At around 7 AM, Arno finally stirred awake.
Her lashes fluttered, lips slightly parted as she blinked at the morning light. She stretched one arm lazily toward the edge of the bed- until her fingers brushed against something warm.
No, not something. It's...someone!
She froze. Slowly, cautiously, she lifted her head and peeked over the sheets.
It was… Lu…Lu… Lucien?
Her mind, still foggy from the cold, tried to process the image: Lucien Malric Moreaux, the elusive CEO, lying his head right next to her like a peaceful forest prince who had wandered into the wrong fairytale. His hair was tousled. His chest rose and fell calmly. He looked like sin wrapped in serenity.
Why is he here? Wait...wait...did I drool on him?!
Her heart began to drum against her ribs.
She looked at Lucien closely... Not bad, he looked breathtakingly handsome and peaceful while sleeping. A small mischievous grin tugged at her lips. "Hehehe… I want to poke his cheek," she whispered, barely above a breath.
Just as her finger hovered in the air—
[Knock Knock!]
Lucien's eyes fluttered open.
I blinked, groggy but alert, and caught her red-handed—mid-poke.
Arno gasped and retracted her hand like a guilty child caught stealing candy. Her cheeks flushed instantly. She cupped both sides of her face as if that would hide the glow spreading from her ears to her neck.
"Sorry… Did I wake you?" I asked gently, my voice still thick with sleep.
Her eyes widened. "N-No! I-I mean yes... No, not because of me! I mean...um...your face was very close- uh...I mean…"
I tilted my head, amused. "Are you feeling dizzy? Is your fever back? Why are your cheeks burning?"
"I don't know!" she yelped into her palms.
I laughed, reaching forward to touch her forehead, only for her to flinch back and bump her head lightly against the headboard.
"Ow…"
[Knock Knock]
Another interruption.
"Come in," I called, still half-laughing.
The door creaked open and in walked Shan, looking sheepish, followed by Dr. Aylene in scrubs and a messy ponytail that screamed I was definitely asleep ten minutes ago.
"Look what you've done, Lucien," Aylene muttered. "Your precious assistant woke me up mid-dream. I demand hazard pay. On a weekend, no less!"
Shan scratched the back of his head. "I was worried about both of your health. I dragged her here. I deserve a bonus too... like, emotional damages or something."
Arno sat there, flustered, surrounded by people, blinking like she'd just woken up in the middle of a medical-themed rom-com.
Aylene walked over and examined Arno with professional precision. "Well, her fever's gone. Pulse normal. Breathing good. Did you give her medicine last night?"
"Yes, ma'am," I replied with a smug little nod. "She was too stubborn to take it, but I managed."
Arno's eyes widened. "Wait! you did? I don't remember that…"
"You were half-asleep and mumbling something about… bluebirds?"
Arno covered her face again. "Oh God."
Meanwhile, Aylene turned to her with a teasing glint in her eye. "By the way, don't get any ideas, sis-in-law."
Arno flinched. "What?! No! We're not in a relationship!"
Aylene laughed. "Relax! Lucien is like an older brother to me. He took care of me when no one else did. He was panicking last night. I've never seen him like that—he looked like someone just shot his favorite plant."
Shan nodded gravely. "He even paced outside your room like a lonely dad waiting for a delivery boy to bring his daughter home."
"Shan," I growled.
"Sorry, sir," he squeaked, but he was grinning like an idiot.
Arno, now tomato red, turned toward me. "W-Why were you so worried?"
I met her eyes, softening my voice. "Because, Arno… you caught a cold. And I've never hated the rain so much until I saw it soaking you."
For a second, the whole room went quiet.
Even Shan and Aylene looked at each other, mouthing Did he just say that?
Arno stared, lips parted slightly, eyes round. Her blush returned with renewed vengeance. She fumbled with the blanket, pulling it up to her nose.
"…You're unfair," she muttered under her breath.
"What was that?" I teased, leaning in a little.
"Nothing!"
---
There was a soft knock at the door.
"Sir," came the voice of the head maid, "may I come in? Breakfast is ready."
"Bring it in," I whispered.
The maid entered quietly with a covered tray and set it gently on the side table, bowing before leaving us alone again.
The smell of warm croissants, eggs, and chocolate drifted through the air.
Then her eyes drifted toward the tray. Her stomach made a soft growl, and she immediately slapped a hand over it.
I chuckled. "Hungry?"
"No!" she said too fast, then added, "…Maybe. But I need to wash up first."
"Bathroom's through there," I said, gesturing.
Ten minutes later, she came out, towel-drying her hair, cheeks a bit flushed from the steam.
She walked over and blinked at the breakfast. "Wait… You made this?"
"I arranged it," I said modestly. "Let's not give me too much credit. Though I did stab some strawberries into heart shapes."
She picked one up and stared at it. "You stabbed fruit for me?"
"I'd stab more if it's for you."
"Lucien," she warned with a laugh, "stop saying stuff like that. It's bad for my immune system."
"I'm only helping you heal faster."
We sat down. She tried to act nonchalant, but I caught her sneaking glances at the hot chocolate. When she finally took a sip, her shoulders relaxed and a little sigh escaped.
"This is dangerous," she murmured.
"How so?"
"You're dangerously good at this."
"Flirting?" I grinned.
"Feeding, caring, being unfairly... nice."
I was about to reply when her phone buzzed loudly from the side table. Her face stiffened.
Auren!
I leaned back. "You don't have to answer."
"I know," she murmured. But she did.
"Arno?" Auren's voice poured through the speaker like a high-pitched emergency alarm. "Where the hell are you?! I've been calling since last night. I went to your apartment, the café, the hospital—" Why didn't you pick up the call?
She rolled her eyes. "Because I wanted to."
"I was worried!"
"Funny," she said icily. "You weren't worried when you were cheating with someone else behind my back."
There was a pause.
"I was...I...I didn't mean—"
"You didn't mean it?" Her voice cracked. "Auren, you knew exactly what you were doing. You knew it would break me. And you did it anyway."
I stood quietly behind her, arms folded. I didn't say anything. She was doing just fine on her own.
"I trusted you," Arno continued, her voice growing firmer, steadier. "I blamed myself for your actions. But not anymore. You don't need to call or ask where I am. You're no longer a part of my life."
He said something else, something pathetic and desperate...but she hung up.
And exhaled.
Her hands trembled slightly. I stepped forward and gently took the phone from her, placing it far away.
"I'm sorry," she muttered, suddenly small.
I knelt beside her, my hand brushing hers. "Don't be. You were amazing."
She looked at me, eyes glossy—not with tears, but with all the feelings she was trying not to show.
"I wasn't expecting him to call. I—I thought I was over it."
"Grief comes in layers," I said softly. "But you peeled one off just now."
Her lips trembled.
"Also," I added lightly, "next time he calls, just turn off the phone or give me the phone. I have a three-word plan."
She blinked. "Which is?"
I leaned in closer. "She's with me!"
Her mouth parted. She blinked once, twice...and then turned red. "Lucien!"
I grinned.
She shoved her face into the croissant. "I can't deal with you!"
I leaned back in my chair, heart warm, eyes on her, smile on my face.
---