Chapter 38
Cressida’s eyes gradually opened, and she let out a soft yawn, covering her mouth with her left hand. As she stretched her body and slowly turned to face the other side of the bed, her gaze landed on Alaric, who was staring at her.
“Ahn!” she exclaimed, shocked. She sat up abruptly while Alaric shifted backward in his wheelchair, startled.
“What happened?!” He asked, his voice raised with concern as he moved forward. “Are you okay?”
“Oh,” she said, her hand on her chest as she released a soft breath. She glanced at his face, adding, “It's you. You scared me.”
Alaric’s expression softened in realization. He placed his hand on her shoulder, apologizing instantly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I was–”
“When did you wake up?” She asked, her voice a little raised as she struggled to catch her breath. “What were you even searching for?”
Alaric’s eyes snapped shut, and he let out a soft surprise. “Hum!” Her question caught him off guard, and he went silent for a moment, trying to come up with an excuse. But with Cressida’s piercing gaze on him, his mind went blank.
“I… uhm…” His voice stammered.
He paused, hoping she would change the subject, but her furrowed brows remained fixed on him, staring expectantly. With no option but to think fast, he said, “I was looking for my phone?”
“Your phone?” Cressida repeated, confusion etched on her face. She gestured toward the nightstand, pointing a finger at it. “Isn’t that your phone there?”
Alaric glanced over his shoulder, feigning ignorance. Seeing his phone on the nightstand, he felt caught, but refused to relent. He forced an insincere smile onto his face.
“I didn’t even notice it,” he said, his voice dripping with insincerity. “Maybe it was because I was still feeling sleepy when I started searching for it.”
“Even then, why would you search for your phone where I’m sleeping?” She questioned, her brow furrowed in confusion. “You didn’t think I took your phone, did you? You could’ve looked at the table, but you didn't.”
“I—” he began to defend himself, but she cut him off with a pointed finger at his face.
“You weren’t searching for your phone, Alaric,” she guessed, her voice firm and certain.
Alaric’s eyes widened, and his mouth hung slightly ajar as he realized she was right.
“Searching for your phone was just an excuse because I caught you in the middle of an act I don’t understand,” she accused, her finger still pointed at his face.
Her voice was laced with conviction, and Alaric’s expression reflected that she was telling the truth.
“You were staring at my face.” She accused, but Alaric’s gaze had already drifted to her lips.
He became lost in thought, fantasizing about what could be happening between them while Cressida continued talking, thinking he was still listening but intimidated into silence.
Alaric’s mind wandered further, and he started hearing Cressida’s voice from afar. After a minute, Cressida realized he was no longer listening and stopped talking.
She observed him for a few seconds, tracing his gaze to see if he was looking at something, but there was nothing.
“Alaric…” she whispered, but he didn’t respond.
“Alaric…” She whispered again, still no response. She tapped him on the shoulder, raising her voice to call him. “Alaric!”
His body jerked, and his eyes snapped back into focus. “Hun!” He exclaimed, his voice laced with shock. He glanced at Cressida’s face, asking with a raised voice, “What’s it? What happened?”
Cressida stared at him for a few seconds, watching as he regained his composure. “Are you okay?” She asked, concern etched on her face.
Alaric nodded hastily. “Yes, I'm fine,” he answered and brushed his hand over his wet forehead, adding, “I’m okay.”
Cressida doubted his response. “Are you sure?”
Alaric forced a smile, trying to convince her. “Yes, I'm okay. What were you saying? I was thinking about something else and couldn’t hear you. I'm sorry. I didn’t concentrate.”
Cressida moved forward, placing her hands on his shoulders. “Alaric…” she called softly, allowing him to meet her gaze. “What’s wrong? What are you thinking about? Speak to me about whatever the problem is, and I promise we’ll work through it together. You said you trust me. Or can’t you confide in me anymore?”
Her words soothed his heart, and he released a short, deep breath that spoke volumes about the turmoil in his mind. “I—” he began, his mind opening up to share his thoughts with her, but a call to Cressida’s phone interrupted.
She sprang to her feet, hurrying to the table to pick up her phone. Seeing the caller, a smile spread across her lips, and she quickly accepted the call, her excitement palpable. “Hello…” she said, and the person’s voice replied.
Realizing the phone was loud enough for Alaric to hear, she quickly reduced the volume and moved away. “Okay,” she uttered after allowing the caller to speak for a few seconds. “I’ll be there soon. Thanks.”
She ended the call, put down her phone, and hurried towards the restroom, talking to Alaric without glancing at him. “I need to go somewhere,” she informed. “I'm meeting someone.”
—
Cressida burst out of the restroom, skipping her usual skincare routine. She hastily grabbed a dress from the wardrobe and slipped behind it to change, her movements swift and urgent.
Alaric’s eyes followed her, his curiosity piquing, “who are you meeting?” He asked, his voice laced with concern. “I want to go with you. Let's go together.”
Cressida stopped, her eyes flashing with a hint of defiance. “You can’t know who I’m meeting,” she said firmly, shaking her head. “And no, you can’t go with me.”
Alaric’s brow furrowed. “What about Easton? Should he drop you off?”
Cressida was already heading for the door, her pace quickening. “No, I’ll take a cab.” She called over her shoulder, her words dismissive.
As she left the room, Alaric’s gaze lingered on the space, his mind racing. “Where is she going?” He wondered, his thoughts drifting back to the events of the past few days.
A nagging sense of unease settled in his chest. “What’s she hiding?”
He reached for his phone, tempted to call Easton and ask him to follow her discreetly. But something held him back. “Am I doing the right thing?” He questioned, his inner voice whispering doubts.
He shook his head, as if chiding himself. “No, I shouldn’t be doubting her,” with a sigh, he dropped his phone and made his way to the bed. He climbed onto the mattress, his movements slow and deliberate.
As he settled into the pillows, he clasped his hands together, resting them on his stomach. His legs crossed, and his eyes drifted shut. “Cressida, please get back here already.” He murmured.