Chapter 113: Love Doesn’t Take Permission
The quiet hum of the heart monitor had faded into the background, a steady rhythm like a heartbeat matching the relief in the room.
Emma was awake—truly awake this time—and though the heaviness of what had happened lingered, the warmth in her eyes soothed the ache in Alex's chest.
Claire was the first to break the comfortable silence, her gaze shifting between the two of them.
She crossed her arms, raising a brow. "Alright, since Emma's finally awake... don't you think you should eat something, Alex?" she said looking at him in a questioning manner.
Alex blinked, clearly caught off guard. His thumb was still gently brushing Emma's knuckles, his attention solely on her. He shook his head slightly. "I'm fine, really. I'm not hungry."
But just as he said that, at that exact moment, a loud, undeniable rumble echoed from his stomach. He cleared his throat while trying everything to avoid looking into Emma's face.
The entire room went silent for a beat before Chris snorted, barely able to contain his laughter. Ivy clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with amusement.
And then Emma—soft, beautiful, still so pale but glowing in the most delicate way—laughed. It was quiet, breathy, but it filled the room with a lightness they hadn't felt in days.
Alex groaned, his ears tinged pink. "Okay, that wasn't what it sounded like," he said clearly shy.
Claire raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So, what exactly did it sound like? Because it sounded a lot like someone who hasn't eaten all day," she said and everyone laughed making Alex's ear burn from embarrassment.
Chris, still grinning, chimed in. "Alex, it's past 5 p.m. What did you expect? Of course your stomach's protesting. Maybe you're not feeling hungry because you're too happy Emma's awake, but your stomach definitely didn't get the memo. So, fill it up."