Chapter 024

Hailey's POV Two days had passed since Mrs. Alora's accident, and our stay in Germany had been extended indefinitely. I had been assigned to a ward for observation, as the doctors ran some tests to ensure that I and my baby were doing well. According to the doctor, Aiden had given the instructions, but his sudden distance had left me worried. For the past two days, Aiden had barely spoken to me, his demeanor somber and reserved. He showed his kindness from afar, but the warmth and affection that once radiated from him now seemed to be missing. I couldn't help but wonder why he had withdrawn from me so suddenly. As I prepared for my overnight shift at the hospital, my mind wandered to the challenges that Aiden and I had faced in communicating our feelings. While Aiden was preoccupied with his mom's recovery, I found myself questioning the rift between Aiden and his dad. Aiden seemed to be harboring a secret, but he refused to share it with me. As I got dressed, a voice in my head tried to reassure me. "You worry too much," it said. "He's probably just stressed and worked up by the recent happenings." I pushed aside my doubts and focused on the task at hand. I had decided to cook a special dinner for Aiden, hoping that it would help break the ice and initiate a much-needed conversation. I packed the food in a flask and headed to the garage, where a driver waited to take me to the hospital. As I arrived, I rushed to the private unit where Mrs. Alora lay, eager to relieve Aiden for the day. My hands trembled as I pressed the elevator button, ascending to the fourth floor. Upon entering the ward, I was met with a shocking sight. A woman stood hugging Aiden, her back to me. His eyes remained downcast, his puffy face a testament to his emotional turmoil. The woman's eyes widened as she spotted my baby bump, a familiar expression from strangers, one that brought me discomfort. The flask slipped from my grasp, clattering on the floor. Aiden's head jerked up, his gaze locking onto mine, but his eyes betrayed no emotion. The woman's voice cut through the silence, laced with disgust. "Aiden, who's this?" My heart swelled with pride as Aiden intervened, his voice weak but filled with conviction. "She's my wife," he said, his words calm and gentle, making me feel like I was walking on air. A small, triumphant smirk curved on my face as I stared at the woman, her eyes flashing with anger and disappointment. I felt a wave of possessiveness wash over me as I spotted the food bag on the bedside table, wondering if she had brought it for him. I picked up the flask, and handed the food bag to her. "He won't be needing this," I said, my voice firm but polite. "Because his wife here brought him food to eat." I gestured to the flask in my hands, feeling a sense of satisfaction at having marked my territory. Aiden's voice cut through the tension, his tone sheepish. "Uhm... Hailey, thanks, but I actually got the food myself." My face grew hot with embarrassment as I tried to defend myself. "Oh, really?" I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Well, she can have it, then." But the woman's expression turned scornful, her eyes flashing with anger. "You think you're so special, don't you?" she spat, before storming out of the room, leaving me feeling embarrassed and flustered, but at the same time feeling like I had just won a trophy. I turned to Aiden, my voice rising. "Who was that?" I demanded. He replied, his voice barely audible, "That's my ex-girlfriend. She came to see my mom, they were close." he explained "But she was hugging you!" I exclaimed, my emotions in turmoil. Aiden's expression turned to pleading. "It was just a hug, Hailey. What's come over you?" His words cut deep, and I felt my anger boil over. "I'm not cut out for this right now," he said, his voice firm. "My mom doesn't need this chaos." He turned to leave, but before exiting the room, he took the flask of food I had prepared for him. A nagging sense of unease lingered within me as I pondered the sudden arrival of Aiden's ex-girlfriend. Something about her didn't add up, and I couldn't shake the feeling that she was hiding something. Was she trying to win him back? The thought sent a shiver down my spine. But Aiden's words echoed in my mind, a comforting reminder: "She's my wife." He had claimed me as his own, and I clung to that declaration like a lifeline. Still, the encounter had left me feeling unsettled. If his ex-girlfriend was going to be a problem, I needed to be prepared. I couldn't let my guard down, not now, not when so much was at stake. I steeled myself, determination coursing through my veins. I would need to up my game, to convince everyone – including Aiden's ex-girlfriend – that I was his wife, that we were a united front. It was the only way to protect myself, to safeguard my future and the future of my unborn child. The stakes were high, but I was ready to play the part. I would be the perfect wife, at least until I regained my memories and secured the money from our contract. Anything less, and I risked being left alone, vulnerable, and without a safety net. As I watched him disappear from sight, a gentle hand grasped mine – Mrs. Alora's. She whispered, her voice barely audible, "He loves you very much." The machines surrounding her sprang to life, and I pressed the emergency button, summoning the doctors and nurses. The room erupted into a flurry of activity as I struggled to process the emotional turmoil that had just unfolded.