The air in the room was thick with anticipation, a palpable tension that made it hard to breathe as Blaze, now seated, held onto Alia's hands, his gaze twitching slightly. His heart felt like a lead weight inside his chest as he ransacked his brain, searching for the right words to say.
It suddenly felt hot around him as if soone had turned on the heater instead of the air conditioner.
"Blaze..."
Alia called softly, feeling a bit apprehensive by the troubled look in his eyes and the beads of sweat now crowding his forehead like soone with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"... what's the matter, sweetheart? You said you wanted to tell sothing important. Talk to . I'm all ears." She freed one of her hands from his firm hold and gently stroked the side of his face.
Gulping down the lump that had ford in his throat, Blaze inhaled and exhaled to calm his pounding heart.
"You know I love you, right?" Blaze said, leaning to her gentle touch.
Alia's heart skipped a beat at Blaze's words. It was such a cliché statent that n use when they want to break a woman's heart or reveal sothing ugly.
"Yes..." Alia replied, her calm voice laced with an edge of uncertainty. She smiled feverishly, an air of dread hanging around her heart.
"And you know I'm not perfect right?"
"No one is perfect." Alia blinked twice to push back the tears that were threatening to fall. She was feeling completely overwheld with the intensity of the emotions coming from Blaze.
Blaze blew out air slowly through his parted lips, as his breath beca ragged and heavy.
"I need you to make a promise first before I say anything."
"A promise?" Alia's brow arched in confusion.
"Yes." Blaze nodded. "Promise that no matter what I say, you won't get over agitated or do anything that would affect your health negatively."
"Oh, Blaze..." Alia raised her trembling right hand to her forehead. "...now you're scaring . Tell already. What happened? I can't take the suspense anymore."
"Just promise first that you wouldn't do anything to hurt yourself and complicate your current state. I won't forgive myself if anything happens to you." Blaze lifted the back of her left hand to his lips and planted a kiss on it.
Alia stared long and hard at him before replying.
"Okay, I promise."
"Thanks."
"So what is this about?"
"It's about the events of today."
"Okay," Alia bit down on her lower lips, fear slowly creeping into her heart like a thorny vine wrapping around a fragile plant.
"The reason I never took your calls or returned them was because of the email I received while I was having a eting with my staff earlier today."
Alia's gaze lowered, guilt gnawing on her bones as her mind painted a scary image of the scene and Blaze's reaction. But Blaze slowly lifted her chin, desperate to look into her eyes as he continued talking.
"I was so angry and devastated. I didn't know what to say to you. I didn't want to face you. I was scared of what I would do."
"Because you thought I was cheating on you?" Tears slowly trickled down Alia's flushed cheeks as Blaze nodded.
"But you should have known that I would never do such a terrible thing to you after all you have been through. I am not a loose woman, neither am I heartless."
"I know, baby," Blaze said pulling her into his arms. "I was so stupid and blinded by my jealousy to think that way. I'm really sorry."
"It's okay." Alia pulled away from his choking embrace, patting him on the chest. "Is partly my fault. I should have co clean about the pregnancy no matter what."
"Yes."
"Is that what you wanted to say?" Alia asked, thinking this was the not-so-scary reveal.
"No," Blaze said, gritting his teeth, his hands resting on his lap, balling into a fist. "It's what I did while trying to get to the bottom of the truth."
Alia's breath hitched and her hands suddenly turned cold. Her tears instantly seized as she asked in a slightly spooked but stern voice.
"What did you do?"
"Sothing I'm not proud of. Sothing I wish I could take back." Blaze said, eting her sharp gaze.
"What did you do, Blaze?" Alia thought of the worst possible thing her temperantal husband could do when angry. "Please tell you didn't kill soone." Her hands started trembling afresh.
"No."
"Oh, thank goodness." Alia released the breath she didn't know she was holding.
"But I did send soone to the hospital," Blaze said, causing Alia's eyes to widen.
"Who?"
"I'm really sorry, Alia. I didn't an to. It was all a mistake. It happened so fast."
"Who did you send to the hospital, Blaze?" Alia grabbed him on the hem of his shirt.
"Is it Dr Ashley?" Her voice quivered at the thoughts of Blaze harming the poor doctor.
"No."
Alia's mind worked like a fast-spinning wheel as she pictured all those involved in the email saga. She recalled that Henry was supposed to co into town today and imdiately blurted out.
"Henry!"
"Him too. But he has been discharged."
"Oh God..." Alia exclaid, abruptly standing up from the bed.
"Alia, you made a promise." Blaze also stood up, holding his hands out towards her as she slowly backed away.
"Tell , who is the other person?" Alia cupped her quivering lips with both hands, her whole body trembling.
"Please."
"Just tell, ." Alia's voice ca out in a muffled sound.
"I'm begging you." Blaze cautiously moved towards her as she suddenly froze, her gaze shifting to the side before flashing back at him as if she just rembered sothing.
It finally occurred to Alia that she hadn't heard from her father all day either by call or visitation. She rembered how Eugene had acted strangely anyti she made any comnt referring to her father. She also recalled how her aunt had been so careful to distract her from thinking about him.
"Please, tell it's not my father." Alia pleaded, searching Blaze's eyes for the truth. Her pupils dilated in horror and her mouth opened, forming a perfect hole as Blaze's gaze dropped.
"I'm sorry Alia."
"My dad!" Alia ca up to him. "Did you hurt my dad?"
"It was a mistake, I swear."
Alia nodded her head vigorously, turning her back on Blaze, a cold shiver running down her spine as she staggered to the wall for support.
"Alia!" Blaze followed closely behind her thinking she was about to collapse. But she imdiately put her left hand up, stopping him from touching her.
"Where is he?"
"Alia, please, you have got to believe , it was all an unfortunate accident."
As those last two words left Blaze's mouth, Alia impulsively spun around like a bolt of lightning, her right hand connecting fiercely with Blaze's cheek.
Slap!
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