Chapter 61
The doctor adjusted his glasses, flipping through his notes. “She just started chemotherapy again. She needs to be monitored, and we need to make sure her body doesn’t react badly to the stronger dosage. It’s too soon to discharge her”
I groaned “Great”
Dominic ignored me. Instead, he crossed his arms and gave the doctor one of those looks–the kind that probably made grown men beg for their lives in back alleys.
“What’s the risk of going home now?” he asked, his voice calm.
Too calm.
The doctor hesitated. “If she leaves against medical advice, she could-
“What’s the risk?” Dominic cut in, his tone sharp.
The doctor sighed. “Fatigue, nausea, possible complications that we won’t be able to handle immediately. If her immune system drops, even a mild infection could be dangerous.”
I sighed too.
Mostly because I could already feel the exhaustion creeping in. Just talking about this was making my head spin.
I turned to Dominic. “Can you, for once, be responsible about something?”
His jaw ticked, his fingers tightening around the bag he was packing. He didn’t like being told what to do.
But then, to my surprise, he let out a slow breath and nodded. “Fine.”
The doctor blinked like he hadn’t expected Dominic De Luca to actually listen to someone.
Honestly? Same.
Dominic crossed his arms. “Then tell me exactly what she needs. Foods she can eat. What she should avoid. Medications. Side effects. Everything.”
The doctor, still looking a little stunned, straightened his clipboard. “She’ll need a balanced diet high in protein and iron, but low in processed sugars and excess fats. She may have difficulty digesting heavy meals, so smaller portions throughout the day would be best.”
Dominic nodded. “Got it. What about red meat?”
The doctor pursed his lips. “In moderation. Lean cuts only.”
Dominic’s eyes narrowed. “Dairy?”
“Some people tolerate it, but if it causes nausea, it should be avoided.”
“Alcohol?”
The doctor gave him a look. “Absolutely not.”
Dominic scoffed. “Right.” Then, he pointed at me. “Desserts?”
I perked up. “Yes, please.”
The doctor hesitated. “Healthier alternatives are preferred, but a small amount-*
Dominic cut him off. “Define small.”
I groaned. “Dominic, I am not a child.”
He ignored me. “Caffeine?”
The doctor hesitated again. “She shouldn’t have too much-*
“So she can have some?”
I groaned louder. “You are exhausting.”
“Just making sure,” he muttered, still looking at the doctor expectantly.
The doctor cleared his throat. “Moderation is key. Too much caffeine can cause dehydration, which isn’t ideal.”
Dominic hummed, nodding again like he was committing every word to memory
I rolled my eyes. “So, what now? You gonna make a whole spreadsheet about my diet?”
He didn’t even blink. “I already have someone workfully unlocked!
I stared at him. “You what?”
“Moving on,” he said smoothly, ignoring my stunned expression.
I threw my hands up in defeat.
Chapter &1
The doctor looked between us before sighing “Any other questions?”
I was about to say no
But then-
“Yes,” Dominic said.
I should have known.
The doctor raised an eyebrow. “Go ahead”
Dominic’s expression stayed completely neutral. “Can she have sex?”
I choked
The doctor froze.
My entire face heated so fast I thought I was going to combust
“Dominic!” I shouted, my voice cracking.
He tilted his head at me, his expression unreadable. “What? It’s a valid question.”
1 gawked at him. “It is not a valid-
“Actually, it is,” the doctor muttered under his breath, flipping through his notes.
I gasped at him. “Not you too!”
The doctor shrugged, suddenly looking more professional than necessary. “Well, chemotherapy can cause fatigue, nausea, and some loss of physical strength, which might affect-”
“Oh my God, stop talking,” I whined, covering my face with my hands.
Dominic, completely unfazed, nodded like he was considering something. “So it’s not off the table?”
I threw a pillow at his face.
The bastard caught it.
The doctor cleared his throat. “It depends on the patient’s energy levels and comfort. But, medically speaking—”
I glared at him. “You are supposed to be on my side.”
The doctor raised an eyebrow. “I’m a professional.”
Dominic smirked. “See? Professional opinion.”
I was going to die.
Not from cancer.
But from pure embarrassment.
I groaned, yanking the blanket over my head. “I hate both of you.”
Dominic chuckled. “So that’s a maybe, then?”
1 kicked him.
He just laughed harder.
The doctor sighed, clearly so done with us. “So… are you staying, or are you leaving against medical advice?”
Dominic leaned back, resting his arm on the chair. “What do you think, Gattina?”
I scowled at him.
But I was too tired to argue.
I sighed dramatically. “Fine. We’ll stay.”
