Upon realizing this, his heart was filled with shock and a sense of lucky relief, but more than anything, panic.

Looking at Aurelia lying unconscious on the hospital bed, her face gradually losing its color, his heart ached painfully as unprecedented panic consumed him.

He was terrified of losing her again.

With trembling hands, he signed the surgical consent form, angrily yelling at the crew staff for not taking good care of her, like a crazed lion, pacing back and forth in the corridor, losing his composure for the first time.

...

Reflecting back on that day's events, Mason Nightshade exhaled.

That day, he was too shocked, too flustered, it took him a long time to calm down and look at the oblivious woman who hadn't gone through anything. He didn't know how to face her.

His heart was full of guilt.

He wanted to get closer, yet was afraid to do so, but couldn't help wanting to be close.

"Aurelia..." Mason lowered his eyes, looking at her sleeping face with slightly cool eyebrows, his heart aching, "Why has your attitude towards me suddenly become so cold and hard? Is it just because of what Nancy Carter said to you? But if in the past life you also went through these, why didn't you push me this far away?"

Where did it go wrong?

Suddenly, a flash of thought crossed his mind, Mason's eyes turned sharp, "Did Eleanor Spencer do something to you?!"

In this life, his attitude towards Eleanor Spencer changed greatly. He didn't even glance at her before, knowing she was Aurelia's friend, treating her indifferently, not paying much attention.

But now it's different. Knowing those things she did, his attitude towards her cooled.

Eleanor should have sensed something.

Could it be, she said even more outrageous things to Aurelia?

With this thought, a terrible flame of anger burst in Mason's chest.

That woman!

Even though nothing happened between them, the fact they grew up together was far too easy for people to speculate.

Aurelia is someone who lacks a sense of security.

What if she overthought…

Mason tightened his arms around Aurelia a bit more, panic surged in his heart, probably grasping her too tightly, causing her pain. She whimpered, her eyelashes fluttered, and slowly opened her eyes.

Mason's body instantly stiffened, his breathing became tense, staring nervously at Aurelia, even when facing dangerous enemies, his heart never beat as fast as it did at this moment, fingertips touching her scorching hot body, wanting to withdraw, but it was too late.

He could only watch as the woman's eyelashes trembled, enchanting eyes beneath the sleepy haze, opened, bewildered, looking at him.

Mason's heart skipped a beat, "Aurelia, it's not what you think. Listen to me explain, I..."

"Mason." Her gentle voice interrupted Mason. Aurelia slightly raised her chin, her eyes carried a faint sleepiness, her enchanting eyes stunningly beautiful against the night.

Mason swallowed, his gaze darkened, his voice hoarse, "Hmm?"

"I'm hungry."

"Hmm, hmm?" Mason initially thought he misheard. But looking into Aurelia's eyes, he realized she truly seemed to be waiting for someone to feed her. That look made one want to caress her head.

But Mason's mind still retained a sliver of rationality, preventing him from doing so.

She was probably trying to avert awkwardness between them by saying this deliberately.

Mason smiled bitterly in his heart, sat up, his voice remained soft, "Okay, I'll get you something to eat, wait here for a while."

As he got off the bed, his clothes were suddenly grabbed by a force.