked from across the desk and began walking to the back of the resort where she saw her go.

The receptionist and he looked around for her. He had lost all of his hopes when he didn’t find her but noticed a small and shivering silhouette at a distance laying on the cold blanket of snow. His heart skipped a beat looking at the scene. He wasted no time and rushed to her.

He froze in his spot when he looked at her laying on the cold floor shivering. He crouched down beside her.

“Carla,” he called her name looking at her opening her eyes partially.

“Call the ambulance,” he yelled at the receptionist who had followed him. She ran back immediately to give a call for help. He carried her limp and cold body and placed her back on one of his thighs. She was shivering uncontrollably. She reeked of alcohol. The smell was too strong to not notice. Her body was blue while her quivering lips were drained of its cherry color. He saw the corner of her lip curl up. She looked distraught.

“Carla?” He patted her icy cold cheek and only received a whimper in response.

“Carla, can you hear me?” He asked again soothingly, receiving no words from her side.

“You are so cold!” He said as he felt her body against him. It pained him, to see her like this. Looking at her wasted and shivering, it hurt him more than it should have.

“Shit,” he said as he noticed her feet and her right hand, which held the now broken alcohol bottle. It broke when she fell down and pricked her skin which was now bleeding. He looked at her to see her eyes drooping and closing back yet again.

“No, no!” He whispered under his breath looking at her pass out.

“Ambulance fast, she’s bleeding,” he yelled loudly on top of his lungs to no one in particular,  looking at her close her eyes.

“Carla?” He whispered softly and he moved his knuckles on her cheeks gently and delicately. He wanted her to open her eyes and stay awake but no matter what he did, she wouldn’t open her eyes. Dread crawled up when her breaths became feeble.

“Please open your eyes,” his voice came out desperate. He hugged her freezing cold body and pulled away only to carry her in bridal style.

“And what are you supposed to be to the patient?” The doctor’s voice was the first thing she heard when she was gaining consciousness.

“I’m her husband,” another manly voice filled the room.

“This is a case of serious alcohol poisoning, we need to keep her under observation,” the doctor said and she was welcomed with extreme brightness when she opened her eyes.

She shut her eyes immediately as it was too bright for her. Aeden noticed her eyelids flutter and pushed past the doctor and made his way towards her.

“How are you?”

“Do you want water?”

“Are you hungry?”

“Are you cold?” He asked her all at once. He was happy to see her awake. but she on the other hand frowned looking at him so worried about her. She slowly pushed herself to a sitting position and Aeden wasted no time and helped her by placing the pillow behind her as she leaned against it.

He looked at her settled and hugged her without caring about anything. He embraced her in his warm hug. She wasn’t so cold anymore. The heaters in the hospital room were turned on full blast to help her feel warm. She closed her eyes as he hugged her and involuntarily leaned her head on his shoulder.

He pulled away and cupped her face on one side and sat down on the bed next to her. He brushed his thumb gently over her partially blue and chapped lips. She knew it was wrong to seek comfort in his embrace but she hadn’t felt this way before. It was a new feeling for her. No one had ever cared about her and for once, she liked it.

“How are you feeling?” He asked her softly leaning his forehead on her hers. The distance was uncomfortably less for her.

She just nodded looking at his crystal blue eyes. A smile formed on his eyes looking at her. She didn’t understand what this was but it was definitely wrong!

He shouldn’t be here. He should be with Pearl. And like always, she pushed herself away from him before she could lose herself to her emotions and get hurt.

Carla 

I got up from the bed and placed my left hand on my lap. A needle was pierced through it. I moved my right hand and pulled it out, whilst hissing in pain.

Aeden was out to get something for me to eat. I guess this was the right time to get out of here. 

Placing my legs down on the ground, I got down. My legs did feel a little numb but it’ll pass. Aeden had already asked Jane to get me an extra pair of clothes to wear and some of my other essentials.

I walked to the bag, which was on the couch, and pulled out my jeans and a plain black full-sleeved t-shirt. I took it to the bathroom and changed myself out of the hospital dress.

For some weird reason, I’ve never really liked hospitals. They smell weird and all of the patients suffering here, made my gut churn. I walked back to my bag and pulled the brush out and bushed my hair down, gathered them, and secured a hair tie around them.

