CHAPTER 93: MIDNIGHT CALL

Alexia’s POV

I waited for Aiden.

And waited.

And waited.

Up until midnight—and still, he didn’t show.

I didn’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed. On one hand, it meant I wouldn’t have to deal with his sharp, knowing gaze, or worse—him asking me any suspicious questions. On the other hand... why the hell was I even waiting for him?

Ugh. Stupid Aiden. Stupid past life nonsense. Stupid Liz. He could stay at the damn hospital with her all night for all I cared. It’s not like I was losing sleep over it. Nope. Not at all.

Except I was.

I sighed, finally giving up and heading to our room. But when I saw the big, stupid, comfortable bed we shared, I scowled. I wasn’t sleeping there. Not when I was this mad.

So what did I do? I grabbed a pillow, stomped over to the couch, and plopped down dramatically.

Was it petty? Yes. Did I care? Absolutely not.

I wrapped myself in my blanket cocoon, muttering under my breath, "Stupid Aiden. Stupid bed. Stupid everything."

Then I closed my eyes and willed myself to sleep, totally not imagining him coming home, waking me up, and carrying me to bed. Nope. Definitely not.

I don’t know what the fuck to do anymore.

Or how to feel.

My heart is torn between two people.

Liz—my childhood love. The girl I once thought I would spend forever with.

And Alexia—my fake wife. The woman who shouldn’t matter but somehow does.

I know I told Alexia that I needed to talk to her. That I’d be home early. But... yeah, things happened.

Liz’s surgery was successful, which was a huge relief. But I stayed, waiting for her to wake up, thinking I’d leave once she did. That was the plan. Simple, right?

Except when she woke up, she didn’t want me to go.

She looked so fragile, lying there in that hospital bed, her face pale and exhausted. And when she held onto my hand, whispering a weak, "Please stay," how could I say no?

So yeah, I stayed.

Mike had left after Liz woke up, but I didn’t. I couldn’t. I told myself it was just for a little longer. That I’d leave soon.

But the next thing I knew, it was already midnight.

Liz had finally fallen asleep, her grip on my hand loosening. Only then did I quietly slip away, rubbing a tired hand down my face as I made my way out of the hospital.

I knew Alexia was probably pissed. Really pissed. And honestly? I couldn’t blame her.

But I had no idea how to explain this to her.

I went to the bathroom, did my night routine, and stepped back into the bedroom, feeling the exhaustion settle deep into my bones. But just as I reached for a towel to dry my face, I heard it—

Buzz. Buzz.

Alexia’s phone.

I glanced over at the nightstand where it lay, screen glowing in the dim room. Unknown Number.

I should’ve ignored it. I know I should’ve.

But curiosity—no, something else—got the better of me.

So, I picked it up and answered.

And then, a man’s voice came through the speaker.

What the hell?

"Alexia?" the voice asked smoothly, deep and almost too damn familiar.

My grip on the phone tightened instantly. Who the fuck is calling my wife in the middle of the night?

"She’s sleeping," I said flatly, my voice coming out colder than I intended.

There was a brief pause before the guy chuckled. Chuckled.

"Oh? And who am I speaking to?"

I saw red.

Without another word, I hung up.

Fury simmered beneath my skin as I stared at the phone, my jaw clenched so tight it could crack.

Who the hell was that? And why was he calling her this late?

I turned to look at Alexia, still curled up on the couch, completely unaware of the raging storm brewing inside me.

Yeah. Tomorrow, we were going to have a talk.

I don’t know what the hell came over me, but after that call, something inside me snapped.

I turned to look at Alexia, curled up on the couch like a stubborn little thing. Her face was peaceful, completely unaware of the turmoil I was in.

And then, just like that, I changed my mind.

She wasn’t sleeping on the damn couch. Not in my house. Not when she had a husband.

Without another thought, I strode over and scooped her up into my arms. She stirred slightly, mumbling something incoherent against my chest, but she didn’t wake up.

Good.

Because if she did, she’d probably start swinging at me.

I carried her over to the bed and gently laid her down, pulling the covers over her. Then, I stood there for a moment, watching her, my jaw still tense from that stupid phone call.

Who the hell was calling my wife in the middle of the night?

And why did it bother me so much?

I clenched my fists before exhaling sharply.

It’s not like I care, I told myself. She can do whatever she wants.

But if some guy thought he could call her this late at night when she had a husband... well, he had another thing coming.

*********

I woke up to a loud, blood-curdling scream.

Disoriented, my mind scrambled to make sense of what was happening when I suddenly felt Alexia thrashing wildly beside me.

And then I realized—shit.

My hands.

They were definitely somewhere inappropriate.

If she had been facing me, I’d already be nursing a slap so hard it would knock me into next week. But before I could even think about moving them, she jerked violently, and in my attempt to steady us both—

I grabbed onto her.

Bad idea.

The next thing I knew, we were both falling.

THUD!

We tumbled off the bed, tangled in the sheets, and hit the floor hard. I barely registered the pain before realizing the way we landed—

Alexia was beneath me, her wide, shocked eyes staring into mine.

Her chest was rising and falling rapidly, her lips parted slightly, and damn, if I wasn’t already a frustrated mess from last night, this definitely wasn’t helping.

Her hands pressed against my chest, but she didn’t push me away.

I should move. I should.

But then, I remembered the call last night.

Some guy had called her in the middle of the night, sounding way too comfortable. Who the hell was he? And why was he calling my wife at that hour?

A surge of something dark and possessive coursed through me.

She was mine.

And if she thought she had space in that little stubborn head of hers to think about anyone else—then she had another thing coming.

Before she could say a word, I crushed my lips against hers.

She gasped, her hands tightening against my chest, but I didn’t let her pull away. I tilted my head, deepening the kiss, making sure she felt me, tasted me, remembered that it was me—not some random guy—that she belonged to.

She shivered beneath me, and damn if that wasn’t the most satisfying thing ever.

By the time I pulled back, her lips were swollen, her breaths uneven, and her face was a mess of emotions—shock, anger, confusion... and something else she probably wasn’t ready to admit.

I smirked. Good.

"Next time," I murmured, brushing my thumb over her bottom lip, "tell your little admirer not to call you at night."

Her eyes widened. "You—you—"

"Me?" I smirked, enjoying her flustered state way too much.

I smirked, watching her flustered expression, her lips still swollen from my kiss.

"And there was something you were supposed to think about, little wife..." I murmured, leaning down again, trapping her against the floor.

Her breath hitched, and I could see the panic flash across her face.

"I think," I continued, brushing my nose against hers, "because we are married, I should fulfill my husbandly functions... you know, just to make sure you don’t go looking elsewhere and cheating on me... huh?"

Her eyes widened. "W-What—?"

I didn’t let her finish.

Before she could throw one of her sharp-tongued retorts at me, I captured her lips again, this time taking my time, savoring her taste. And this time—this time, she didn’t push me away.

No.

Instead, she responded.

She kissed me back.

Her fingers curled against my shirt, and I felt the hesitation in her movements, but she wasn’t stopping. If anything, she was melting into me, like she’d been waiting for this moment just as much as I had.

And fuck, that sent a rush of something dangerous through me.

I deepened the kiss, wanting to make sure she felt every bit of the frustration, the possessiveness, the need that had been building up inside me ever since she walked into my life and ruined me.

By the time we pulled apart, she was breathless, her cheeks flushed, her eyes dark with something she probably wasn’t ready to admit yet.

I smirked.

"See?" I whispered against her lips. "No need for anyone else, little wife."