Dominic smirked, clearly pleased with himself.
I closed my eyes, shaking my head. “But I swear to God, if you ask one more inappropriate question-”
“I’ll behave”
I doubted it.
The doctor checked the IV drip one last time, making sure everything was properly administered.
The machine beeped softly as the last of the medication ran through my veins, leaving behind that all toofamiliar sensation. Weakness.
Like my limbs weren’t really mine.
Like I was floating, but in the worst way possible.
Chapter 61
I sighed, rubbing my temples. “I hate this.”
Dominic was already standing by the bed, watching me closely. “I know.”
And then, without another word, he lifted me up.
Effortlessly
Like I weighed nothing.
I stiffened. “Dominic-”
“Relax” His voice was low, steady. “Just let me do this.”
I did.
Not because I wanted to. But because, honestly? I didn’t have the strength to argue.
The hospital room was dim, the sterile smell lingering as he carried me toward the suite they had given us. The private suite, of course.
Because God forbid Dominic De Luca stayed in a regular hospital room like a normal human being.
He carried me straight to the bed, setting me down with a kind of care that didn’t match the man I knew him to be.
I swallowed hard, shifting weakly as he adjusted the blankets over me.
Then, he sat on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees.
“Alright,” he muttered. “What do we do with our day in the hospital?”
1 let out a breathy laugh, shaking my head. “You sound like you’re planning a vacation plan.”
He smirked. “I like to be prepared.”
I rolled my eyes, but I was too tired to argue. “I feel weak.”
He nodded. “You should rest.”
I shifted under the covers, sighing. “Don’t you have work?”
His expression didn’t change. “From now on, consider me jobless.”
I blinked. “What?”
He leaned back slightly, his arms crossed. “I’m not leaving.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Dominic, you run an empire. You can’t just-”
“I can,” he cut in smoothly. “And I am.”
I huffed, staring at him. “Since when did you become a full–time nurse?”
His lips twitched. “Since my patient is a brat who refuses to take care of herself.”
I gasped. “Brat?”
He smirked.
I grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.
He caught it without even looking.
I hate him
I groaned, sinking further into the blankets. “Whatever happened to the cold, ruthless Dominic?”
He tilted his head, his eyes gleaming. “Would you like me to revert back?”
I hesitated, my fingers gripping the blanket.
“Not really,” I muttered.
“Didn’t think so.”
I exhaled, staring at the ceiling. “I just don’t want this to be because of pity.”
His expression darkened instantly, “It’s not.”
I turned my head toward him. “Then what is it?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he leaned back, resting one arm on the bed frame, his other hand running through his hair like he was debating how much to say.
Finally, he sighed. “I don’t know, Aria. But I’m here, aren’t I?”
That was the thing. He was here. And I didn’t know what to do with that.
To avoid whatever this was turning into, I changed the subject. “So, what do people even do in hospitals when they have to stay for days?”
214
Chapter 61
Dominic gave me a look. “Rest.”
I scoffed. “That sounds awful.”
He sighed, dragging a hand down his face. “Only you would find resting a problem.”
“Well, I’m bored already.” I muttered, shifting under the blankets.
Dominic watched me for a long moment, then hummed thoughtfully. “We could play a game.
I snorted. “What are we, five?”
He smirked. “I’d suggest strip poker, but I think the doctors might throw us out.”
My face heated instantly
I grabbed the pillow next to me and chucked it at his face.
He caught it effortlessly, his smirk widening.
“You infuriate me,” I grumbled, crossing my arms.
His lips twitched. “Fine. No poker.” He looked around the room like he was actually considering this. “Movies?”
I wrinkled my nose. “Predictable.”
“A book?”
I gave him a deadpan look. “You think I’m in the mood to read?”
He huffed a laugh, leaning closer. “Then what do you want, Gattina?”
I hesitated, biting my lip. “I don’t know.”
He tilted his head, studying me. Then-
“Twenty questions.”
I narrowed my eyes. “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’ll cheat somehow.”
He feigned offense. “I would never.”
I shot him a glare.
He chuckled. “Fine. We’ll just talk, then.”
I sighed. “About what?”
He leaned in slightly, his gaze sharp. “About whatever you want.”
For some reason, that made my stomach tighten.
Before I could think too much about it-
His phone rang.
His expression immediately shifted.
I saw it happen–the way his posture stiffened, the way his easy smirk vanished, replaced with something colder, sharper
Dangerous.
He exhaled slowly, glancing at the screen before standing up.
“Who is it?” I asked, my voice quieter now.
His jaw tightened. “Work.”
“Goodbye to being jobless then.”
E
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