ASSAULT

As I slowly regained consciousness, I found myself lying in a hospital bed with an IV attached to my arm. Groggily, I glanced around the room and spotted a female doctor speaking with Dylan, who was standing near the door. Panic shot through me as I wondered if she could be informing him about my pregnancy. I desperately hoped he hadn't discovered the truth. "Please, let him not have found out," I silently pleaded, clenching my fists in anxiety.

Just then, I heard Dylan's voice. "I'll go grab something for her to eat before she wakes up," he said, turning towards me. Alarmed, I quickly shut my eyes, hoping to keep my secret hidden a little longer. "I hope he hasn't discovered anything. If he has, I fear he won't handle it well," I worried to myself.

After Dylan exited the room, I cautiously reopened my eyes, my heart racing.

As I lifted my head to get the doctor's attention, she turned towards me and greeted me with a warm smile. "Oh, Mrs. Harmon, you're awake. Your husband just stepped out," she informed me kindly, to which I nodded weakly. "Are you experiencing any other discomfort?" she inquired promptly, her concern shown in her voice.

I shook my head, determined to convey what weighed heavily on my mind. "I hope she understands and can help me," I silently prayed.

Before I could voice my concerns, the doctor interjected, "Mrs. Harmon, you're one week pregnant, and it's crucial to take care of yourself for a safe delivery and to avoid complications."

Upon hearing her words, I grasped her hands urgently, sensing the disbelief in her eyes. Desperation surged within me as I implored, "Doctor, did you tell my husband I'm pregnant?" Anxiously, I bit down on my lower lip, awaiting her response.

"No, I haven't. He's been so worried, so I considered it, but I decided it's best for you to tell him yourself as his wife," the doctor reassured me. A wave of relief Hit me as I breathed a sign of relief, and I whispered, "Thank goodness."

"Can I ask you a favor?" I requested, noticing the surprise in her eyes. After a moment, she nodded. "Sure."

"Please don't tell him I'm pregnant," I implored, my eyes welling up with emotion. "Please," I pleaded once more, my words hanging heavily in the air. "He should never know!" I stressed, hoping she understood the urgency of my plea. Searching her eyes for understanding, I waited anxiously for her response.

"I won't since you've asked me not to. I don't know why, but I won't," she replied, nodding in affirmation. gratitude and relief Hit me as I mustered a small smile and whispered, "Thank you."

Suddenly the door creaked open, Dylan strolled in carrying a meal box in one hand and a flower in the other. Both the doctor and I turned our gaze toward the doorway, where Dylan stood with a gentle smile. Seeing the flower, resignation shook my head. "Not again," I mumbled to myself, dreading the inevitable conversation.

"Ah, you're awake. How are you feeling now?" Dylan inquired, his eyes filled with concern as he approached the bed. I remained silent, simply watching him as he spoke. "I'm so relieved to see you talking to the doctor. Thank goodness you're gaining your strength back," he expressed, his caring tone striking a dissonant chord within me. His unexpected tenderness felt unsettling, stirring unfamiliar emotions within me.

Dylan's presence brought conflicting emotions, leaving me unsettled and unsure how to respond.

I remained silent as Dylan continued to wear a gentle smile, his concern obvious in his eyes. With a small eye roll, I couldn't help but scoff inwardly at his unexpected demeanor. "Doctor, how is my wife?" Dylan inquired, turning his attention to the female doctor.

"Wife?" I thought to myself, a chuckle escaping before I could stop it. "Is he mistaking me for someone else?" I added, a hint of disgust coloring my thoughts.

"Mrs. Harmon is improving, but she's still experiencing stomach pain and needs to complete the IV for further recovery," the doctor informed Dylan, her words bringing me relief. I was grateful that she had honored my request not to disclose my pregnancy to him.

"You'll be feeling better soon, Mrs. Harmon. Just finish the IV," she reassured me with a warm smile before leaving the room.

I nodded, offering her a grateful smile as she departed, thankful for her understanding and support.

As the doctor left, Dylan turned towards me approaching with a warm smile, holding the flower and meal box in his hands. I sneezed repeatedly, raising my hand to signal him to stop approaching. I didn't want his flowers or anything else from him, especially not after what had transpired.

