Chapter 162: He’s my husband too.

A few minutes after Jeremiah leaves, the door opens again.

I turn my head, expecting to see Rocco, but instead, Isabella walks in carrying a small bag.

The moment her eyes land on me, her face lights up.

"You’re awake!"

She practically rushes to my bedside, dropping the bag onto the nearby chair before wrapping her arms around me.

I wince slightly when she squeezes me.

"Careful, Bella. I’m not exactly in the best condition right now."

"Oh, shut up."

She pulls away, holding my shoulders and looking me over.

"Do you have any idea how frightened we were?"

I give her a small smile.

"I’m fine."

"You’re not fine! You practically drained yourself trying to save my brother. What were you thinking?"

I shrug.

"Well, he needed blood."

"And you thought giving him yours until you collapsed was a brilliant idea?"

I roll my eyes.

"You’re beginning to sound like Jeremiah."

"Good. Maybe you’ll listen to one of us."

I chuckle, then shift slightly against the pillows.

"How long was I unconscious?"

Isabella sighs.

"For hours. You passed out after donating blood, and Rocco had to attend to you too. Honestly, Nerissa, you scared the life out of us."

I glance down at my arm, noticing the IV still connected to it.

"Wait. How did they get blood to me so quickly?"

Isabella raises an eyebrow.

"Well, that’s Jeremiah. You two happen to have the same blood group, so he donated his blood to you."

A laugh escapes me.

"Jeremiah gave his blood to save me?"

"Yes. What’s so funny?"

"Nothing. I’m just trying to picture him volunteering to do something nice for me."

Isabella laughs.

"Well, you saved our brother. It’s only fair that he returned the favour."

I shake my head, still smiling.

"That’s surprisingly decent of him."

"Don’t let him hear you say that. He’ll deny it."

She picks up the small bag she brought and places it on the bed.

"I spoke to Rocco before coming in. He said we can remove the IV now, provided you don’t start feeling dizzy again."

I look at her.

"Really?. Cause it was starting to hurt."

She nods.

"So... come on. Let’s get you cleaned up and then get you something to eat."

I glance down at myself.

My dress is still the same bloodstained mess I wore yesterday, and I can only imagine how awful I smell.

"Please. I desperately need a bath."

—————

Isabella helps me into the bathroom.

I’m still a little weak, so she insists on doing most of the work while I sit on the cover of the toilet sit.

Once the IV has been removed, she helps me wash up, carefully avoiding the spot where the needle was inserted.

The warm water feels heavenly against my skin.

I hadn’t realised how uncomfortable I was until the blood begins washing away, taking with it some of the heaviness I’ve been carrying since the previous night.

Isabella helps me wash my hair, then hands me a towel.

When I step out of the shower, she helps me into my clothes, a loose shirt and a pair of comfortable shorts.

While helping me adjust the sleeve, her eyes fall on the marks left on my arm.

Her fingers pause.

"Does it hurt?"

I glance down.

"A little."

She gently touches the skin around the puncture marks.

"You really didn’t have to go that far, Rissa."

I look at her.

"I know. But I couldn’t just sit there and watch him die."

For a moment, she says nothing. Then she pulls me into a hug.

I smile, wrapping my arms around her.

"You know you’re hugging me while I’m completely wet and naked underneath this towel, right?"

She bursts into laughter and immediately moves away.

"God! Nerissa!."

I laugh too, reaching for my shirt.

"Great. Now my shirt is wet."

"Hey! That’s on you."

She gives me a playful shove, and I shake my head.

——————

By the time we return to the room, Linda walks in carrying a tray full of food.

There’s a bowl of soup, bread, some fruit, eggs and enough other things to feed at least two people.

I stare at the tray.

"This is a bit too much, Linda."

She places it carefully on the table.

"You nearly died, child. Eat."

I laugh softly.

"Thank you."

"Don’t thank me. Just eat."

I pull the tray closer and settle against the pillows.

I hadn’t realised how hungry I was until I took the first bite.

God.

Food has never tasted this good.

I start with the soup, then reach for a piece of bread. Isabella sits beside me, occasionally stealing a piece of fruit while reminding me not to eat too quickly.

I ignore her.

I’m hungry...Very hungry.

"Glad to see you’re alive and eating..."

I whip my head towards the voice coming from the doorway.

With a grilled sausage stuck in my mouth.

I freeze.

A tall man stands at the entrance, his hands tucked casually into his pockets.

Dark hair, very familiar face, broad shoulders.

Nyox.

I don’t mistake the twins...Aside from the obvious fact that my husband shouldn’t be able to stand properly on his own two feet right now, I can clearly tell them apart.

But there’s something else.....Something I didn’t quite notice the first time we met.

I remember the lingering feeling I’d had when I first saw him, the strange awareness I couldn’t explain.

I had tried to ignore it.

Well...I’m feeling it now.

I’m staring at him, and I can’t seem to push the uneasiness away.

Is that...Is that lust i see iin his eyes?

That can’t be right...right?

I momentarily look away from him, removing the sausage from my mouth and dropping the half-eaten piece back onto the tray.

When I turn towards him again, his face is completely wiped clean of any emotion.

I offer him a bright smile. I don’t have any reason to be wary of him. He’s been nothing but nice to me so far.

"Well, hello there."

His lips curve slightly.

"I see you’re feeling better."

"Much better. I don’t die easily."

He chuckles and steps into the room.

"Clearly."

Isabella immediately gets up when he approaches.

"Nyox!"

He opens his arms, and she walks straight into them, wrapping her arms around his waist.

He hugs her, briefly kissing the top of her head.

"How are you, princess?"

"I’m fine. You’re the one who disappeared for years."

"Still holding that against me?"

"Absolutely."

He laughs.

Isabella pulls away and glances towards me.

"I’ll go check on Lys."

My smile fades slightly at the mention of my husband, but I nod.

"Okay."

She gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze before walking out.

Nyox watches her leave, then turns his attention back to me.

"Thank you for saving my brother’s life."

I look up at him.

"Thank you," he repeats. "I can’t tell you how much it means to me."

I give him a small smile.

"You don’t have to. He’s my husband too, you know."