Chapter 5
Edmund’s POV
Beep Beep Beep
That sound kept piercing my eardrums, almost annoyingly so, pulling me out of my much needed rest.
Where the hell could I be that I was being disturbed by such an annoying sound?
The last thing I remembered was sitting in the back of my car, rushing toward a business meeting. Then nothing. A fear of screeching tires, maybe? Or was that in my head?
A groan escaped my lips as a sharp pain tore through my skull. My entire body ached, like I’d been run over by a million trains. Every joint, every bone screamed in protest and pain- so much pain, when I tried to shift on the uncomfortable bed beneath me.
Slowly, I forced my eyelids open.
“Fuck!” I groaned, my voice hoarse as Blinding light hit my eyes, stabbing at my already pounding head. I cursed under my breath and raised a trembling hand to shield my eyes until they adjusted.
Hospital. Great.
So I didn’t make it to that meeting after all. Damn it. I hoped my PA had the sense to step up and reschedule that meeting for later. Losing those clients wasn’t an option. Still, knowing that boy… I probably shouldn’t put my trust in him anyways.
I shifted slightly, ignoring the sting that radiated down my side, and let my gaze roam around the room. Stark white walls, the faint antiseptic smell, the monitor humming softly. And then, I breathed a sigh of relief.
My briefcase. It was sitting not far from the bed, within sight but still out of reach–unfortunately.
If I could just grab it…
Clenching my jaw, I attempted to push myself upright, but the movement sent a wave of dizziness crashing over me. Pain exploded in my head, dragging me back down to the mattress with a frustrated sigh.
Perfect. Just perfect.
The door swung open, and a nurse stepped in. Her eyes landed on me and widened instantly.
“Mr. Montgomery! You’re awake,” she gasped, rushing toward the bed. “Please don’t move, I’ll be right back.”
Before I could even form a question, she darted out again, probably rushing to alert the doctor.
I dragged a hand down my face and winced from the pain.I exhaled through my teeth. I hated hospitals. I hated being weak. And most of all, I hated waiting.
Now I had to wait for that damn nurse to return so she could get my phone from the case. I wanted, no, needed to go through my emails.
My eyes flickered to the door, and back toward the briefcase impatiently.
Where the hell was she!?
I heard footsteps approaching and let out a breath of relief. Finally,
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Chapter 3
MMM
“Good, you’re back,” I said, my voice rough. “Get me my phone from the briefcase. I need to check my emails. And get me a glass of distilled water, my throat is quite”
The words caught in my throat, dying on my tongue the moment my eyes landed on her.
Not the nurse.
Her.
For a second, I thought I was hallucinating. My heart slammed against my ribs, and I pushed myself upright, desperate to see her clearly, to make sure my mind wasn’t playing stupid tricks on me.
But the effort was too much. Pain ripped through me, my vision blurred, and my body gave out, slamming me back onto the mattress.
Darkness clouded around my vision, dragging me under. I couldn’t tell if it was from the strain of moving too much just after gaining my consciousness, or from the shock of seeing her again after all these years.
My Amelia.
As I slipped back into unconsciousness, one thought replaying itself in my mind, kept repeating a desperate prayer to whatever God might be listening: please, let it be real. Please, let it truly be her. Let it be Amelia.
I don’t know how long I’d been unconscious, but when I finally opened my eyes again, I found a doctor leaning over me, her stethoscope cool against my chest.
I blinked, trying to focus, but the second I registered her face, the air left my lungs.
It was her.
My Amelia.
“It’s really you,” I whispered, my voice rough, barely audible.
For a moment, I thought my heart might give out–not from weakness, but from the sudden warmth that spread through me. It felt like the sun had broken through a lifetime of winter, melting every shard of ice I’d buried around my heart.
She glanced at me while checking my pulse, and a small smile curved her lips. “Hi, Edmund.”
“You’re really here.”
“Yes, Mr. Montgomery,” she replied lightly, the stethoscope still pressed against my chest. “In the flesh.”
“But… how?”
She chuckled softly, her eyes briefly meeting mine before returning to the monitor. “Well, I went to school, worked my ass off, and got a degree as a doctor, I guess.”
“No, not that,” I croaked, shaking my head slightly. “I mean-”
Before I could finish, the door burst open.
“Edmund!” Vikki’s voice shrieked as she rushed to my bedside. She tried to throw herself into my arms, but the nurse stepped in, raising her hands to block her.
“Please, ma’am, not yet. The doctor has to finish her examination first.”
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353pm P P M M
Chapter 3
Lewis followed in behind her, hants stoved into his pockets, his gaze calm, like he was observing the
But my eyes never left Amelia. Even as Vikki hovered close, even as Lewis stood quietly by the door, Amelia was the only one I saw.
She finished checking my blood pressure, made a note on the chart, then sighed softly as if relieved.
“Alright, Mr. Montgomery,” she said, her voice professional though I swore I caught a flicker of softness beneath it, “Can you rate your headache for me on a scale of one to ten?”
“Hmm,” I tilted my head, grimacing a little. “About a five,” I responded.
“Good. And any dizziness?”
“Just when I move too quickly.”
“Okay. Any nausea?”
“No.”
She nodded, jotting something down. “That’s it for now. All done. The nurse will check in on you from time to time. And please don’t hesitate to report anything unusual as soon as possible.”
“Thank you,” I said quietly, meaning it more than I let on.
She smiled, and for a second it was just us again. “You’re welcome.”
“Can I see my husband now?” Vikki’s voice cut in, sharp- impatient.
Amelia stepped aside, her expression unreadable. “He’s all yours.”
Vikki immediately sat beside me on the bed, her hands fluttering over mine rubbing the back of my hand, fussing over me with endless questions I could barely process.
But my gaze followed Amelia.
It was only when the door shut softly behind her that my eyes finally shifted back to Vikki.
She was staring at me expectantly.
“What?” I asked, my tone sharper than I had intended it to be.
“I was asking if you were hungry?” she repeated, tilting her head.
I licked my lips, my throat dry. “No appetite yet. But… I could use a glass of water.”
“Oh! I’ll get that immediately.” She jumped off the bed like she’d been waiting for a command. “I’ll be right back, okay?”
“Sure,” I muttered, already distracted.
The door hadn’t fully closed before Lewis stepped closer.
“Hey man,” he said quietly. “How are you feeling?”
“That’s not important right now, Lewis.” I gave him a pointed look. “Did you see Amelia? She works here.”
3/4
13:53 pm PPM M
Chapter 3
“Yes,” he said simply, sliding his hands into his pockets again. “We were together when the mise told us you were awake. She’s really doing well for herself.”
Despite the ache in my body. I managed a small smile. “Yes. She is” My thoughts drifted before I could stop them. Mayhe maybe she’d be open to grabbing a drink sometime. At least for old time’s sake.
Lewis caught the look on my face and groaned, “No. No, no, no, no, no,”
1 frowned. “What?”
“I know that look.”
“What look!”
He leaned forward. “You look like a man who just got reunited with his destined soulmate” He paused, his voice firm. “You’re married, Edmund.”
I ignored him, my mind already planning ahead of time. I adjusted on the bed and sighed, closing my eyes.
“Do me a favor, okay? Call my PA and have him reschedule all my meetings for the next two weeks. If he complains, tell him I’ll have his head when I leave this hospital.”
4/4
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
