âWho do you think youâre fooling, playing the saint? Is this the act you put on to snare Nolan in the first place? Let me tell you, he might be clueless, but I see right through you. Stop pretending with me.
Youâre just jealous, arenât you?
Iâve known him for years. And you? Youâve been around for what, a few months? You donât know a thing about him. What gives you the right to be with him? Youâre not even in his league!â
Nolan stepped in sharply, âDahlia, sheâs my wife, and I wonât allow you to speak to her that way.â
His brow was furrowed, his demeanor stern, which brought tears streaming down Dahliaâs face. âYouâve never been harsh with me before, and now youâre yelling at me for her? Oh, my head is pounding. Call the doctor, quick!â
Regina, flustered by Dahliaâs apparent discomfort, stammered, âNolan, sheâ¦â
âGo get the doctor now, and donât panic,â he instructed calmly.
Regina hurried out after pressing the call button, summoning the nurse, who arrived swiftly. After a quick check that revealed no bleeding at the wound site, the nurse chided them both, âThe patient needs rest and minimal emotional stress. Whatever your issues are, they can wait until sheâs more stable. We have other patients to attend to; we canât devote all our time to you two.â
Regina apologized profusely, âIâm so sorry. It wasnât intentional, and weâll make sure it doesnât happen again. Please, go attend to your other duties.â
Dahlia kept silent, her earlier claim of dizziness a ploy to gain the upper hand w couple. After the scolding, she didnât make a peep.
But admitting that Nolan and Regina were married was still a bitter pill for her to s âJust leave, both of you. I donât need anyone here. Let me be alone.â
Nolan initially stood to leave, but Dahliaâs spiteful words held him back. In the end, he made a decision.
âRegina and I will head out now. Iâve contacted Sienna. She said she make time to look after you.â
With that, he took Reginaâs hand, and they left the room, Regina glancing back with concern.
No sooner had they stepped out than the sound of a shattering glass echoed behind them. The nurse rushed back in, clearly beyond frustrated.
Despite Dahliaâs complaints of dizziness, the nurse firmly reprimanded her, âThis is a hospital, not your house. If you want to throw a tantrum, I can discharge you right now, and you can take it elsewhere!â
âWe canât just leave her alone in the hospital, can we?â Regina asked, second-guessing their departure.
She admitted that her harsh words were partly to provoke Dahlia, but seeing her alone in the hospital bed softened her heart.
Nolan exhaled silently, the compassionate journalist in Regina resurfacing. âWeâll just stay nearby until her agent arrives. Then weâll leave. If anything happens in the meantime, weâre close enough to get back quickly.â
Regina smiled, relieved. âThat way, she wonât get upset seeing us, which isnât good for her recovery anyway.â
As they sat down together, the tension between them eased. Regina, feeling braver, was tempted to ask Nolan the question that had been nagging at her.
âNolanâ¦â