I looked at my hands, the right one wrapped in bandages, And the left one had the needle, and since I removed it, a few drops of blood had spurted out. 

Wiping my left hand with a paper towel, I looked for my phone in the bag. If I stayed here one more minute, I was gonna throw up.

My feet were covered with band-aids, only were the glass pierced my skin. It was hurting and I was limping but right now, I needed to get out of here. 

I took the bag and headed out but I bumped into someone or should I say, my husband?

“Where do you think you are going?” He asked coldly. So I guess the cold and ‘I have no feelings’ Aeden was back.

He had a tray of food in his hands and I stepped back and looked at him. He was clenching his jaw hard and his grip on the try increased.

“I’m leaving. If you want, you can join.” I said nonchalantly and decided to walk from the side but that was my mistake.

He thrashed the tray on the ground as he grabbed me by my arm harshly and pinned me to the wall. I gasped but he seemed least bothered.

“Leave me!” I said as I tried to pry his hands off of me.

“Listen to me very carefully, if you ever try to pull some stupid stunt like this again, I swear I’ll not let you be,” he said threateningly and held my jaw with his other hand. I gulped looking at him. He looked so scary.

“Am I clear?” He asked as he got closer to me and breathed out in my ear calmly. I was too lost to realize there was no distance between our bodies. My back was plastered on the wall and my front to his. His body heat radiated and I shivered at our closeness.

“Am I clear?” He husked, licking the rim of my ear. I closed my eyes and bit my lip as his warm tongue touched my skin. I breathed shakily as his breath hit my ear and it felt different.

“Y..y.yes,” I whispered and stammered.

For some reason, I knew he was smirking against my neck as he dipped his head lower to my shoulder and kissed me at the crook of my neck. I bit my lip harder and fisted my hands when his lips touched my sensitive spot.

I released a breath I was holding when he slid his arm around the back of my waist and pulled me more closely if that was possible.

He sniffed as he scattered some feathery kisses around my shoulder and neck making me moan involuntarily. The way my body betrayed me when he touched me, this hadn't happened to me before.

I snapped before we got lost in ourselves. This was wrong! What is he doing to me? I pushed him away instantly with all my might. Tears gathered my eyes as I felt exploited. 

“Please don’t touch me again,” I pleaded with tears in my eyes. He looked at me for a second before realizing what had actually happened. He looked at me sorrowfully and nodded. He turned his to the side and cursed while I walked out of the room.

I leaned on the wall outside the room and placed my palm over my mouth to suppress my cries. What’s wrong with me? Why do I give in so easily every time he touches me? 

I can’t do this. How will I live with him for eight months when one day is so difficult. In fact, it’s not even a day. 

God, please give me strength!

I wiped my tear away when I saw him walk out of the room. “I’ll be out in the car,” he said in his cold tone and I just nodded looking down.

After calming myself down, I walked out to see the car waiting for me in front of the hospital exit. I kept the bag in the backseat and got in the front seat without looking at him.

He started the engine as I buckled the seatbelt. Leaning my head on the window, I looked outside and tried to concentrate on anything but him. My eyes were dropping and I decided to give in because I knew it would be better for me if I slept. I wouldn’t have to think about Aeden.

“Shh... Go back to sleep,” He cooed when I was about to open. As much as I wanted to sleep, I flicked my eyes open only to see myself in his arms being carried. 

My eyes widened in horror when I realized this wasn’t my house and neither it was Nina’s. Wait, was this his house?

“I can walk,” I interrupted and tried to wiggle out of his hold. 

“Don’t,” he said in a cold, threateningly calm tone and I stopped at once.

He carried me up to a room and kicked the door open and walked to the bed and laid me down gently. I looked at him confused. Why did he do that?

He was about to head out of the door but stopped when I spoke up.

“Why?” 

“Why did you carry me here or take me to the hospital? Why Aeden?” I asked him. I saw his body go stiff and he balled his hands into fists.

“You wouldn’t have been here if it wasn’t for me. I had to make things right.” He said and walked away before I could ask him more.

What does making things right mean? What did he mean by that? Once he is normal and the next second, his demeanor changes completely. Is he bipolar or something? Why can’t I understand him? And most of all, what’s wrong with me when I’m around him?