Chapter 474 The Name He Shouldn’t Have Heard

Chapter 474: Chapter 474 The Name He Shouldn’t Have Heard

Rose’s attempt to push him away stopped when she heard those words.

She could feel the warmth of his body against hers, the faint movement of his breathing against her neck.

This was Ryan.

Alive.

Warm.

Breathing.

After everything that had happened, that alone felt almost unreal.

She knew exactly how close he had come to dying.

She had stood beside the operating table for thirteen hours.

She had watched his blood pressure fluctuate.

She had watched the monitors.

She had watched Robert fight to remove the tumour while they struggled to control the bleeding.

And afterward, she had waited twelve days for him to open his eyes.

Now he was here, holding on to her as though losing her was something his body instinctively feared.

Rose’s body slowly relaxed.

"Go to sleep."

She didn’t have the energy to argue with him anymore.

And, in his current condition, she simply couldn’t bring herself to be completely ruthless.

Ryan quietly rested his face against her neck.

The tension in his body gradually eased.

He didn’t understand why being near her had this effect on him.

He didn’t remember her.

He didn’t remember their marriage.

He didn’t remember the years they had spent together.

But somehow, his mind might have forgotten her while everything else had not.

Around everyone else, there was an unfamiliar tension inside him.

Around Rose, it disappeared.

For the first time since waking, he felt safe enough to relax.

He closed his eyes.

After an unknown amount of time, Ryan sensed that Rose was asleep.

He slowly opened his eyes and looked at her.

His vision was still blurred, but he could make out the peaceful outline of her face.

He watched her for a long moment.

Then he whispered, "Don’t leave me."

His voice was barely audible.

"Okay?"

Rose didn’t answer.

Ryan closed his eyes again.

*****

Rose slept for longer than she had intended.

When she finally woke, sunlight was already streaming through the curtains.

For a few seconds, she didn’t remember where she was.

Then she became aware of the warmth beside her.

She turned instinctively.

Ryan was already awake.

He was sitting against the headboard, a magazine resting open in his hands.

He had apparently been awake for some time.

And, surprisingly, he hadn’t disturbed her.

Rose was still half-asleep.

Without thinking, she reached toward him.

Her hand landed against his abdomen.

The loose hospital gown shifted slightly beneath her fingers.

She immediately realized what she’d done and pulled her hand back.

"When did you wake up?"

Ryan looked at her.

"A while ago."

"Why didn’t you wake me?"

"You were sleeping."

Rose pushed herself upright and got out of bed.

She had taken only a couple of steps when Ryan spoke.

"Why are you embarrassed?"

Rose stopped.

She slowly turned around.

"What?"

Ryan looked at her calmly.

"You touched me."

Rose stared at him.

"You looked surprised afterward."

He adjusted the hospital gown with one hand.

"Then you immediately changed the subject."

Rose’s expression tightened.

"We’re not discussing this."

"But we’re married."

Ryan said it so matter-of-factly that Rose nearly lost her patience.

"We’re divorced."

"I know."

"You only know because I told you."

"Then I’ll remember that."

Rose stared at him.

Ryan’s expression remained perfectly serious.

He wasn’t teasing her.

He genuinely seemed to see no reason for embarrassment.

Rose rubbed her forehead.

"I don’t have time for this. You need your IV."

Ryan slowly got out of bed.

He was steadier than the night before, but Rose still noticed that he moved carefully.

He reached the door and paused.

Then he glanced back at her.

"You don’t have to be embarrassed around me."

Rose narrowed her eyes.

"I wasn’t embarrassed."

"Okay."

His answer was so agreeable that it somehow made her even more irritated.

Ryan opened the door.

Rose stared after him.

Which part of that conversation had convinced him she was embarrassed?

She had simply been caught off guard.

That was all.

Her relationship with Ryan had never been particularly intimate.

Even before their divorce, they had spent long periods keeping their distance from each other.

The past two years had been even worse.

So waking up and finding her hand against his bare skin had simply felt unfamiliar.

She didn’t know what to do with that unfamiliarity.

And Ryan’s complete lack of embarrassment wasn’t helping.

Rose shook her head.

She didn’t have time to think about it.

After washing up, she headed upstairs to check on Ryan’s condition.

Robert was already there.

