Chapter 128
Marcus’s POV
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Marcus was in the middle of checking something in his laptop when his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and saw it was the building security. His first thought was Elara. Something had happened to Elara.
He answered immediately. “This is Marcus Thorne.”
“Mr. Thorne, this is David from security. We have a situation at the guest house. Miss Aurora Wellington has had an accident. Paramedics are on the way and I’ve called Miss Elara too.”
Marcus was already standing, grabbing his jacket. “What kind of accident? Is she okay?”
“She called down saying she fell and hit her head. She sounded disoriented so we called 911 to be safe.”
“I’m leaving the office now. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
Marcus hung up and rushed out of his office, barely stopping to tell his assistant he was leaving for an emergency. The drive home felt endless, every red light an eternity. He tried calling Elara but it went straight to voicemail.
When he finally pulled into the driveway, an ambulance was parked near the guest house, lights flashing. Marcus’s heart was pounding as he ran toward the entrance.
Two paramedics were inside with Aurora, who was sitting on the couch with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. There was a small cut on her forehead, blood dried around the edges.
“Aurora, what happened?” Marcus asked, kneeling down in front of her.
She looked up at him with watery eyes. “I’m so embarrassed. I was getting out of the shower and I slipped. Hit my head on the counter. It’s so stupid.”
One of the paramedics, a woman in her forties, stepped forward. “Are you family?”
“I’m Marcus Thorne. I own the property. Aurora is staying here as my guest.”
“She has a minor concussion. The cut on her forehead is superficial, we’ve already cleaned and bandaged it. But she was unconscious for a few minutes which is concerning.”
Marcus felt his stomach drop. “Unconscious?”
“I don’t remember passing out,” Aurora said quietly. “I just remember feeling dizzy and then waking up on
the bathroom floor.”
The paramedic continued. “We’d recommend she go to the hospital for observation, but she’s refusing transport.”
“I don’t need a hospital,” Aurora said firmly. “I’m fine. Just a little headache.”
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Chapter 128
“MISS Wellington, a concussion isn’t something to take lightly…”
“I said I’m fine.” Aurora’s voice had an edge to it now. “I’ve had worse injuries from even horseback riding. I know what a concussion feels like.”
The paramedic looked at Marcus. “We can’t force her to go if she’s refusing treatment. But someone should stay with her tonight. Wake her every few hours to check for symptoms. If she gets worse, call 911 immediately.”
Marcus nodded. “Of course. I’ll make sure someone checks on her.”
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The paramedics packed up their equipment and left, giving Aurora a list of warning signs to watch for. Once they were gone, Marcus sat down on the coffee table across from her.
“You really should have gone to the hospital,” he said.
“I hate hospitals. They’re depressing.” Aurora touched the bandage on her forehead gingerly. “Besides, it’s just a bump. I’ll be fine.”
“The paramedic said you were unconscious”
“Yes, for like two seconds. It’s not a big deal.”
Marcus studied her carefully. Something about this whole situation felt off. The timing, the severity, the way Aurora seemed more embarrassed than hurt. But he couldn’t put his finger on exactly what was bothering
him.
“How did you slip?” he asked. “The bathroom floors have non-slip mats.”
Aurora’s eyes flickered away from his for just a second. “I don’t know. I was getting out and my foot just went out from under me. It happened so fast.”
“And you hit your head on the counter?”
“Yes. Why are you interrogating me? Do you think I’m lying about falling?”
“No, I just want to understand what happened so we can prevent it from happening again.”
Aurora sighed and pulled the blanket tighter around herself. “I’m sorry for causing all this drama. I know you probably think I’m doing this for attention or something.”
“I don’t think that…”
“Yes you do. Ever since the towel incident, you’ve been looking at me like I’m some kind of manipulative villain. Like everything I do is calculated.”
Marcus felt a flash of guilt. She wasn’t entirely wrong. He had been viewing everything Aurora did through a lens of suspicion.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have made you feel that way. Accidents happen. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
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Chapter 128
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Aurora smiled weakly. “Thank you. And thank you for coming home to check on me. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Of course I did. You’re staying on my property. It’s my responsibility to make sure you’re safe.”
The word “responsibility” seemed to make Aurora flinch slightly. Marcus realized how cold it sounded. Like she was just an obligation, not a person he cared about.
