Chapter 11: Chapter Eleven

Aiden

"Hermione, no!" I exclaim, my arm shooting out to stop her. Panic sweeps through me, and I dash towards her to hold her back, my heart racing with fear.

What in the world got into this woman? Does she have a death wish?

I grab her from behind, pulling her back from the dangerous edge she's standing on, just inches from the churning currents. Her scream pierces through the air as I reach her, the sound sending shivers down my spine. I catch her around the waist, carrying her away from the edge as I try to calm her down.

Her scream drifts off into the wind, replaced by a gasp that tears out of her as my arm encircles her waist. Her face snaps towards mine so sharply that she must have strained her neck. She looks shocked to see me, her eyes blazing with fury amidst the sheen of tears within them.

My breath catches in my throat at her teary look, and questions whirl in my head.

What happened to her? Why is she crying?

The wind blows in her direction, and her hair spills behind her, revealing the red spot on her face. My eyes narrow on the spot, my grip on her waist tightening.

"Did someone hit you?" I growl, my voice low and menacing. I can feel my anger rising, my protective instincts kicking in.

"Let me go," she snarls, but her voice shakes at the edge. She struggles against my hold, trying to break free, but I hold her firm, my arms wrapped tightly around her waist.

I won't let go without an explanation or assurance that she won't make another attempt to harm herself if I release her.

"Leave me," she grits out through clenched teeth, her rage palpable.

She resorts to violence, hitting my shoulders when I don't budge.

Her attacks don't faze me, thanks to my athletic build. Her blows aren't feeble, though.

Her punches slow down, and she cracks up. Emotions overwhelm her face. Pain lances through my chest at the anguish etched on her face. She's struggling to maintain her icy mask, tears welling up in her eyes. She fights against my hold, desperate to escape before the tears fall.

Her body shakes in my grasp, and she breaks down in tears. Her sobs rack her body.

"Hermione," I whisper, pulling her into a protective embrace. Her head falls against my shoulder, and she cries profusely. Her tears wet my suit, but I don't care. I run my hand down her back, soothing her. "It's okay," I murmur, clutching the back of her head with a fierce tenderness that makes my heart burn.

When I left home earlier that morning, this was the last exchange I expected to have with Hermione. I had no idea why I drove to the Watson's Foundation instead of going to work. I simply wanted to see her. I missed her company the previous night, and I wanted to take the initiative to reschedule our canceled date without our parents' interference.

I woke up early and left home before my usual time. When I arrived at the hospital, I came across Hermione in the lobby. She looked furious, oblivious to everyone around her. She charged forward like a bull, cutting right past me.

I had waved a hand in greeting, but I had to slowly lower it down, fighting the surge of embarrassment that swept through me at being ignored publicly.

Mercifully, the lobby wasn't crowded, as the hospital was barely awake at that hour. The few people who witnessed Hermione ignoring me scarcely paid me attention. I followed her, demanding answers.

I cursed several times at the speed she hit before stopping here. I couldn't overtake her. The roads were busy despite the early hour, and I would have been risking a collision.

I barely managed to keep her in my sight and arrive in time to prevent her from pushing herself over the edge.

Her cries subside, and her body relaxes. "Let me go," she pleads, her voice hoarse.

I oblige her demand, and she retreats several steps away from me, swiping the tears from the corners of her eyes. She looks away, staring out at the sea, her hands clenched at her sides. She's visibly struggling to contain the rollercoaster emotions swirling within her.

"Why did you have to follow me?" she moans, lowering her head. Her hair falls around her face, hiding it from me.

"Who hurt you?" I ask, my voice soft, with my eyes intently fixed on her.

A feverish breath escapes her as she squares her shoulders, and she sniffles. She turns abruptly, marching toward her car.

I intercept her path, forcing her to grind to a halt.

"Get out of my way," she seethes, her eyes red and swollen from her tears. She sweeps one finger across her nose to catch a watery discharge before it runs down, looking away from me briefly.

Hermione doesn't strike me as the type of woman to cry over trivial things. Given her reputation and her demeanor at our first meeting, she's the type of woman to hold her cool under pressure. For her to have broken down right now, whoever did this to her must have pushed her to her limits.

Squinting my eyes, I ask, "Was it your mother?" I can think of no other person who could have inflicted such emotional pain on Hermione. Her eyes reveal nothing, but I'm convinced I'm right.

She braces one hand against her hip. "What do you want, Aiden? If you're trying to get an apology from me for missing our date..."

I snort, interrupting her. "You worked through the night, saving lives. An apology is out of the question."

She presses her lips together, assessing me in silence briefly before announcing, "I'm heading back to the hospital."

"I'll drive you," I offer.

She tilts one brow upward, a frown settling on her face.

"I'm not letting you drive in your condition," I raise an objection quickly before she disagrees with me. Exhaustion is evident on her face, and it's only her anger that's keeping her steady at the moment. I'm not taking chances with her.

"I'm fine," she says in a clipped tone.

"Hermione!" I bark at her, my voice sharp and authoritative.

Guilt creeps in when I note the flash in her eyes, but it's not vulnerability.

She rears closer to me, jabbing a finger at me with a hiss. "You don't thunder at me!"

I run a hand through my hair, feeling contrite. "I'm sorry. I lost it, Hermione."

She jerks away from my touch when I reach out to her, fixing me with a frigid stare.

"Please, let me take you back."

She bites the corner of her lip, her arms folded across her chest. She takes me by surprise when she acquiesces. "Okay."

Her response is barely audible. My heart leaps in my chest as if I've won a jackpot by securing her agreement to let me chauffeur her back.

"We're taking my car," I inform her as we walk.

She doesn't hesitate, the weight of her exhaustion evident. Her posture is not typical of her usual demeanor. Although she walks with her back straight and shoulders high, it's clear that she's dragging her body to move.

"I'll come back for your car," I tell her when we're both seated in my car, seatbelts in place.

I stifle a complacent smile as I start the engine. It's fully daylight as I pull my car away from the location, maneuvering it back toward the road. The sun has begun to stretch across the horizon, a blazing golden orb in the azure blue sky.

"Take me home," Hermione whispers, looking out the window.

I'm running late for work, but I'd do anything for her. "As you wish..." I bite down on my tongue before adding "love," making a diversion to her home address.

Yeah, I have that memorized too.