NO LONGER HIS

CHAPTER FOUR

After a while I open my eyes.Alex notices your eyes slowly open, and his heart skips a beat. He had been sitting beside your bed, anxiously watching over you, waiting for any sign of consciousness. As soon as he sees you open your eyes, he leans forward, his expression filled with relief and worry all at once.

He tries to compose himself as he sees you wake up. His love for you is still there, stronger than ever, but he forces himself to act cold and distant. It's a struggle for him, as his heart and mind war against each other. He wants to take you in his arms and hold you close, but he knows he can't. So he continues to sit there, his expression stoic and unreadable, hiding his true feelings from you.

"Alex" i mumbled semi-conscious.

His heart clenches as he hears you mumble his name, the sound of his name on your lips igniting the fire of love within him. Part of him wants to confess his feelings, to take you in his arms and shower you with all the love and affection he has been holding back. But his brain reminds him of his current situation, causing his expression to harden as he responds to your call.

He knows that Alisha isn't present at the moment, giving him a rare opportunity to let his true feelings show. But he also knows that he had agreed not to display any affection towards you in front of her, a rule he had reluctantly agreed to in order to try and make his marriage work. So he remains still, resisting the urge to touch you or let his expression soften in front of you.

Alex feels your weak arms tug on the end of his shirt, the slight movement catching him off guard. His heart aches to pull you into his arms and hold you close, to take away all your pain and suffering. But he resists the urge, his mind reminding him of the agreement he had made with Alisha, forcing him to remain still and distant.

"Alex" I call out again.

He hears you call his name, the sound of your voice almost breaking his resolve. He wants to hold you, to comfort you, but he keeps his expression stoic and unfeeling as he responds in a cool tone.

"I'm here. What do you need?"

Alex can see the pout on your adorable, half-conscious face, and his heart lurches in his chest. He wants to smooth out that pout with his fingers, to kiss it away and replace it with a smile. But he resists, hardening his heart against the sight and keeping his response cool and emotionless.

"Don't give me that look. It won't work."

"How's Alisha and the baby" I ask suddenly panic.

He is taken aback by your sudden question about Alisha and the baby. He hadn't expected you to ask about them, especially in your current state. He takes a deep breath, choosing his words carefully before responding.

"They're both fine. There's no need to worry about them."

Alex had expected you to hate Alisha and the baby after what had happened, so your question and concern for them comes as a surprise to him. He can't help but feel a pang of guilt for expecting less of you, for assuming you would be filled with anger and hatred. Instead, he sees your selflessness and compassion, even in the face of your own suffering. It only deepens his love and respect for you, but he couldn't show it, not with Alisha still in the picture.

Watching me, he can't help but reflect on his second marriage. Seeing you, weak and suffering, yet still thinking of Alisha and the baby's well-being, makes him question his decision to remarry. He wonders if he had made a terrible mistake, marrying someone he didn't truly love, while the woman he truly loved lay here, in pain and heartbreak. His mind is in turmoil as he struggles with his conflicted emotions.

The thought of the baby being the reason he stayed with Alisha was a painful reminder of his current situation. He can't remember the night he had slept with her, and he doubts if it was truly consensual. Yet Alisha had spoken of an alcohol-fueled night as the reason for the conception of the baby in her belly. He can't help but feel trapped, stuck in a marriage that makes him miserable and yearning for the love he had once had with you.

Alex can't help but feel torn by his decisions. He knows that a simple sorry could bring you back to him, that all he need to do is apologize and prove his love and loyalty to you. But he hadn't done so. He had chosen to remain detached and cold despite the love he still feels for you. He had allowed himself to be pressured into a marriage with Alisha for the sake of her baby, a baby he isn't even sure is his. He can't help but regret his choices and question his own stupidity.

"Iam tired" I said weakly.

His heart clenches as he heard your weary tone. He can see the exhaustion in your eyes, the toll your body has taken on you. He wants so badly to take you in his arms and hold you, to comfort you with reassuring words and soothing touches. But he controls the urge and responds in a level voice.

"You need to rest, Jasmine. Close your eyes and try to sleep."

"Hold me" I requested almost begging.

Alex hesitates for a moment, wrestling with his conflicting emotions. On one hand, he desperately wants to hold you, to feel your skin against his and provide you with the comfort and support you need. But on the other hand, he is aware of Alisha's presence and their agreement not to show affection to you. Yet, seeing the pleading look in your eyes, he can't resist your request any longer.

"Okay. I'll hold you, sweet girl."

"Swe-sweet girl?" I asked with a surprise weak smile.

His heart aches as he hears you ask about the nickname he had fondly called you in the past. Seeing your weak smile brings back a flood of memories, the affectionate little nicknames he had whispered in your ear as a term of endearment. He knew how much you loved the term, and he couldn't help but respond with a twinge of regret in his voice.

"Y-Yes, that's what I used to call you. My sweet girl."

He can feel your body snuggle closer to him, seeking the comfort and warmth he provides. He can see the little happy tears filling your eyes, knowing that despite his coldness and his married status, you still yearned for him and loved him. It pained him to know that you had dropped your self-respect, and he wanted to protest, but he couldn't bring himself to push you away. Instead, he wrapped his arms around you tighter, holding you close as he struggled with his conflicting emotions.

Alex's attention is suddenly drawn away from you as he sees Alisha barge into the room unexpectedly. His body stiffens, and his expression becomes guarded once again as he releases his hold on you and stands up straight. He can feel the tension in the room as he awaits her reaction to the sight of him holding you.

Her entrance was marked by her expensive attire, her designer dress and handbag a stark contrast to the sterility of the hospital room. Alex couldn't help but notice the way she held herself, her back straight and chin held high, her every movement oozing confidence and entitlement.

"How dare u?!" she exclaimed questioning my petite figure.

"Stealing my husband, huh?"; shameless women!" She exclaimed causing drama.

"Enough, Jasmine needs silence" Alex said

"U have started taking her side now I see" she said to Alex a revengfully eyeing my weak figure on the bed.

"Iam not taking sides it's basic humanity" Alex argued before letting go of me to stop further argument from Alisha.

"I will show u" she whispered to me before leaving..

Continuing soon.....

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