"Why didn't you ever tell her all of this?" Zane yelled, standing up. "That poor girl has been blaming herself for all these months." He couldn't believe what David had just told him.
"I know, I know. But that was my deal with Ahan. Otherwise, he wouldn't have let me bring her here," David responded.
"You all make me sick," Zane spat out and went inside Winter's ward to find her quivering. He immediately touched her forehead to feel her burning up. "Shit, she has a high fever," he let out and called the doctor.
Zane was pacing back and forth outside the ward as the doctor and nurse were checking Winter up. Once the doctor came out, he asked him, "How is she now?"
"I have given her an injection. She should be feeling better by morning. Also, you shouldn't leave her. She was calling your name before falling asleep," the doctor informed him.
"Thank you so much, doctor," Zane said and went inside. His heart ached once again as he saw the cold compress on her forehead provided by the nurse. He took her hands in his and whispered, "Why do things like this keep happening to you?"
Zane stared at her pale face for almost all night as regret kept eating him alive. He couldn't bring himself to tell her how he was feeling ever since he found that she tried calling him when she was going through her worst time. He spent a huge amount of time plotting against Ahan before finally falling asleep.
°°°°°
Winter opened her eyes in the morning, feeling a pounding headache. She noticed Carla sitting on the stool.
"Where's Zane?" Winter asked in a weak voice.
"Oh, you are awake. Great." Carla smiled in relief. "I forced him to go have some breakfast. That kid hasn't eaten anything since last night."
"Really?" Winter tried getting up but Carla forbade her.
"Take some more rest. Your boyfriend will scold me otherwise."
"Don't tell me you are scared of him." Winter rolled her eyes.
"That's because you only see his sweet side, dear. You have no idea how scary he can be. David and I faced his wrath when you were in the ER." Carla shivered, remembering how Zane yelled at the two of them because he thought they were responsible for Winter's condition.
Winter chuckled. But soon she started feeling when she thought about what Zane must have been through while she was unconscious. He must feel guilty for not being there for her. She needed to persuade him that it wasn't his fault.
After a few minutes, Zane entered the ward and smiled at the sight of Winter wide awake. He thanked Carla for looking after her, who left immediately.
"How do you feel?" Zane asked her.
"Would be better if I could sit up," Winter replied.
Zane chortled and helped her sit up. "Now?"
"Even better as I can see your handsome face." She smiled widely.
"Great." He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I know you have just woken up, but there's something I need to show you." He handed her a piece of folded paper. "It's your mom's suicide note."
"How did you get it?" Winter was shocked as she had no idea a suicide note existed.
"After threatening your father," he replied with a poker face. "That jerk had it the whole time."
Winter quickly opened the paper and started reading it.
"Dear Winter,
I'm sorry, honey. I didn't want to leave you alone in this cruel world. But I have no choice. I need to kill you because Ahan wants the property that will be yours once you turn eighteen, but I can't bring myself to do it. You are the reason why I did what I did all my life. I escaped with your dad's money because he wanted to abandon you and me. It was all for your better future. Therefore, I can't kill you. I would rather kill myself. I have told your real father to look after you from now on, so you don't have to worry. Live your life however you want it. You will have my support. Be happy. Don't blame yourself for whatever happens. It was the choice I made for you; don't let it go in vain. I love you the most.
Yours ever,
Mom."
"It's not fake, is it?" Winter breathed out, tears forming in her eyes.
Zane shook his head and made her rest her head on his shoulder. "So be happy from now on. Don't blame yourself anymore."
Winter hugged him tightly and let out, "I don't know how to react to this."
"However you want to react, I'm here with you. You are not alone." He patted her shoulder lightly, helping her relax.
"Why wasn't I given this before?" she questioned.
"Your mom sent two letters to your dad. One that was directed to him, asking him to take you in after her death and all about the reasons why she took her life. Another one was this. Mr. Ahan didn't know about this second one, so he traded you for that suicide note which could destroy him," he informed her.
"Then why is he here?" Winter let out in confusion.