"What the heck," I muttered under my breath, my expression disbelief and annoyance.

"You don't want the meal?" Dylan asked, in confusion.

"I don't need anything from you, Dylan. You don't need to pretend to be nice now. I don't want it, really, I don't," I retorted, emphasizing my point with a raised eyebrow.

"How could you reject all this, Charlotte? I bought them for you," Dylan protested, looking down at his hands, which held the offerings.

"I didn't beg or plead with you to buy them, did I?" I countered, my frustration bubbling to the surface.

"How could you be so stubborn and ungrateful?" he lashed out, his tone tinged with exasperation.

"I learned from the best," I replied with a wry smirk as Dylan's words stung.

"You are so... stubborn, that's why you're in this condition," Dylan retorted before storming out of the hospital room, leaving behind a lingering sense of frustration. I watched him go, feeling emotions and unable to muster a response. With a resigned eye roll, I settled back onto the bed, waiting for the IV to finish its course.

Dylan's POV

Fuming with frustration, I stormed out of the hospital clutching the flower and meal box, my mind reeling with disbelief. "How could Charlotte treat me like this? How could she be so ungrateful after I brought her to the hospital and even went out of my way to buy her a meal and a flower just to please her? I can't believe this," I muttered to myself, the anger simmering beneath the surface.

As I marched towards the parking lot, I noticed my assistant Charles had arrived, likely in response to my earlier call requesting a pickup. Charles hurried over to me, concern etched on his face. "Sir, what's wrong?" he inquired.

"Can you imagine how rude Charlotte was? After all I did for her today, she was so rude to me just now," I vented, gesturing back toward the hospital in frustration.

"Sir, don't tell me you bought this flower for Mrs. Harmon," Charles questioned, his expression shifting to one of realization.

"Yes, why not? I did that to please her. Why would she act like that? I really don't get it," I replied, bewildered by Charlotte's reaction.

"Boss, she's allergic to pollen in flowers," Charles revealed, prompting a moment of dawning realization.

"What?" I exclaimed, the pieces of the puzzle clicking into place as I processed Charles's revelation.

" She doesn't like getting close to flowers," Charles added, shaking his head with a wry smile.

" How?" I asked in surprise, my eyebrows shooting up in disbelief. I had never known about this peculiar aversion.

" The last time you sent me to give flowers to Miss Allison, I mistakenly placed it in Mrs. Harmon's room while she was sleeping," Charles recounted, his expression turning sheepish. "Before I could leave the room, she started sneezing so bad and hard non-stop, and then when she opened her eyes and saw the flower on the cabinet, she quickly told me to take it away, saying she was allergic to pollens in flowers."

I looked at him, stunned by the revelation. "Don't tell me you don't know, boss? I thought you knew, that's why you told me to give Allison the flower, not her," Charles said, his voice tinged with confusion.

I looked at my assistant and covered my eyes in shame. "What kind of husband have I been all this while? How could I not know she is allergic to flowers?" I asked myself, feeling a pang of guilt for my oversight.

"Boss, do you know her favorite meal?" Charles asked me, but I shook my head negatively, realizing how much I had yet to learn about the woman I thought I knew so well.

I moved close to Charles and handed him the flower and meal box. "Sir, What's wrong?" Charles asked me, looking puzzled.

"Keep them in the car and wait for me. I'll be back soon," I said to Charles, who nodded in acknowledgment. I then hurried into the hospital.

Upon reaching Charlotte's room door, I was surprised to find two imposing bodyguards standing guard. "What's wrong?" I muttered to myself, feeling unease as I approached the door and placed my hand on the handle, despite the presence of the guards. Before I could attempt to open the door, I was blocked by one of the bodyguards.

"Sir, you can't enter," he said firmly, his deep voice brooking no argument.

"Why?" I asked, taken aback by the unexpected resistance.

"Leave for your best interest, sir," the other guard added cryptically, their stoic expressions revealing nothing of their intentions.

Confused and determined to see Charlotte, I attempted to push past them, but before I could react, I was forcefully shoved to the wall, and the impact sent me falling into the opposite wall, causing a sharp pain to shoot through my back as I fell to my knees after the harsh back hit, stunned by the sudden and unexpected assault.