Chapter 181
Aria's POV
Mandy's grip on my arm was firm as she guided me back to the coffee table. Chloe Parker's gaze swept over me like a predatory cat, her lips curved in a victorious smile that made my skin crawl. I straightened my back, determined not to show any weakness in this carefully orchestrated ambush.
"So, Aria," Mandy began, her voice low and deliberate, "I need you to stop seeing Devon."
I raised an eyebrow, studying her perfectly manicured appearance. Eleanor Kane's personally selected future daughter-in-law. I should have felt threatened, but strangely, I only felt a wave of exhaustion washing over me.
"It's really quite simple," Chloe chimed in, her blonde hair swaying with her exaggerated gestures. "You don't belong in Devon Kane's world. You're just... temporary entertainment."
I noticed Mandy's almost imperceptible wince at Chloe's words. Interesting. These "allies" weren't as united as they appeared.
I relaxed my posture and offered them an easy smile that clearly caught them off guard. "Of course," I said, my voice surprisingly steady, "that's no problem at all."
The two women exchanged confused glances. They had clearly expected me to fight back or defend myself.
"Just like that?" Mandy asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
She pushed a cup of coffee toward me, which I reluctantly accepted. Something about the way she watched me take a sip felt off, but I dismissed the thought.
I shrugged, reaching for my bag as I prepared to leave. "If Miss Stevens doesn't want me to see Mr. Kane, she should probably tell Mr. Kane, not me." I stood up, meeting Mandy's eyes directly. "Compared to how much I need him, he needs me more."
Turning to Chloe, my voice dropped several degrees. "And Miss Parker, instead of worrying about other people's business, maybe you should focus on your own."
I walked away from the table, feeling their stares burning into my back. As I reached the door, Mandy called after me: "We'll see about that."
I turned for one last look, my voice firm. "Yes, we will."
Outside the café, a sharp pain suddenly twisted in my stomach, making me double over. I steadied myself against the wall, trying to regain my composure. This wasn't just ordinary discomfort—something was seriously wrong. Nausea rose in waves, and my vision began to blur around the edges.
Taking a deep breath, I realized I might have been drugged or poisoned. The coffee had tasted slightly bitter, but I'd attributed it to the café's strong brew. I fumbled for my phone and managed to order an Uber.
"Take me to the nearest hospital, please," I told the driver, my voice strained as another cramp seized my abdomen.
The movement of the car made my nausea worse. Cold sweat broke out across my forehead while my stomach felt like it was being twisted by invisible hands. I tried to breathe deeply, but each inhalation only intensified the pain.
"Are you okay, miss?" the driver asked with concern through the rearview mirror.
"Just get me there quickly," I gasped. "I think it's food poisoning."
When the Uber stopped at the hospital entrance, I paid and struggled to push the door open. My legs seemed disconnected from my commands, each step feeling like wading through quicksand. The hospital entrance lights blurred before my eyes as another wave of nausea hit me.
Just as I felt myself about to collapse, strong arms caught me. Looking up, I saw a blurry face, brown eyes filled with surprise and concern.
"Aria Harper?" a male voice asked incredulously.
I struggled to focus, recognizing Jeremy.
"I think I've been poisoned," I mumbled, my voice barely audible as another cramp doubled me over.
Jeremy's expression shifted from surprise to alarm. "Let's get you inside immediately."
I tried to respond, but another wave of pain hit, and the world suddenly went dark. I felt myself falling, then nothing.
I drifted in and out of consciousness, catching fragments of conversation. The doctor's stern voice broke through: "Classic symptoms of food poisoning, but more severe than usual. If she'd come in any later, it could have affected her kidneys."
I attempted to open my eyes, but my eyelids felt impossibly heavy. I could feel cool liquid entering my arm—IV medication, most likely.
"She's my girlfriend," I heard Jeremy say with unexpected firmness. "I'll stay with her."
I wanted to correct him, to tell the nurse he wasn't my boyfriend, but my body refused to cooperate. All I could do was lie there, enduring the waves of pain and nausea.
Through the haze, I sensed Jeremy sitting in a chair beside my bed. I heard the soft sounds of him scrolling through his phone, occasionally responding to messages. Despite being virtual strangers, his presence provided an odd comfort.
When I finally managed to open my eyes, darkness had fallen. The hospital room was dimly lit, with New York's nightscape visible through the window. I turned my stiff neck to find Jeremy still sitting there, focused on his phone screen.
"You're still here," I said, my voice hoarse.
Jeremy looked up, offering a friendly smile. "You're finally awake. How are you feeling?"
"Like my stomach went through a meat grinder," I answered honestly, trying to sit up before another wave of discomfort forced me back down. "Thank you for...bringing me in."
"Don't mention it," he set down his phone and leaned forward. "Though I have to ask, why aren't you responding to my texts lately?"
I frowned in confusion. "Your texts?"
"About the beach house renovations," he explained with a hint of playfulness. "I've sent you three different design concepts last week."
Recognition dawned, along with a pang of guilt. In the chaos of recent weeks, I'd completely forgotten to follow up on the rebuilding of the beach house.
"I'm sorry," I said. "It's been... a complicated few weeks."
Jeremy nodded, seeming to understand. "No need to apologize. I figured you were busy."
We fell into a comfortable silence. I noticed Jeremy wore a casual but refined shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal his forearms.
"The doctor says you had a severe case of food poisoning," Jeremy eventually broke the silence. "They're running tests on blood samples, but they've already started treatment. Were you anywhere unusual today?"
I thought back to the coffee I'd reluctantly accepted from Mandy. "Just a café in Brooklyn. I had... an unpleasant meeting with some acquaintances."
As we spoke, the door to the hospital room suddenly swung open. Noah strode in, his sharp gaze immediately fixing on me.
"So this is the 'girlfriend' you rushed off to rescue?" Noah's voice carried suspicion and a hint of curiosity.