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Chapter 50 

Chapter 59 

Aria’s POV 

Pain 

That was the first thing I noticed when I woke up. A dull, throbbing ache spreading through my body like an annoying reminder that I was still alive. 

The second thing I noticed? 

Dominic. 

Sitting beside my bed. 

His legs spread slightly, one hand resting lazily on the armrest of his chair, the other tapping against his thigh like he was annoyed about something. 

I blinked. 

Was I hallucinating? 

I had to be. Because the last thing I remembered was being kidnapped, nearly beaten to death, and slowly rotting away in a concrete cell. Now, I was in a hospital, hooked up to machines, and Dominic freaking De Luca was sitting beside me. “Dominic?” My voice came out hoarse. 

He tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. “Who else?” 

Okay. Not a hallucination. 

I licked my lips, my throat painfully dry. “Where am I?” 

“Somewhere you won’t get kidnapped again,” he said flatly. 

I frowned. “Is that your way of saying ‘don’t worry, you’re safe now“?” 

His lips twitched like he was fighting a smirk. “No.” 

1 rolled my eyes. “Figures, you don’t do cliche shit.” 

I tried to shift, but even that tiny movement made me wince. My body felt weak, my muscles aching like I had been run over by a truck. 

Dominic noticed. His fingers twitched slightly, like he wanted to reach out but was stopping himself. 

“Don’t move too much,” he muttered. “You’re still recovering.” 

I raised an eyebrow. “Is that concern I hear?” 

He scoffed. “Hardly.” 

But he was so bad at lying. 

I opened my mouth to tease him again when my stomach growled. 

Loudly. 

The sound echoed in the quiet hospital room. 

Dominic’s eyes narrowed. 

I swallowed hard. “Uh-” 

“You haven’t eaten.” 

I blinked. “Well, I was a little busy being kidnapped and in coma, Dominic.” 

He didn’t laugh. Didn’t even smirk. 

Instead, he stood up so fast his chair scraped against the floor. 

“Stay here.” 

I blinked again. “Where the hell would I go?” 

He ignored me, walking out of the room. 

I sighed, letting my head fall back against the p 

I was exhausted. Everything ached. And yet, a Dominic had come for me. 

Successfully unlocked! 

Not just sent his men. He had come. He had not let me rot. 

And now, he was stalking the hospital hallways like some mafia mother hen, probably terrorizing the kitchen staff for food. 

Chapter 59 

The thought made me snort. 

A few minutes later the door swung open again, and Dominic walked in–holding a tray of food. 

I stared at it. 

Then at him 

Then back at the tray 

You stole hospital food?” I asked, amused. 

He glared. “I didn’t steal anything. I made them cook something better.” 

I bit back a laugh. Of course he did. 

He walked over to the bed, placed the tray on the side table, and sat back down. 

Then, he picked up the spoon. 

I squinted at him. “What are you doing?” 

“Feeding you.” 

I blinked rapidly. “You are not feeding me.” 

He lifted the spoon, his expression blank. “Open your mouth.” 

“Dominic, I can feed myself.” 

“You can barely lift your arm.” 

“Let me suffer in peace.” 

“Stop being stubborn.” 

1 am not- 

He shoved the spoon into my mouth. 

1 choked. 

Spluttered. 

Tried to glare at him through watering eyes while he just sat there, completely unbothered, waiting for me to chew. 

I swallowed, coughing slightly. “Did you just- 

He lifted another spoonful. “Open.” 

I gawked at him. 

“You can’t just force–feed me like I’m a toddler!” 

He raised an eyebrow. “You’re weaker than a toddler right now.” 

I gasped. “Rude.” 

His lips twitched again. 

“Eat,” he said, his voice softer now. “Please.” 

Please 

Dominic De Luca saying please? 

I should have recorded this moment. 

I sighed dramatically. “Fine.” 

He lifted the spoon again, waiting 

I glared at him one last time before begrudgingly opening my mouth. 

The food was warm. Soft. Actually good. 

I chewed slowly, and before I could even reach for another bite, he was already lifting the next spoonful. This time, I didn’t argue 

Because, as much as I hated to admit it, I was starving. 

And, despite his usual terrifying presence, there was something oddly… gentle about the way he fed me. 

Like he actually cared. 

And that? 

That scared me more than anything else. 

I opened my mouth for another spoonful, chewing slower this time. My stomach had been empty for so long that even 

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Chapter 59 

small bites felt overwhelming But Dominic? He was patient. 

Too patient 

He didn’t rush me. Didn’t shove food into my mouth like before. 

Just quietly fed me, his fingers gripping the spoon with steady precision, his dark eyes locked onto mine like he was trying to memorize every single movement I made. 

It was unsettling. 

I swallowed, shifting slightly under his gaze. 

“What?” I muttered. 

He didn’t answer immediately. Just set the spoon down and leaned back in his chair. 

Then- 

“You have cancer.” 

It wasn’t a question. It wasn’t soft, either. 

Just a statement. 

Cold Direct 

I stiffened. 

So, that’s what this was about. 

I forced a weak smile. “And here I thought you just liked playing nurse.” 

He didn’t laugh. Didn’t smirk. 

Just stared at me. 

Like he was waiting. 

Like he was daring me to lie to him. 

1 exhaled, my fingers curling weakly into the blanket. “So, is that why you’re doing all this?” I asked, voice quieter now.” Because you feel bad for me? Yes I have cancer boo hoo, it’s not the end of the world.” 

His jaw ticked. 

“I don’t pity you, Aria.” 

“Then what?” I pushed, my heart pounding. “What is this?” I gestured around the room, at the food, the doctors, the fact that he had turned an entire hospital upside down for me. “You barely let me breathe without controlling something. And now you’re here, feeding me like I’m-” 

“Mine” 

I froze. 

His voice was sharp. Final 

I searched his face, trying to find something–anything–that made sense. 

But Dominic De Luca was a hard man to read. 

All I saw was anger. Frustration. 

Something I didn’t have the energy to fight right now. 

I sighed, turning my head away. “I didn’t ask for this.” 

“I know, he muttered. 

Silence stretched between us. 

It wasn’t comfortable. 

It wasn’t hostile, either. 

Just heavy 

I closed my eyes, swallowing hard. “So what now?” 

He exhaled, slow and controlled. 

“You get better,” he said simply. 

I huffed out a weak laugh. “You make it sound so easy.” 

“It will happen.” 

His confidence was infuriating. 

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Chapter 59 

I opened my eyes again, watching as he reached for the wet cloth on the bedside table. Without a word, he pressed it against my forehead, wiping away the sweat. 

I should have pulled away. 

Should have said something sarcastic. 

But I didn’t. 

Because, despite everything, I actually do want to have hope that I won’t drop dead. 

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