Fade with the Wind

Silence hung thickly in the hospital room.

Jason, who was rebuking the culprits a moment ago, stiffened. His mind replayed the last sentence.

"Don't tell me that after all these years, you've fallen for her?"

Fallen for Ivy? Impossible!

He rejected the thought instantly, almost violently, like denying it hard enough would erase the strange flicker in his chest.

He had always liked Felicity. Who the hell was Ivy? He just needed her for one thing, and that was to rain his vengeance upon.

That being said… Why would he be so furious when he saw those thugs trying to press themselves on her, if that were truly the case?

He had never been so angry and impulsive before, not even when other men tried to flirt with Felicity.

The room was in pin-drop silence once more.

Jason's friends looked at each other as if they were reassured. One of them patted Jason's shoulder, saying in relief, "You should've told us sooner. You scared us, man. We really thought you caught feelings and ruined the whole revenge game for yourself. That wouldn’t be worth it! If Felicity found out, she'd cry her eyes out."

Jason suppressed the strange emotions bubbling in him. He said icily, "I'll never fall for Ivy. Not in this lifetime."

His friends fell into ease with that, saying with a smile, "Alright, alright. She's probably coming around soon. We should go."

Once everyone left, Jason slowly walked over to the bed to look at Ivy in her sleep. Her face was pale, her brows a little furrowed. She did not look like she was sleeping well.

His finger subconsciously touched her on the face. The moment he touched her, he instantly pulled back as if his fingers were burned.

He turned to head to the window. He lit a cigarette and took a huge puff, trying to use nicotine to calm his buzzing mind.

When Ivy woke up, Jason was the only one in the room. He sat down next to her with a glass of water in his hand.

When he saw her coming around, he asked softly, "How are you feeling? Do you still feel unwell?"

Ivy did not answer. She merely looked away, avoiding his gaze.

For the next few days, Jason stayed in the hospital to look after Ivy. He would occasionally head out to answer a call, but whenever he returned, there would always be a subtle hint of tenderness on his face.

Ivy knew he was probably comforting Felicity.

Ivy came to the realization that Jason had always been this way, even when they were together. He would often head out to answer a call, always saying that it was something important.

Ivy had never once thought much about it. It was not until this moment that she realized that Felicity had always been at the other end of the line.

The doctor came to change her wound dressing.

Ivy looked up to see a young, handsome doctor and was taken aback. She asked, "You weren't my previous doctor, were you?"

The doctor smiled and replied gently, "That was my teacher. I'm just an intern under his wing. He has to make the rounds today, so I'll be helping you change your dressing."

Ivy nodded and said nothing else.

The young doctor was gentle, yet he was always blushing a little. Before he left, he hesitated for a while before asking, "Can I… ask for your contact?"

That caught Ivy by sheer surprise.

Before she could answer, Jason entered. He swept the young doctor an icy look and said warningly, "She has a boyfriend. Can't you see? Flirting with the patients–are you trying to get fired?"