"What?" Zane's eyes went wide. He broke the hug and asked, "He's here? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I must have forgotten to mention it. But I think he must be here for the property since I have turned eighteen recently," Winter pointed out.
"That could be the reason. Don't worry, I'll have Cedric find that bastard, then we will hand him over to the cops. We will charge him for provocation. But for the time being, I can't risk you staying at your house. You should stay with me," Zane blurted out.
"What? With you?" Her cheeks started heating up at the thought.
"In my sister's room." He gave her a flat face. "What were you thinking, you naughty girl?"
Winter shook her head frantically. "Of course I knew that. But wouldn't I be inconve—"
"No, Winter. They are totally fine with you staying there, so you are staying with us until that Ahan guy gets caught," Zane declared.
"What if Dad and—"
"I don't care about their opinion," he cut in. "Your safety comes first to me."
"Fine. You win." Winter huffed.
Zane rested his forehead on hers and said, "I really don't want to lose you, so please understand."
"Yes, I know." Winter smiled, knowing that he only meant the best for her.
°°°°°
After arguing with David for half an hour, Zane had managed to get him to agree. David was strictly against the idea of Winter living in a guy's house, but with Carla's support, he was easier to convince.
"Thank you for letting me stay, and sorry for the bother," Winter said as soon as she entered Zane's house.
"It's not a bother at all, rather we are glad to have you over," Kalen, his mother, said and turned to Zane, who was taking off his shoes. "And you!" Zane flinched at the sudden rise of tone. "You better start attending school from tomorrow. I'm tired of lying that you are sick."
"Yes, ma'am." Zane saluted his mom and guided Winter to his sister's room. He placed her luggage at one side and made Winter sit down on the bed. "Take some rest while I unpack your luggage."
"I'm fine. I can do it on my own," Winter tried to protest, but Zane paid no avail. "Seriously, you are so extra." She huffed.
"What can you do? You got yourself an overprotective boyfriend, so deal with it," he responded and continued arranging her clothes in his sister's closet.
Winter pouted and lied down. "Did you get your phone back?"
"Yeah, I did. Thank goodness someone found it in one of the bookshelves in the library. I really couldn't afford a new one," he answered.
She found the case of his phone going missing a little odd but decided not to let it bother her. She had finally managed to get him back from his guilt trip, she wouldn't let him feel guilty again about this matter. "Where's Ellie?" she inquired.
"At work."
Winter jumped up from the bed and let out, "Shit, we have been missing work for five days now."
"Yeah, I informed Tracy already," he answered.
"That's a relief." Winter stared at his broad shoulders and licked her lips, saying, "I haven't seen your bedroom yet, although you have seen mine many times."
"Sure. Just let me finish it up."
After that, Zane took her to his bedroom, which was right across from the room she was staying in. His room was just like she imagined. It was sparkly clean, filled with books and notes sticking on the blue walls, instead of decorations.
"Damn, it looks like a nerd's room," Winter commented, attempting to read the messy notes. Her gaze lingered on the thick medical reference books as she already knew about his dream to be a doctor.
"Well, I am one," he replied and opened the curtains after five days as he had been sleeping at the hospital. He only came home to shower and get food for her. When she had said that he didn't know how to cook, he replied that he would learn cooking only for her, which melted her heart.
Winter hummed and closed the door, locking it. "Your room is very clean too," she added.
"Don't worry. You won't see me nagging you about your unhygienic habits." He chortled.
Winter went near him and snaked her arms around his neck. He automatically held her close by the waist. "Even if you do nag me, I'm not listening. I'm not going to be hesitant anymore." She inched closer to him, standing on her tip-toe, letting her breath fan over his lips.
"Did you come here to do this?" Zane arched an eyebrow in amusement, and she nodded without any hesitation. "I thought I would be the one wanting such things when we started dating. But it seems you are the one more into it."
"What can you do? You got yourself a needy girlfriend, so deal with it," she said and pulled him in a passionate kiss.
Winter was now sure that she wouldn't have to worry about her safety anymore because there was someone else to do that for her, and she would never feel unsafe as long as Zane was close to her.
