A few more days had passed with Eva staying alone at the hospital. She'd started to leave the ward, to head outside and take some fresh air.
However, no matter the amount of air she breathed in would make her forget, or at least, make her feel at ease with what she'd gone through.
Dante hadn't come to see her again since the day he came to introduce himself. But she didn't care. She wasn't expecting a daily visit from him.
Eva's wheelchair was being pushed. She still couldn't walk and needed to start her rehabilitation session soon.
She suddenly saw an incubator. Without thinking, she said, "Please take me to the window of the incubator."
The nurse pushing her wheelchair nodded before doing so.
Eva looked through the door where she could see new born babies sleeping on their beds so soundly.
If she'd successfully left Lexora before Katherine had found her, perhaps she would have her baby in her arms already. Perhaps she wouldn't care that Nathan and Katherine were getting married. Perhaps everything would be perfect as long as she had her baby in her arms.
But she didn't…all because of that couple.
Eva wondered if she'd done anything wrong to either of them. While they'd been dating, she'd made sure to be an understanding girlfriend and wife whenever they hung out together.
Even her parents had warned her but she paid deaf ears to their warning, only for her to lose the most precious thing she truly cared for, her child.
Before Eva could realize it, she'd started to cry.
"Ma'am are you okay? Do you feel pain anywhere?" The nurse asked gently. "Do you need me to take me back to your room?"
Eva shook her head, wiping her tears away.
"No…not at all. May I use your phone to make a phone call please?" She asked. "I've been away from home for a long time already. My family is looking for me," she explained.
The nurse was a little hesitant but agreed. She fetched her phone, handing it to Eva and then excused herself to give her privacy for her call.
Eva dialed the phone number, making sure to confirm before placing the call.
Eva's hands were trembling as she waited for the person to pick up. After the third ring, there was a tender, "Hello."
**
Eva decided to head to the garden after her phone call. It had been a successful one, and after a few hours, she'd be back with her family once again.
The sun was bright but the wind was chilly and cool on the skin. The leaves rustled beneath the feet of the other people who were walking around.
For the first time since she woke up from her coma, Eva felt relieved.
"You're not breaking things today. That's new," she suddenly heard a voice from behind her.
Her head snapped to find Dante, his hands in his pockets, standing in his glory near a tree.
The wind blew his dark hair, making him look like some god sent down to earth. An arrogant god.
But that wasn't what blew Eva's mind. It was the way he was able to move without her hearing his steps again.
Her gaze fell on his shoes again. It was different from the one he'd been wearing the other time.
"Mr. De Rossi," the nurse bowed in respect.
"You can leave. I'll take her back to her ward in time for her medicine," Dante said.
Eva and the nurse exchanged a look before she turned her heels and left.
Instead of talking, Eva just ignored him.
She was trying to have a peaceful and quiet moment, but his appearance had totally ruined everything.
"What? You aren't going to talk to me?"
"What do you want, Mr. De Rossi?" She asked. "Let me guess, have you finally decided about what you want from me?"
There was a sudden wind that blew past which made Eva shiver. She clutched her arms, trying to hide her fingers under the sweater.
"What's your price?" She asked.
Dante sighed. She still thought he was some hooker. However, he didn't fail to notice the way she was shivering. Even her teeth had started to clatter.
Was he really going to make such a weak person his pretend wife? But something in him told him Eva wasn't the…
Dante stopped his thoughts. She was a stranger after all.
"I'll tell you once I get you inside," he said. Without saying another word, Dante turned the wheelchair, heading back inside the hospital to her room.
Eva's body eased into the warm temperature of her hospital room. Although the sterile smell of disinfectant and medicine scent had gotten stronger, it was something she could live with for the next few days until she got discharged. As long as she didn't die from the cold.
"I have something to offer you," Dante said as they settled in. But didn't get the chance to follow up with his words when they suddenly heard a knock on the door. The person entered.
It was a man.
Dante watched as Eva's face bloomed with happiness, tears pooling in her eyes as she stared at the man who seemed to be just about his height but younger than him. He had a good muscular build, just that Dante was a lot bigger and stronger.
"Ryan."
Dante's eyes darkened as Ryan marched towards Eva and wrapped his arms around her, gently but needy as if she was a fragile thing.
His presence in the room was completely forgotten as the two hugged each other like long lost lovers separated by the ocean.
"I knew you were alive. I just knew it," Ryan said.
Something unpleasant stirred in Dante's stomach for some reason.
After a moment, they looked at him.
"I apologize for the interruption, Mr. De Rossi," Ryan said. "Were you about to say something to Eva?"
Dante cocked his eyebrow at Ryan but ignored him.
"I need to speak to you, in private," he said, looking directly at Eva.
Eva glanced up at Ryan before she replied, "You can say whatever you want to say in front of Ryan."