“I mean, I care about what happens to you,” he amended. “We have history. I don’t want to see you hurt.”
“History.” Aurora repeated softly. “Is that all we are now? Just history?”
Marcus stood up, suddenly uncomfortable with the direction this conversation was heading. “I should let you rest. Do you need anything? Water, pain medication?”
“Actually, there is something.” Aurora looked up at him with those blue eyes that had once made his heart race. “The paramedic said someone should check on me overnight. Wake me up every few hours.”
“Right. I’ll have building security do wellness checks-”
“No.” Aurora reached out and grabbed his hand. “Marcus, please. I don’t want some stranger coming in and out all night. I’m already freaked out from hitting my head. Could you just… could you stay here? Just for tonight?”
Marcus felt his entire body go rigid. “Aurora, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not? You’d just be sleeping on the couch. Coming to wake me up every couple hours to make sure I’m not dying. That’s it.”
“My wife wouldn’t be comfortable with that arrangement.”
“Your wife who already thinks something is going on between us?” Aurora’s voice took on a sharp edge. “What difference does it make? She’s going to be upset either way.”
“That’s not the point-”
“The point is I could have a brain bleed or a seizure or any number of complications from this concussion. The paramedics said I shouldn’t be alone. So either you stay here and make sure I don’t die in my sleep, or you send me to a hospital where I’ll be alone and miserable all night. Those are your options.”
Marcus pulled his hand away from hers. “There are other options. I could hire a private nurse-”
“At this hour? By the time you find someone and get them here, it’ll be midnight. Please, Marcus. I’m asking you as someone you used to care about. Just tonight. Just to make sure I’m okay.”
Marcus ran both hands through his hair. This was a trap. He could feel it. But what was he supposed to do? Let Aurora potentially die from a concussion because he was worried about optics?
“Let me talk to Elara first,” he said finally.
“Of course. Talk to your wife. Make sure you have permission to save someone’s life.”
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Chapter 128
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The sarcasm in her voice stung, but Marcus ignored it. He pulled out his phone and walked toward the door. dialing Elara’s number.
It rang three times before she picked up.
“Marcus?”
“Hey. Where are you?”
“I just got home. Security called me about Aurora. What happened?”
“She fell in the shower, hit her head. Paramedics were here, she has a concussion. She refused to go to the hospital.”
He heard Elara take a sharp breath. “Is she okay?”
“She seems okay. But the paramedics said someone needs to check on her throughout the night. Wake her every few hours to watch for symptoms.”
There was a long pause. “And let me guess. She wants you to do it.”
“She doesn’t want to be alone-”
“Of course she doesn’t.” Elara’s voice was tight. “And you called to ask my permission?”
“I called to tell you what’s happening. I’m not going to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”
“But if I say no, then I’m the bad guy who’s letting Aurora potentially die from a head injury. Is that it?”
Marcus closed his eyes. “Elara, that’s not what I’m saying”
“It’s exactly what you’re saying. She’s put you in an impossible position where either you stay with her and I look like the jealous wife, or you don’t and you look like the heartless ex-boyfriend. It’s perfect, really. She’s very good at this.”
“So what do you want me to do?”
Another long pause. Marcus could hear her breathing on the other end, could practically feel her struggling with this decision.
“Do whatever you think is right,” Elara finally said. “I’m going to bed.”
She hung up.
Marcus stood there staring at his phone, feeling like he’d just failed some kind of test without knowing what the right answer was supposed to be.
He walked back into the guest house where Aurora was still sitting on the couch, looking small and vulnerable with her bandaged head.
“Well?” she asked. “What did she say?”
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Chapter 128
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Marcus sat down heavily on the couch across from her. “I’ll stay. But I’m sleeping out here on the couch, and this is just for tonight. Tomorrow we’re getting you a private nurse or you’re going to the hospital. Those are your only options.”
Aurora smiled, and something about it made Marcus’s skin crawl. “Thank you, Marcus. I knew I could count on you.”
Through the window, Marcus could see lights on in the main penthouse. He wondered if Elara was watching. if she could see him sitting here with Aurora.
He wondered if this was exactly what Aurora had wanted all along.
“Stay with me tonight,” Aurora said softly, and Marcus realized with sinking certainty that he’d just made a terrible mistake.
AD
