Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth!-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."

Alex shot him a glare, but Chris only shrugged, smirking making Alex sigh.

Visit freewebnoveℓ.com for the best novel reading exp𝒆rience.

"Seriously," Claire added with a teasing smile, "if you don't want to end up taking Emma's place when she's finally discharged tomorrow, you should eat something."

Emma, still smiling softly, squeezed his hand just a little tighter. Her voice was hoarse but warm. "I think you should eat too. Actually... I'm hungry so let's eat together."

Alex's eyes snapped back to her, instantly concerned. "You're hungry? Why didn't you say something sooner?"

She raised a brow. "Well, I just did."

He exhaled in relief before nodding. "Alright, fine. But I'm only eating because you said you're hungry and want to eat with me. And I want you to eat, too."

Chris groaned dramatically. "Wow. Listen to yourself, man. You sound like a lovesick teenager," he said with a shake of his head.

Claire smirked, arms crossed. "More like a forty-year-old acting like a teenager. Honestly, Alex, what's gotten into you?" Claire asked clearly amused by how Alex was acting.

Alex's face turned an even deeper shade of pink. "I am not—"

"Maybe," Ivy cut in, smirking, "that's just what being in love does to people. You don't have to feel shy about it," she teased and Emma smiled seeing how shy Alex was reacting.

Claire scrunched her nose. "Well, then I'd rather not be in love, thank you very much."

Chris, who had been quietlu enjoying Alex being teased, turned his head toward Claire. His gaze was soft but serious. "You shouldn't say that, Claire. Love doesn't ask permission before it starts growing in someone's heart. I'm sure Alex didn't ask for this."

After he said that, there was a quiet shift in the air. Claire's smile faltered, her eyes lingering on his for just a heartbeat longer than necessary before she looked away knowing he was indirectly challenging her.

However subtle the exchange between them was and no matter how hard they had made it seem like it wasn't a big deal, Ivy had still noticed the tension between them.

There was something there. She thought. But now wasn't the time to ask. Besides, she could always get the details from Emma.

The tension broke as Alex groaned, raking a hand through his hair. "Okay, okay, enough. Can we stop talking about me now? Let's focus on getting food. For Emma. Only for Emma."

Everyone laughed again, the lightness lingering as Chris shook his head while Ivy went on to pick up the remaining food pack and gave it to Alex so he could share with Emma.

After a while had passed after Emma and Alex had finished eating, Chris checked his watch and sighed. "I should get going. There's something I need to handle."

Emma's face softened. "Thank you, Chris... for everything."

He gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't mention it. Just focus on getting better, okay? I'll check on you later," he said before turning to Ivy.

"Take care, Vee. I promise we'll catch up better after all this is over," he said since he and Ivy hadn't seen since after college and they had been unable to catch up because of the situation Emma was.

Claire followed him to the door, lingering as he left. When she returned, she gave Alex a pointed look.

"Alright, since Emma's awake and you've got your emotional moment out of the way, I'm going to head home for a bit to shower and change. You should too. I can watch over her when I come back while you go shower and rest."

Alex shook his head immediately. "No."

Claire blinked. "What do you mean no? Alex, you haven't slept properly since yesterday. You're exhausted."

"I don't care. I'm not leaving." His grip on Emma's hand tightened slightly, as though the very thought of being apart from her again was unbearable.

His voice dropped to a whisper. "I don't want to waste a single second away from her. Just... bring me some clothes here. Please."

Emma's eyes softened, but she exchanged a glance with Claire, silently asking for backup.

"Alex, you're being stubborn," Emma murmured, voice still weak.

He gave her a soft, boyish smile. "It's because I love you. And I'm not leaving."

Claire threw her hands in the air in exasperation. "Ugh. Fine. I'll bring your clothes. But if you pass out from exhaustion, I'm saying 'I told you so.'"

Alex smirked. "Deal."

Claire rolled her eyes and left the room, leaving only Ivy, Alex, and Emma in the quiet once more.

Ivy checked her phone and sighed. "I should head out too. But I'll be back first thing tomorrow, okay?"

Emma nodded, her voice gentle. "Thank you, Ivy. Really. For being here."

Ivy gave her a soft smile and then turned to leave.

A frown etched her brows when she got outside and saw that the weather was really bad, almost like it would rain any moment.

Not wanting to be head up by the rain, Ivy hastened her footsteps and headed to her car.

The rain had started by the time she reached the parking lot, a steady drizzle tapping against the windshield as she slid into the driver's seat. She twisted the key in the ignition, and once it came on, she drove off.

She hadn't driven a long distance before the engine sputtered.

What's going on? She mused as she tried turning the car back on but it just sputtered again.

Frowning, she tried again. Nothing.

She cursed under her breath and popped the hood, stepping out into the rain just as it began to pour harder.

What was wrong? She mused as she went over to raise the car's bonnet. The engine was heating up.

Great. She thought.

She immediately closed it and made it back so she could get into the car so she could call another cab and her mechanic.

She tried opening the door but it wouldn't and that was when she realized she had been locked out, without her phone and under the rain in a quiet place.