The follow-up treatment couldn’t be taken lightly, especially now that Ryan was awake.

Rose had barely reached the ward when she ran into Charlotte.

Charlotte looked at her suspiciously.

Then she nudged Rose with her elbow.

"So..."

Rose glanced at her.

"What?"

"Did you two sleep together last night?"

Rose gave her a flat look.

"Did you install cameras?"

Charlotte snorted.

"I’m guessing."

She folded her arms.

"A man like Ryan doesn’t suddenly become a helpless innocent just because he lost his memory."

Rose raised an eyebrow.

"He’s recovering from brain surgery."

"I know."

Charlotte rolled her eyes.

"That’s why I’m saying he isn’t stupid. Losing his memory doesn’t mean he lost his personality."

Rose couldn’t argue with that.

Charlotte continued, "Robert has already been to his room several times this morning."

She paused.

"Unfortunately, the room was empty."

Rose sighed.

"He came looking for me."

"I figured."

Charlotte smirked.

"And you should thank me."

"For what?"

"I told Robert I’d handle it."

Charlotte raised her chin proudly.

"If your brother had come over and found Ryan wandering around looking for you, he probably would’ve dragged him straight back to bed."

Rose stared at her.

"You’re surprisingly useful."

Charlotte’s expression changed immediately.

"Was that a compliment?"

"I think so."

"You think so?"

Rose nodded.

"You’re more clever than I gave you credit for."

Charlotte narrowed her eyes.

"Rose, you’re impossible."

"Thank you."

"That wasn’t a compliment."

"I know."

Charlotte groaned.

"Your mouth really is a perfect match for Ryan’s."

"I’ll take that as another compliment."

Charlotte rolled her eyes.

"I give up."

She glanced at her watch.

"Diana and Liam should be here soon."

Rose remembered.

"They’re coming today?"

"They’re already in Germany."

Charlotte pulled out her phone.

"Liam just messaged me."

She showed Rose the message.

[Diana and I have landed in Germany. We’ll be there soon.]

Rose smiled.

She had almost forgotten.

Before she could say anything, a familiar voice came from the corridor.

"Rose!"

Rose turned.

Diana came hurrying toward her.

Liam followed behind, carrying their luggage.

Diana immediately dropped her bag and threw her arms around Rose.

"Look at you!"

She pulled back and examined Rose from head to toe.

"You’re thinner. You’ve definitely lost weight."

Rose laughed.

"I’m fine."

"You’re not fine."

Diana looked offended on her behalf.

"This place has probably been feeding you hospital food for weeks. You can’t cook properly, either."

She grabbed Rose’s hand.

"I’m making you something decent."

Charlotte stepped aside before Diana could barrel into her again.

"Good morning to you too."

Diana glanced at her.

"Oh. You’re here."

Charlotte’s eyes widened.

"That’s it?"

Diana grinned.

"I missed you too."

"You absolutely did not."

Liam walked over with the bags.

He looked at Charlotte and smiled apologetically.

"Sorry. She’s always been like this."

Charlotte waved him off.

"It’s fine."

Diana had always been impulsive, and Liam had always indulged her.

Rose looked at the two of them and smiled.

For the first time in days, the atmosphere felt almost normal.

Then Diana’s expression changed.

She looked toward Ryan’s room.

"How is he?"

Rose’s smile faded slightly.

She nodded.

Then shook her head.

Diana blinked.

Rose pointed toward her own head.

Diana stared at her.

"You mean he’s having neurological problems?"

Rose nodded.

"He survived the surgery, but he has significant memory loss."

Diana’s eyes widened.

"He doesn’t remember anyone?"

"Not really."

Rose hesitated.

"Apparently he recognizes me on some level, though. He just doesn’t remember our history."

Diana’s expression became complicated.

Then she muttered, "Well, that’s one way to start over."

Rose gave her a warning look.

"Diana."

"I’m just saying."

Diana leaned closer.

"If he doesn’t remember any of the old grudges, maybe someday he could meet Trevor, sit down, have a drink, and wonder why everyone used to hate each other."

Rose sighed.

"Diana, don’t—"

"And then you wouldn’t have to worry about him treating Trevor like his mortal enemy every time they cross paths."

The ward doors suddenly opened.

A deep voice came from behind them.

"Who is Trevor?"