Chapter 453: Familiar woman

"Joshua is awake." Ian's stated, happiness and excitement dancing on his face. At once, the three people rushed to him with Ivy in the lead.

"Ian, is Joshua really awake? How is he? Is he alright? He must be tired and weak. Is he out of danger, or is his condition still critical?" Ivy fired questions at him, and Ian chuckled seeing her relieved yet anxious face. After a day of suffering, finally, there was a twinkle in the girl's eyes. Though her eyes were still red and puffy, it could not hide her joy and relief.

"Ivy, please relax, and I would prefer it if you ask me one question at a time." Ian held her by her shoulder, smiling at her in helplessness.

"Yeah, sorry. It's just I was nervous." Ivy bit her lip, making Ian chuckle lightly.

"I understand, Ivy. You do not have to apologize for it. Joshua is awake. Though he is weak and pale, he is out of danger. But we will keep him under observation for the next seventy-two hours."

"Can we meet him, Ian?" Noah questioned, his shoulders relaxing after listening to Ian's assurance.

"Currently, no. Joshua fell asleep immediately after he woke up. We will be shifting him to the VIP ward tomorrow. You can see him then. Anything else?" Ian knew that his friends had a lot of questions to ask, and he answered them patiently.

"Thank you, Ian. Thank you so much." Ivy hugged him all of a sudden, stunning him. He was momentarily frozen by the girl's actions. However, he immediately hugged her back, patting her to soothe. 

"Don't thank me, Ivy. It was my duty, and Joshua is my friend. I would do anything to save him. Moreover, it was not me who saved him. It was Aria. So, all the credit goes to her." Ian smiled at Aria, and she returned it with a nod.

"As expected. My girlfriend is the best." Noah wrapped his arms around her shoulder, his face filled with pride.

"She sure is," Ian mumbled. "And she has to be because she is your girlfriend. It takes courage to be in her place." Nobody but Ivy heard him, and she giggled in response while she continued to hug him. Hearing the girl's laughter, Ian shook his head at her in alarm. "Do you want Noah to kill me? Don't." He chided her softly.

"What are you two whispering?" Aria had seen the small interaction between the two, and she narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"Wow, you scold the devil, and his girlfriend comes out to defend him. Surely, their hearts are united." Ian muttered before he pulled away from Ivy. "Nothing at all Aria. It was just a casual talk between Ivy and me."

"Why can't I believe it?" Aria was quick to respond.

"Then, don't. It's a secret among us. We will not be telling you. Anyway, there are some tests to be performed on Jo. Aria, I need your assistance." Ian successfully diverted the topic, and Aria forgot what they were talking about. She followed Ian inside the ICU, leaving her sister with Noah.

Now that Joshua was out of danger and things were getting back to normal, Noah decided to put forth his plan to action. Not wasting another moment, he sent a text to Ronnie to be ready for the next step, and stood beside Ivy, observing Aria and Ian check Joshua.

Their focus snapped when they heard footsteps hurrying towards them, and they turned in the direction of the sound. Joshua's parents were walking towards them, and like Ivy, his mother's eyes too had turned red from all the crying she had done. Seeing Noah and Ivy standing outside the ICU, Hazel quickened her pace.

"How is he? How is my son now? What did Ian say?" Hazel panted as she shot her questions. 

"Mrs. Martin, please calm down. Relax. I have some good news for you. Joshua has gained consciousness." His words made the couple widen their eyes.

"Is it true, Noah? Did Jo really gain consciousness? Ivy, is it true?" Martin queried holding Noah's hands as he looked back and forth between the duo.

"Yes, Mr. Martin. Joshua was awake for a few moments before he went back to sleep again. However, the good news is he is out of danger." Ivy stated whatever Ian had told them and observed the way the couple's expression changed from hopeful to happiness.

"Did you hear that Martin? Joshua is fine, our son is fine." Hazel turned to her husband, tears of glee running down her face.

"Yes, yes dear. Our son is out of danger, and he will be out of this hospital soon. I told you to stay strong. Our son cannot leave us just like that." Martin hugged his wife and coaxed her gently to calm down, and it worked to some extent.

Ivy just watched from the sides as the couple hugged each other in happiness. "I apologize for our rudeness. We did not inform you about him soon."

"It's okay, my dear." Martin smiled at her assuringly. "We understand. You must have been worried too to think about it. Don't worry."

After checking Joshua thoroughly, Ian and Aria prescribed some tests for the nurse to carry out on him before they left the room. Aria frowned, seeing a middle-aged couple she had never met before standing beside Noah, and she stared at him with a questioning gaze.

"Mr. and Mrs. Martin, let me introduce you to my sister." Ivy saw the small exchange between them, and she came forward to do the introduction. "This is Aria, and Aria they are Joshua's parents."

The couple looked at the girl standing beside Ivy, and they greeted her with a smile. "Hello, dear." Martin was the first one to greet, for Hazel was still sobbing quietly even though she smiled at her.

"Hello, Sir. I am Ivy's twin, Aria." She greeted them politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you, though the circumstances we are meeting at are not that great."

Aria's words made Hazel chuckle. "It's okay, dear. All the matters are everyone is safe."

Noah smiled, hearing the light conversation between the people he was close to before his gaze shifted on the woman, who was bolting towards them with a panic-filled face. His expression turned rigid at once, and he froze in his place. Anger surged through him, and he clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with fire with every step the girl took towards them.

How could he forget the girl who hurt his friend? How could he forget the girl who pushed Joshua to an extreme level of depression? How could he forget the woman responsible for his friend's agony for years until Ivy came into his life? How could he forget Amber?