Falling for the Goddess

The Young Lady Can't Handle This

When Sara Hart fainted in his arms, Adrian Blake's mind blanked, a wave of panic overtaking him. Her lips were colorless, her face flushed with a feverish red that didn't look right.

He pressed the back of his hand to her forehead - she was burning up.

Without hesitation, Adrian gathered her up, closed the door, and headed straight to his car. She felt even lighter than before, lying still in his arms, so delicate it seemed she might break.

On the way down, the young security guard saw Adrian carrying her and stood up, surprised. "Hey, you..."

Adrian didn't spare him a glance and moved quickly to the car. By the time the security guard reached the door, all he could see was the car disappearing in the distance. Watching the tail lights, the guard muttered, "Could they be a couple?"

Adrian drove fast, stealing glances at Sara in the backseat whenever he stopped at a light. Her face was pinched, and he could see she was uncomfortable. The seconds on the red light ticked down, and Adrian felt his frustration build. What if he hadn't gone to find her? Would she have just been left unconscious at home?

As soon as the light turned green, he gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles taut, and sped off, taking her straight to the hospital where Lucas Graves worked.

When Lucas Graves saw Adrian carrying Sara again, he blinked in surprise, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

In the waiting area outside the exam room, Lucas Graves sat with Adrian, who leaned against the wall, eyes closed in tension.

"Adrian, what happened this time?" Lucas Graves's curiosity was obvious. Adrian, who'd been unreachable and had tracked down friends to find her, now had brought her here unconscious. It was hard to believe nothing major had happened between them.

Adrian opened his mouth as if to answer, but he remained silent, his face set in stone.

The door swung open, and a female doctor stepped out in her white coat.

Adrian straightened immediately. "How is she?"

The doctor glanced at him. "You're her husband, correct?"

"Yes."

"No major issues. She's got a fever from an infected wound, combined with emotional stress and a lack of rest, which caused her to faint."

Noting that Adrian and Lucas seemed close, the doctor gave him a sideways look. "I understand you're newlyweds, but you need to be mindful of her health. She's young and delicate; don't overdo it."

"I'll prescribe an ointment for her. Apply it as directed, and no... activities until she's fully recovered."

Lucas Graves paid close attention to every word, his gaze flicking between the doctor and Adrian with wide eyes. Was she implying what he thought?

Adrian clenched his jaw, feeling the weight of the implications. He knew he might've hurt her, but he hadn't realized the full extent.

Closing his eyes, Adrian replayed the hazy memory of the night before, where he could only vaguely recall her faint cries and the raw satisfaction of release. He couldn't remember how many times he had...

Lucas Graves, always curious, this time held back on probing further into such a private matter, though he couldn't fully contain his intrigue.

"You're not going to check on her?" he finally asked.

Adrian nodded, softly pushing open the door to her room.

Sara was lying quietly, an IV in her arm, already asleep. He stood by her bedside, gazing at her pale face. Slowly, he reached out, wanting to touch her, but his hand froze mid-air and eventually fell back to his side.

In the corner of the room, he found a washbasin and filled it with warm water, grabbing a cloth and gently wiping her face. He moved with a gentleness and patience that seemed foreign to him, carefully brushing away the traces of her earlier tears.

Even her lower lip bore a deep red mark from her own teeth. How much strength had she needed to bear through that?

Outside, Lucas Graves peeked through the window, observing the scene with a mix of surprise and satisfaction. Shaking his head with a slight smile, he walked away.

Adrian sat beside Sara, conflicted by both remorse and frustration. He felt guilty for how he had wronged her, and frustrated that he didn't know how to bridge the chasm between them.

He stayed by her side for as long as she slept, guarding her through her slumber.

When his phone buzzed, he stepped out onto the balcony to take the call.

"Grandma..."

"Did you find Sara?"

"Yes."

"Did you apologize to her? Is she still angry? Let me talk to her if she's upset."

After a brief pause, Adrian finally replied, "We're at the hospital."

"Hospital?" Grandma Blake exclaimed, jumping up from her seat. Alice Miller hurried to support her.

"What happened?"

Adrian quickly reassured her, "It's nothing serious, Grandma. She just has a fever..."

"Is it bad? Which hospital are you at? I'll come over right now."

Adrian glanced at Sara through the glass, calming his grandmother. "There's no need, Grandma. The hospital is crowded. Once she's awake, I'll ask if she wants to go home or stay. If she's up for it, I'll bring her back to the villa so you can see her."

Grandma Blake sighed, agreeing reluctantly. "Fine."

After a moment of silence, Adrian asked, "Grandma, can you tell me why you were so set on me marrying Sara?"

Grandma paused on the other end. "I'll only say this: Sara is a good girl, the best match for you. As you get to know her, I think you'll come to love her too. And when the time is right, she'll tell you herself why."

"Grandma..."

"Just take good care of her, won't you? She's young, and she's easily hurt. Show her a little warmth for once, won't you? When you're back home, I'll come see her."

After Grandma Blake ended the call, Adrian lingered on the balcony, looking down at the patients and their loved ones gathered on the hospital lawn.

He had thought that marrying Sara was simply a means to fulfill his grandmother's wishes and that, when the time came, they would quietly end things.

But now, with one fateful night, his plans had unraveled.

Perhaps it was time to let go of his reservations and try to accept this change.

After a moment, Adrian returned to the room. As he approached her bed, Sara stirred, her eyelashes fluttering open.

He leaned over, concern in his voice. "You're awake?"