Chapter 70

Chapter 70
KAIA

It had been three days since the incident.

I was still at the hospital, but I was feeling a lot better now. The swelling around my jaw had gone down, and I could talk again—though not too much, or at least that’s what my doctor warned me about. 

“No unnecessary chatter,” he said, which made Amy laugh and call it “impossible instructions.”

But I didn’t mind the quiet. School was out for the semester. I didn’t have to stress about assignments or deadlines or class attendance. The only thing on my schedule now was pressing “next episode” on my favorite show or turning another page in my book, all from the comfort of my hospital bed. 

Honestly, I wasn’t even bored. It was peaceful.

The nurse had just finished helping me with lunch, adjusted my blankets, and rolled the tray table aside. She gave me a small smile before heading for the door—but then she paused.

I glanced up, confused, and that’s when I saw him.

Callum.

He stood just outside the doorway, his tall frame casting a shadow into the room. He was wearing sweats and a hoodie, but what stood out the most was the navy blue sling holding up his left arm. His face looked pale, a little drawn, with dark circles under his eyes. If I looked wrecked, he looked worse.

I blinked, frozen in place.

He slowly stepped in, nodding politely at the nurse as she exited. Then, silence.

He didn’t say anything right away. He just stood at the edge of my bed, eyes glued to the floor like it hurt too much to meet my gaze. His hands were clenched at his sides—well, the one that wasn’t wrapped up.

"I didn’t know if I should come,” he said quietly. “But I couldn’t leave things like that.”

I didn’t say anything. Just watched him. Waited.

His jaw flexed. 

“I’m sorry, Kaia. I’m so fucking sorry. For everything that happened at the game—for that night. I was drunk. Angry. I lost control and—” his voice cracked a little, and he looked away. “I didn’t mean to hit you. I swear to God, I didn’t even know I’d done it until I saw you on the ground.”

His eyes were glassy. Shiny with tears he hadn’t let fall.

“I said awful things to you that night,” he continued. “Things I didn’t mean. I was hurt. And... yeah, I let that take over. But none of it excuses what I did. I liked you, Kaia. I really liked you. And I never would’ve done anything to hurt you on purpose.”

My throat tightened.

I could see it, plain as day. He meant every word. Every inch of guilt and regret was written on his face, weighing on his shoulders. He wasn’t here to make excuses. He was here because he needed to make it right. And honestly? That’s all I’d been waiting for.

I gave him a slow, tiny nod.

“I know,” I said quietly. “I know you didn’t mean to hurt me. And... I forgive you.”

He blinked, like he wasn’t expecting that.

“Thank you,” he said softly, a hint of relief in his voice.

We stood in that silence again for a moment before my eyes drifted to the sling.

“What happened?” I asked, gesturing to his arm.

He looked down like he’d forgotten it was even there and chuckled weakly. 

“Oh. This?”

I raised an eyebrow.

He exhaled through his nose, like he was debating whether or not to say it. Then he gave me a tight-lipped smile. 

“Let’s just say... I got what I deserved.”

I frowned. “Callum...”

“A few fractured ribs,” he said with a small shrug. “A busted lip. Broken arm. Honestly, feels light compared to how guilty I’ve felt since that night.”

The breath caught in my chest as something clicked.

I looked at him closely. “Was it Adrien?”

He didn’t answer.

He just stared at me, and in that silence, I knew.

The tension in my stomach twisted. I didn’t know what to say—not because I was mad at Adrien for retaliating, but because I wasn’t sure how much pain and guilt Callum had already carried from that night. And I could see it written all over him now.

But he wasn’t here to play the victim. He was just here to own up to what he did.

And in a way, we both had the closure we needed.

Now, maybe, we could finally start to move forward.

The sound of the door swinging open made both our heads turn.

Adrien stepped in like a storm held at bay. The moment his eyes landed on Callum, his entire body shifted—shoulders rising, jaw locking, his grip on the bouquet tightening until the paper crinkled.

“What the fuck is he doing here?” Adrien snapped, already storming forward.

I panicked. 

“Adrien—wait—” The words barely made it out of my mouth before pain exploded along my jaw, like knives slicing through my cheek. I groaned, grabbing at the sheets, wincing from the pressure inside my mouth.

Both of them froze.

Adrien’s fury evaporated, replaced by wide-eyed concern. In two long strides, he was by my side, crouching down, placing the flowers on the chair, and gently cupping my face with both hands.

“Shit, baby, I’m sorry. Are you okay?” he whispered, brushing his thumb softly under my eye. “Do you want me to call the doctor? Is it your jaw?”

I shook my head carefully. 

“I’m okay,” I whispered, voice raspy and strained. “Just... give me a second to explain.”

His hands stilled against my cheeks, and he nodded. 

“Okay,” he murmured, still watching me like I’d break again.

I slowly turned back to Callum. His posture was rigid, his arm still tucked in the sling, eyes darting between Adrien and me.

“Thank you for coming to see me Callum,” I said softly. “I appreciate it. I hope we’re okay now, so we can move past this."

Callum held my gaze for a second, jaw tightening—then he nodded.

“Yeah. We’re good,” he said. “Get better soon.”

And with that, he turned and quietly walked out, the door clicking softly shut behind him.

The room fell silent for a beat.

Then Adrien turned to me, brows still drawn, his jaw flexing again. 

“Why was he here?”

I sighed, leaning back into the pillow. 

“He came to apologize. He wanted closure... so did I. We can finally move on now.”

Adrien scoffed, running a hand through his hair. 

“Good. Because I don’t want him hanging around you anymore.”

I looked at him, really looked at him. His eyes were still stormy, his body tight with residual rage. 

“Adrien,” I said slowly, raising a brow, “did you do that to him?”

He hesitated. “Do what?”

I didn’t even say anything. Just arched my brow higher, letting the silence hang between us.

He exhaled sharply, then shrugged. 

“He got what he fucking deserved.”

“Adrien—”

“No, Kaia,” he snapped, then calmed himself as he stepped closer. “Did you seriously expect me to just... stand there? Watch him hurt you and walk away like nothing happened?” 

His voice dropped an octave, darker, heavier. 

“Fuck no. If he had done worse—if I found out you were in a worse condition than this—I swear to God, I could’ve killed him.”

My chest tightened. His protectiveness came from a place so raw, so intense, it almost scared me—but not in a bad way.

I reached for his hand and laced our fingers together, grounding him. 

“I know,” I whispered. “I get it. But violence doesn’t always fix things.”

His jaw clenched again. 

“It might not fix things. But it sends a message.”

There was fire in his eyes, but it wasn’t just anger anymore. It was something deeper. Something tethered to the way he was looking at me now, as if the thought of anything bad happening to me physically hurt him.

And suddenly, I understood.

This wasn’t just a reaction. This wasn’t just a guy being protective of some girl he was casually seeing.

He really cared. 

Deeply. 

Madly. 

Recklessly.

He would fight for me, and also willing to risk everything else for me.

And it hit me—hard and sudden and real—I was falling in love with him.

Right here in this stupid hospital room, in this moment of quiet intensity, I was completely, stupidly, beautifully falling for Adrien.

Not just for the way he made me feel safe.

But for the way he showed up—even when it got messy, even when it got dangerous.

And I knew, with absolute clarity, that I’d never had someone fight for me the way Adrien did.

And maybe, just maybe...

He was worth falling all the way for.