Chapter 449 - Familiar patient

It was the early hours of dawn, and nobody had left the hospital. They stood outside the ICU while Aria and Ian continued to monitor Joshua's condition. There was a slight improvement in him, and Ian sighed in relief. "Thank you, Aria."

Ian's sudden gratitude surprised Aria, and she shook her head at him, putting on an admonishing expression. "Don't thank me. It was my duty to save him, and I had to do it. I don't want to say it lest the man should hear it even though he is unconscious and should his pride swell up, he is my family now. How can I see him hurt, especially when my sister is crazy about him?" Aria's twisted logic made Ian chuckle, and he nodded, agreeing with her.​​

"You are right? He is already flying in the sky. We do not want him wandering in outer space after hearing your words. Moreover, now is not the time to praise him. He needs to be scolded seriously." Ian glared at the man who could not hear a word he was speaking. He wanted Joshua to feel his anger and open his eyes, for he could not see him in the condition he was in. This man was better off blabbering all the sentences he could muster and frustrate the hell out of him rather than lying silently on a hospital bed with his face as pale as snow.

"You guys are one hell of friends," Aria mumbled, smiling at the sleeping Joshua.

"And, you have one hell of a sister." Aria lifted her head, frowning at his words when Ian gestured her to turn around. "See your sister. She has been glued to her spot in front of the ward. At one instant, I almost allowed her to enter, unable to see her state. Take her home, Aria. She needs rest and you too. I will stay here."

"But..."

"No, buts. Go home. Come back after you have rested well. Anyway, you will be taking the night duty." Ian winked at her, and Aria rolled her eyes at him.

"Fine. Take care and call me if you need anything."

"Definitely."

Aria took a glance at Joshua before she left the ward to meet a crestfallen Ivy. "Oh Lord," She whispered, seeing the state her sister was in. Her eyes had gone red and puffy from all the crying she had done, and she looked so broken that it made Aria cry. "Ivy," Not knowing what to say, she hugged her sister tight, putting all her concern and love for her in the hug.

"Aria, how is he?" Ivy had been dying to find out how her man was even though everyone had assured her that he was in a good state. She so desperately wanted to meet. But the hospital rules forbade her from entering the ICU, and only Ivy knew how she controlled herself from barging inside and hugging the injured man.

"Ivy, don't worry. Joshua is alright. He is responding positively to our treatment, and shortly, he will wake up."

"Are you saying the truth?" Ivy pulled back to observe her sister, trying to read her. "Or, are you just trying to assure me even though it is not the case?"

"Not all, Ivy," Aria replied confidently. She had taken a look at the man's condition, and he was improving, although the rate was slow. "He is a fighter, and he is strong. I promise you that he will be speaking with you soon, and in no time, he will out of this hospital. But..." Aria stopped suddenly, her pause scaring Ivy. 

Ivy's heart was now in her throat, and she was just short of having a panic attack. "But what, Aria? Is there any complication?" She queried, praying for Joshua's wellbeing.

"Not at all. I was thinking how long he should restrain from indulging in any s_e_x_u_a_l activities. His stamina would not be that great until he recovers completely. By the way, how is his stamina? Is he good?" Aria's brazen words made Ivy blink for a few seconds before she sent her a death glare.

Ivy's red face made Aria giggle, and she covered her mouth. At least her sister had stopped sobbing. Noah walked towards the sisters, wondering what was so funny for Aria to be giggling while Ivy looked like she was about to burst out in anger.

"Girls, what's happening?" 

"Noah, control your woman. She is going out of hand, and if I am not mistaken, horny even." Now it was Aria's turn to glare at her sister, her giggle vanishing completely. Noah stood perplexed, not understanding what Ivy was talking about.

"What do you mean, Ivy?" 

Before Ivy could respond, Aria butted in. "Nothing, Noah. My sister is exhausted, and her fatigue is making her speak nonsense. Don't listen to her. She needs rest."

"No, I don't." Ivy protested at once, forgetting about what she wanted to say before. 

"Aria is right. Both of you need rest, and I am taking you home. Let's go." Noah looked back and forth between the two, his expression serious and firm.

"But, what about Joshua?" Ivy stared at the unconscious man through the glass pane. 

"Ivy, don't worry Ian is here. He will take care of him, and I assure you he is a better doctor than I am."

"And, my men will take care of his safety. Nothing will happen to him." Noah added.

"No, I...." Ivy did not have a chance to argue. Aria had already held her hand and was pulling her gently with her.

"We are going home right now, and we will come back in the evening." She did not allow Ivy to object, and seeing Aria's firm face, Ivy had no other choice but to give in. Noah followed them silently, a smile landing on his lips seeing his woman take care of her sister so well. 

However, his smile vanished when the group encountered a man he was all too familiar with lying on the stretcher as the ward boys pushed him towards the emergency ward. How could Noah forget the man whose wife and daughter-in-law had attempted to kill him just a few months ago?

Noah glared at the man who was being wheeled to the ward. Although the man had done nothing to him, he could not forget what his wife had done to him. 'Charles Miller.' He seethed, his eyes shooting daggers at him before the man vanished from his sight. His expression changed when he sensed something to be off. 'Why do the men accompanying him seem familiar?'