Chapter 83
Aria’s POV
I almost thought I misheard him.
Did he really just call me his girlfriend?!
Did he understand what that meant? That meant we were serious. That this relationship was exclusive.
But I thought he’d never commit!
The studio went completely silent.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw everyone’s jaws hanging open. Literal O–shapes. Grayson’s words had clearly shocked every single person here.
“Wow… this is very… shocking,” the host finally said after a full thirty seconds of stunned silence. “Alpha Grayson, I believe this is the first time you’ve ever confirmed a relationship publicly.”
“Yes.” Grayson tightened his grip on my hand.
“Then Miss Collins must be someone very special to you.”
“She is.” His lips curved into the faintest smile. “And recently, I’ve become even more sure of that–I can’t imagine my life without her.”
My face burned. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might leap out of my chest. Part of it was from the heat of the lights, but the bigger part was him.
His words.
God this felt so unreal! I couldn’t even tell if it’s a dream or reality.
The host turned to me with a huge grin. “Miss Collins, do you have anything you’d like to say in response? I think you’ve just become the most envied woman in the world.”
“…”
Crap. My brain stopped working.
I must’ve looked like a complete idiot on global television.
“I… I don’t really know what to say.” After stammering like a fool, I managed to blush my way through a sentence. “But I can definitely tell you this… it’s not easy. From the moment we met to now, every step has been… a lot.”
Grayson squeezed my hand again.
I looked up and found him staring right at me, His beautiful grey eyes reflected me–my red cheeks, my teary eyes, my stunned little face.
“That’s right. It hasn’t been easy,” he agreed, voice low and husky. “But we are still here. We made it.”
“Yeah. We’ve heard many rumors about Miss Collins too,” the host said thoughtfully. “I bet there’s been a lot of pressure from the outside world. But seeing the two of you sitting here, holding hands, so clearly in love… I’d say it was all worth it.”
“I agree,” Grayson said.
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They then shifted the topic back to the medical summit they were talking about before I came in.
But I couldn’t concentrate anymore.
I kept thinking about what just happened. About Grayson’s love confession.
That did just happen, right? I wasn’t making it up in my mind.
Parts of me wanted to pinch or slap myself to make sure this wasn’t a dream.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the host announced we were off–air. I let out a breath so sharp I nearly choked. My back was soaked in
sweat.
“That nervous, huh?” he teased, looking way too amused.
“Are you kidding me? Do you even realize what you just did?” I sat up straight, whisper–shouting. “You better explain yourself–like now-
But my interrogation got cut short.
The host practically skipped over to us, grinning ear to ear. “Alpha Grayson, Miss Collins, thank you so much for doing this with us today!”
Grayson stood and shook his hand politely. “It was our pleasure.”
“We just did a quick analytics check. That livestream broke both our viewership and engagement records. We made history today! I’m damn sure the entire world is talking about you two right now!”
I felt dizzy.
Oh god.
So the whole world just saw me stuttering like an idiot. That’s just great.
“Can we invite you both back sometime?” the host asked, eyes sparkling with hope. “Maybe… when you’re ready to take the next step in your relationship? Because I wasn’t kidding–people are obsessed! Now anything related to you two becomes instant headlines.”
“Thank you. But it’s a little early for that,” Grayson said smoothly. His tone was polite, but distant. “Now, if you’ll excuse us.”
He gave the host a quick nod and started heading toward the exit, holding my hand.
Delilah was still there, standing awkwardly near the wall. She straightened up nervously as soon as we got close.
“What are you doing here?” Grayson’s voice dropped several degrees. “I was very clear. You are not allowed in this hospital.”
She wrung her hands, face pale. “I–I know… but I really wanted to see Aria. A–And you. I wanted to say I’m sorry. For everything…”
“I’ve heard that craps already. Don’t come and waste my time again.” His tone was brutal.
Delilah’s eyes welled up again. She glanced at me, pleading.
I hesitated for a brief second if I should help her. Then, I turned to Grayson. “You can’t ban her from coming to the hospital. She’s pregnant.
What if she needs to see a doctor too?”
He frowned and shot me a disapproving look.
“It’s her right,” I insisted. “Everyone has the right to medical care.”
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Chapter 83
He let out a heavy exhale, clearly not happy about it. But he didn’t argue.
“Let’s go.” he huffed, yanking my hand and pulling me to the exit.
Hooked back and saw Delilah mouthing a quick “thank you” at me. I winked and mouthed back: You’re welcome.
I was practically dragged out of the room by him. And the second we were out-
“Ahh!”
I gasped as Grayson suddenly swept me off my feet, princess–style.
“Hey. Put me down! I can walk!” I pushed his chest, face burning.
