Ashton stepped into the sitting room, the soft hum of the air conditioner doing nothing to ease the tension in the house. The moment he opened the door, his eyes froze.
Ivy lay on the cold floor, her hair tangled around her face, a smear of blood on her clothes. Her hands clutched her stomach weakly. Her body was limp, barely moving.
"Ivy!" Ashton shouted, his voice cracking. He ran forward, dropping to his knees beside her. He shook her gently, his hands trembling. "Ivy, please… wake up! Talk to me!"
There was no response. Her eyes fluttered once, then closed again. Her chest rose and fell shallowly, but it wasn't enough. Panic surged in him.
He lifted her in his arms carefully, feeling the weight of her body pressing against him. Her blood stained his shirt. He did not care. He ran to the front door.
"James! Open the door! Now!" he yelled to his young boy, who ran quickly to the lock. Within seconds, the door swung open, and Ashton dashed outside, holding Ivy close.
The car was waiting. He eased her into the back seat, keeping her body supported. The engine roared to life, and he drove off at a dangerous speed, weaving through the streets, eyes fixed on the road but mind racing.
"Ivy… hold on… please…" he whispered, gripping her hand tightly. He could feel her weakening pulse beneath his fingers. Every red drop on his hands made his stomach twist.
The hospital doors loomed ahead. Ashton did not slow down until he reached the emergency entrance.
He slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching loudly. Before the car had even settled, he yanked open his door and jumped out.
He rushed around to the passenger side, his hands trembling. He opened the door, unbuckled Ivy carefully, and slipped his arms beneath her limp body. Blood smeared across his sleeves and chest as he lifted her, holding her tightly against him.
Her head lolled against his shoulder.
"Stay with me…" he whispered, breathless.
He ran toward the emergency doors, pushing them open with the force of his shoulder.
"Emergency! She's losing blood! Please help!" he shouted, his voice breaking.
The nurses instantly snapped into motion. Two of them hurried forward with a stretcher, but Ashton didn't wait—he carried Ivy all the way until they reached him.
"Put her down! Quickly!" one of the nurses barked.
Ashton lowered Ivy onto the stretcher with trembling hands, making sure her head rested gently. The nurses and doctor immediately took over, wheeling her inside. Machines beeped as they checked her blood pressure and monitored her heart rate.
The sliding doors shut in his face.
Ashton stood frozen, chest rising and falling rapidly, his hands dripping red. He wanted to follow her, to see if she was breathing, but a nurse placed a palm on his chest.
"Sir, please wait outside."
He could only nod.
Minutes crawled by, every second dragging like an hour. Behind the glass doors, he heard faint voices, the shuffle of feet, and the beeping of machines.
He clenched his shaking hands, feeling utterly helpless.
Then the door slid open.
A nurse stepped out from another ward and smiled politely. "Mr. Ashton is that you? Aria was asking of you ever since you left the hospital."
His heart paused mid‑beat. "Aria?" he echoed, frowning.
"Yes," the nurse said. "She's in her ward. She specifically requested to see you."
Ashton turned toward the emergency room again. Ivy was still fighting for her life inside. His jaw tightened.
But he didn't hesitate.
"Thank you, I'll go see her now," he said coldly, wiping his hands on his shirt. He walked down the corridor toward Aria's room.
He entered her hospital room quietly. Aria looked up instantly. Her hair was slightly damp from treatment, resting messily over her shoulders. She smiled sweetly when she saw him.
"I thought you left," she said, tilting her head, eyes shining with practiced innocence.
"I did," he replied, giving a small smile back. He walked to her bedside and sat down at the edge of her bed.
"I missed you," she said lightly, brushing a strand of hair away. "Even though you left just a few hours ago. It's good you came back."
Ashton nodded, staring into her eyes—eyes that reminded him of the past, of everything he thought he lost. She narrowed her gaze, studying him.
"Why did you come back? Did you miss me?" she asked softly.
He exhaled slowly, rubbing his face with one hand. "Ivy is acting up again," he muttered. "I brought her to the hospital. She…" His voice dropped. "…she's in emergency care right now."
Aria's expression hardened instantly. "Why are you still married to her?" she snapped. "After what she did to me in college, why are you still with her?"
Ashton reached out and took her hand, his fingers curling around hers. "The reason I married her," he said, voice low, "was to make her pay. And I can't divorce her because her parents… before they died, they entrusted her to me."
Aria leaned back, a slow smile creeping onto her lips. "So you married her just to humiliate her?"
"Yes," he said without hesitation. "Exactly."
Her smile widened, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Then you'll make her do anything I want?" she whispered.
"I will," Ashton replied firmly.
Aria relaxed against her pillow. "The doctor said I'm short on blood," she said casually. "I still remember how she donated to me back then when you brought her. Will you make her donate again?"
Ashton's eyes darkened. He nodded. "Yes. I will."
"Perfect," Aria said, her grin bright and triumphant
A nurse burst into the room suddenly. "Mr. Ashton! The woman you brought in… she's stable now."
Ashton barely reacted. "Thank you," he said calmly, his tone cold and detached.
The nurse left, glancing between him and Aria with silent judgment.
Aria shifted, watching him closely. "Are you going to see her?" she asked softly.
Ashton shook his head. "No. There's no need. She'll be fine. After all… if it weren't for her, you wouldn't be here."
Aria's lips curled into a satisfied smile. She reached out and took his hand again. "I knew I could count on you. I always knew."
His jaw tightened, his eyes turning distant. "I'm doing this for you," he whispered. "Nothing else matters."
"Good," Aria said sweetly. "Because that's exactly what I want."
Ashton leaned back slightly, eyes dark and unreadable. "She'll obey," he said quietly. "Whatever you ask, she will obey."
Aria smiled, tilting her head in victory. "Perfect," she whispered. She tucked a curl behind her ear, still smiling. "I always knew my plan would work. You never disappoint, Ashton."she said in her mind.