Chapter 7

I didn't expect to end up in the hospital the next day.

The door to my room was pushed open, and Olivia walked in arm in arm with Blake. The diamond ring on her finger was dazzling.

"Aria James, the timing of your car accident is quite interesting," Olivia spoke, her tone acidic.

"Right on the day Blake and I were taking our wedding photos... Blake, don't you think Aria still has lingering feelings for you, that's why she..."

She snuggled into Blake's arms, leaving her sentence unfinished, but her implication was clear.

I laughed, looking at the red roses on the bedside table, freshly picked by Ethan that morning.

I had only realized during our meeting that he was the man I had spent that passionate night with.

"Olivia, you're overthinking. I have no feelings left for Blake."

Blake's face darkened. He walked to the side of the bed and looked at me, his tone hard.

"Aria James, what are you up to now? Why did you have to have an accident on the day Olivia and I were taking our wedding photos? Don't you know how long we've been preparing for today?"

He was suppressing his anger, his chest heaving.

"I've told you so many times, we're impossible. Why won't you listen? Do you have to resort to this kind of attention-seeking?"

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.

"Blake, you've misunderstood. The car accident was just that - an accident. It has nothing to do with you."

"Is that so?" Blake didn't believe me.

Olivia's eyes darted around, and she chimed in,

"Blake, don't say that about Aria. She might have just been careless. Besides, Aria doesn't lack suitors. Maybe she's already forgotten about you."

As she spoke, she adjusted Blake's tie, giving me a triumphant look.

Blake's expression softened a bit, but his tone was still displeased,

"Olivia and I are getting engaged. Aria, if you see me as a brother, you should be happy for us, not..."

"I have a boyfriend now, and he treats me very well," I interrupted Blake.

Blake frowned,

"Boyfriend? How come I don't know about this? Who is he?"

Olivia covered her mouth and laughed, walking to my bedside and shoving her diamond ring in my face,

"Aria James, stop pretending. Even if you hired someone to act, Blake won't believe it. He certainly won't be jealous of your so-called fake boyfriend. His heart only belongs to me, and this diamond ring is proof. Are you envious?"

Her smile was sweet, but her eyes were full of challenge.

I turned my head away.

Once, I too wanted Blake's love, but that was in the past.

Now, my heart belonged only to Ethan.

"Even if you don't have a boyfriend, it doesn't matter. You'll always be my sister," Blake sighed, his tone patronizing,

"I'll take care of you, as long as you don't harbor any delusions of marrying me."

I felt a wave of disgust. His so-called "care" was nothing short of a nightmare for me.

"That's right, Aria. You can consider us family. Blake and I will both take care of you," Olivia chimed in, her smile fake.

I knew that no matter how much I explained, they wouldn't believe me.

So I simply dismissed them.

"I want to rest now," I said flatly.

Blake looked at me, his expression complex. He seemed about to say something, but Olivia pulled him away.

After they left, I picked up my phone and played the voice message Ethan had sent proposing to me.

"Aria, will you marry me?" His voice was gentle.

Listening to his voice, the corners of my mouth turned up.

It was while driving that I suddenly heard his proposal, causing me to get excited and crash into the roadside guardrail.

It really had nothing to do with Blake.