459%
There were still a lot of people around. Guards, TV staff. They all gave us a startled glance before quickly looking away like they’d seen nothing.
But Grayson obviously didn’t care.
He didn’t even stop until we were inside my room. He set me gently onto the bed, then leaned over me, his eyes dark.
“I seem to remember telling you to stay in this room and rest.” his tone was dangerous.
“But for how much longer?” I groaned. “I feel like a prisoner. Why is the recovery taking so long anyway? It doesn’t make any sense.”
His expression flickered–just for a quick second. “Maybe because you keep sneaking around instead of resting. We need to come up with a
punishment. In case you sneak out again.”
1 sat up, frowning at him. “Hey, don’t change the subject. That interview just now…what was that about?!”
A hint of amusement flickered across his eyes. He sat beside me and took my hand.
“I thought I was very clear. Which part was confusing?” he asked, smiling.
“Everything! I mean…are you for real? You were serious about the—the girlfriend thing?”
My voice cracked on the last words. My heart was thudding so loud I could barely hear myself.
He reached out to cup my face.
“Aria, you have no idea what I went through. When I sat outside that operating room, waiting to hear if you’d make it.” His voice was low and rough. “That’s probably the most powerless in my entire life. Because I just realized…I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you. And I might’ve never gotten the chance to tell you how I felt again.”
I bit my lip, eyes stinging with tears.
“Don’t be silly. You’re not going to lose me.” I whispered.
“Thank the Moon Goddess.” He squeezed my hand. “So the moment you opened your eyes, I promised myself–I wouldn’t waste another second. I needed you to know how special you are to me. There’s no denying it. You’re the one. The only one.”
Tears blurred my vision and slid down my cheeks.
He leaned down and kissed them away, gently.
“But… girlfriend?” I choked out between tears. “Do you even know what that means? It means we’re in a relationship. A real one. Is that
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Chapter 83
really what you want?”
“It is,” he said without hesitation. “I’m not ready for marriage. I might never be. But I’m sure I want this. I want you by my side. Forever.”
The tears kept coming.
He wiped them away with his thumb, then cupped my face and looked straight into my
eyes.
“And I want to ask your forgiveness. For how I hurt your family. For how I hurt you. So please…stop pushing me away because of it.”
I sniffled. “And if I say no? Do I still get to be free?”
His expression darkened. After a beat of silence, he said, “No. You are mine. Whether you agree or not.”
I let out a wet laugh through my tears.
So possessive. So bossy. So… him.
Am I scared? Hell yeah I am.
Letting myself fall into this again meant opening the door to more chaos, more danger.
And in the end, I might still end up with nothing.
Because this man might never marry me.
But could I say no to him?
Well, I didn’t think there was a single woman alive who could refuse him. And I was no exception.
“So?” he asked, voice low, almost urgent. “What’s your answer?”
I wiped my face and gave him a small smile.
“Can I ask for one thing as your girlfriend?”
His breath hitched. “Of course. Anything.”
“I want to be free from this damn room and hospital. And I want to see my grandmother and May. You’ve got to stop using them to threaten me. You don’t do that to your girlfriend.”
He let out a low growl, then crushed his lips to mine in a fevered kiss.
“Anything you want, Aria,” he whispered into my ear, voice hoarse. “As long as you stay right here by my side.”
Grayson kept his promise.
The very next day, I was told that May and Grandma would be coming to visit. And once my final check–up was done, I could be discharged.
I was thrilled.
Finally! I got to see my family and friend again!
It felt like my life was getting back on track again. That painful, dark chapter of my life was finally over.
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Chapter 83
Of course there was still one tiny problem–
My wound still hadn’t healed.
And no one could figure out why, not even the doctors. But there were so many great things happening at once, I pushed that tiny doubt to the back of my mind.
The morning May and Grandma were supposed to come, I got up early, I changed out of my hospital gown, even put on a little makeup. I didn’t want them to think I looked too pale or sickly.
When the door opened, I practically jumped off the bed.
“Oh my god! I missed you so mu-”
But I froze.
Because it wasn’t them at the door.
It was a woman with flowers in her hands.
And she was. By far. THE MOST stunning woman I had ever seen.
Calling her pretty didn’t even come close.
She radiated pure, irresistible femininity.
Her refined features, dark silky hair, and tall, graceful figure…Everything about her was just–perfect.
I think she can win over a man’s heart with just a side glance or a tiny smile.
And she made me feel like a little girl. And she was the real woman.
I stared at her, stunned and frozen.
Because even before she spoke up, I already had a guess who she was.
“Aria, right?” she said with a dazzling smile. “Hi, hope this isn’t a bad time. I’m Isla. Grayson’s ex–wife.”
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