Chapter 78: Uncontrollable Emotions

Aria's POV

Falling to the ground hurt like hell, and I cursed under my breath, "Damn it, when will I finally get the hang of walking in this human form?"

Just a few steps from the bed, there was a wheelchair that looked like it was made from vines. I must've been out for a while. Draco not only heated up some milk but also crafted a wheelchair for me.

I struggled to get into the wheelchair and rolled into the next room. As I reached the doorway, I saw Draco crouched by Serena's bed. She was lying there, eyes closed, looking pale.

"What happened to Serena?" I asked.

Draco frowned, looking all tense and worried. "I just found out she's been knocked out," he said. His hands started glowing softly as he cast a healing spell. It was clear his magical energy was running low.

I figured maybe when I fainted earlier, Draco tried to heal me too, which was why his strength hadn't fully recovered yet.

"How is Serena? Is she seriously hurt?" I asked.

Watching Draco's intense expression, a wave of sadness hit me. His deep concern for Serena made me feel uneasy.

'Stay calm. I can't let this get to me. Draco said Serena is like a sister to him. It's natural for him to be worried. But seeing him so anxious for another woman right in front of me makes me question his feelings for me. Can I really use him to get back at Jason?' I shook my head, trying to clear these thoughts.

I knew I shouldn't feel this way, but I couldn't help it.

I quickly changed the subject. "How did she get knocked out? We were just attacked by vines, and she was in the next room. How did we not hear anything?"

Draco ignored my question, focusing on his spell, and sweat formed on his brow. When Serena finally opened her eyes, he sighed in relief and hugged her tightly. "Thank God, you're awake. Do you know how worried I've been? What happened? How did you end up unconscious?"

Serena looked stunned for a moment before weakly smiling. "I saw a bunch of bloodthirsty vines outside the window. I didn't expect it to realize my intentions and knock me unconscious. I'm glad you're okay. What happened to those vines? Did they attack you?"

Draco shook his head gently. "Don't worry; we're fine. The vines attacked Aria and me, but we dealt with them."

Serena looked shocked. "How is that possible?" Realizing her overly dramatic response, she lowered her voice. "Bloodthirsty vines are powerful and aggressive. Once they target someone, they are relentless. They grow quickly, and unless you destroy the roots, they keep coming back. How did you deal with them?"

Draco glanced at me but didn't answer directly. Instead, he changed the subject. "Since these things are so terrifying, I'll check the rest of the estate later to see if there are any more."

I stood there, watching their close interaction, and the feeling of unease in my chest grew stronger. 'What's wrong with me? Do I really like Draco? But how can I love him? And Serena loves Draco deeply. When she saw us together, she didn't show any emotions and remained composed. She even helped me many times. Now Serena needs assistance, and Draco's actions are justified. But why can't I control my feelings...'

"Aria," Serena suddenly called out to me.

I forced a smile and sat beside her. "I'm here."

Serena seemed hesitant, but after a moment, she spoke, "I'm sorry. I didn't expect there to be bloodthirsty vines in the estate. I've been here many times and never saw them, so I thought it was safe. Please believe me, I never intended to harm you or the baby."

"I know." I tried to suppress the tightness in my chest, holding Serena's hand and gently patting it. "I believe you wouldn't harm me and my baby. After all, he's not just my baby, but Draco's too."

'Wait, what's wrong with me? Why did I emphasize that it's Draco's baby? Wasn't that just to upset Serena? Why do I always uncontrollably dislike Serena? Before this, I didn't have such a strong aversion to her and was even delighted to have her as a friend.' Thinking of this, I shook my head vigorously, but the conflict in my mind persisted.

One voice insisted that Serena's presence would jeopardize my relationship with Draco and might even sabotage Draco's plans for avenging me. The other voice argued that Serena harbored no ill will towards me; in fact, she had been honest and forthcoming. We ought to become friends.

"Aria, what's wrong? You don't look well," Serena asked nervously. Then she turned her gaze to Draco. They exchanged a look, and sensing my abnormality, their faces showed concern.

Serena tried to gather a surge of magical energy to assess my condition, but she had just woken up herself and was too weak to do so.

"Sorry, I can't use magic yet. Aria, can you describe if you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" Serena looked into my eyes, trying to see through my heart.

I instinctively avoided her gaze and shook my head dismissively. "Maybe it's because I just fought with the bloodthirsty vines, so I still feel a bit off. I think I'll feel better after some rest. Don't worry."

Serena sighed and said, "You definitely need to rest. You were already fragile, and you've just been through a fierce battle. Fortunately, the child is unharmed."

Draco suddenly changed the subject and asked Serena, "You seem to know a lot about bloodthirsty vines."

Serena was slightly stunned, then showed a shocked expression. "You suspect me? You think I wanted to harm Aria? I really didn't!"

Draco immediately explained, "Don't be nervous. It's just that when the bloodthirsty vines attacked, their target was very clear—Aria's belly. So, I want to know why."

Realizing Draco didn't suspect her, Serena breathed a sigh of relief and briefly introduced the bloodthirsty vines. "Bloodthirsty vines are very resilient plants. As long as their roots exist, they will never die. They can grow new vines within 1-2 seconds. The most terrifying thing is..."