Regina and Nolan hadnât been waiting long when Dahlia was wheeled out of the treatment room. Her wound, under normal circumstances, wouldâve been a quick fix. However, thanks to her status as a public figure, the doctors had taken extra care with cosmetic stitches to ensure no trace of a scar would mar her forehead.
As soon as Dahlia emerged, she called out Nolanâs name with a volume that echoed down the sterile hospital halls.
Nolan jumped to his feet and hurried to her side, joining the nurses in guiding her gurney toward her room.
âHow are you feeling, Dahlia? Still feeling dizzy?â he asked with genuine concern etched on his face.
Regina, who had followed them, offered her assistance, too. But the moment Dahliaâs eyes landed on her, the smile vanished from her lips. âWhat are you doing here?â
âI came because I care, obviously. Youâre hospitalized, and I thought Iâd look after Nolan. Heâs a guy, after all. Probably a bit clumsy when it comes to this sort of thing-not as attentive as I can be. Plus, we never really cleared the air about that little misunderstanding. I need you to know Iâm not some homewrecker.â
Lying on the hospital bed, Dahliaâs features twisted into a grimace. Reginaâs feigned concern and high-
and-mighty excuses were enough to make her blood boil. Did Regina really think she was a fool?
âMs. Tanner, I appreciate the sentiment, but I donât need your kind of care. Nolan have known each other for years. Weâve always been there for each other when we know each other inside out. Your presence alone is making my head spin. C clash of auras or something. Nolan, could you please ask Ms. Tanner to leave?â
Regina cast a helpless look at Nolan, clearly baffled by Dahliaâs absurd excuse. If s an issue with her, why didnât she just say it outright? What was all this nonsense ab clashing auras?
Once the medical staff had settled Dahlia in her room and left, instructing her to rest an avoid any sudden movements, Nolan spoke up.
âIâll call your agent to come over and take care of you,â he said, trying to find a middle ground.
Dahlia immediately grabbed his hand. âOh, donât be silly. Youâre the one I want here. Siennaâs got kids to look after. Itâd be downright cruel to drag her here now!â
Before Nolan could respond, Regina quickly chimed in, eager to assert her willingness to play nurse. âI could stay. My place is empty, and I can easily camp out here in the hospital. Dahlia, I really do owe you an apology. I might have been too rigid before, and thatâs probably why you ended up in this mess.
Donât worry, Iâll make it up to you.â
Dahlia was at a loss as to whether Regina was playing dumb or truly clueless. All she wanted was to reclaim the private world she once shared with Nolan. She couldnât understand why things had changed-couldnât he take care of her just like old times?
Unbeknownst to Dahlia, Nolanâs situation had significantly altered. He was married now, and Regina was his wife, bound by the law. He was no longer the man at Dahliaâs beck and call, and the past they shared was just that a memory, one that Nolan had long since come to terms with.
Only Dahlia seemed trapped in that bygone era, unwilling to let go.
âIâm sorry, but we have elders at home. Nolan danât stick around to keep you company, Dahlia. Right now, Iâm your best bet. Or we could hire a professional caregiver. Theyâd be more qualified than either of us,â Regina said, glancing at Nolan for support.
Nolan hadnât said a word. He was curious to see how Regina would handle the situation. But Dahlia cut him off, her patience worn thin.
âDo you not understand plain English? I donât want you here. Whatâs with all this pretense? Are you just waiting for me to throw in the towel?â