Chapter 3
last update2026-08-14 11:44:03

The female doctor finished checking the monitor. Looked at Micheal with a thoughtful face.

“Young man, you’ve got a tenacious life. Still trying to figure out how you’re even conscious right now.”

Micheal met her eyes. No smile.

“Don’t feel particularly lucky,” he said. “Just stubborn.”

Doctor raised an eyebrow a little. “Stubbornness doesn’t usually fix broken bones overnight. Your internal injuries were bad enough most people wouldn’t have lasted the night.”

Aurelia stood a few steps away. Arms loosely crossed. Watching the whole thing in silence. She hadn’t left the room.

Micheal glanced at her for half a second before answering the doctor.

“Maybe the people who planned the night didn’t account for every variable.”

Female doctor paused. Clearly didn’t expect that. Glanced at Aurelia, then back at Micheal.

“Whatever the reason,” she said carefully, “your recovery is outside normal medical expectations. We’ll need more tests.”

Before Micheal could say anything the heavy doors opened. No knock.

A man walked in.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. Presence alone made the room feel smaller. Dark tailored suit. Quiet authority of a man who almost never needed to raise his voice. Two men in black stayed outside the doorway.

Damien Crowe.

Heir to the Crowe Group. One of the most dangerous men in the country’s upper circles.

Both doctors straightened right away. Aurelia’s expression shifted the second she saw him.

Damien’s eyes went straight to her. Interest clear and unhidden.

“Aurelia,” he said. Voice calm but heavy. “I’ve waited long enough downstairs. You know I don’t like being kept waiting when it concerns you.”

Aurelia stayed composed. Still, a flicker of real surprise crossed her face when her eyes briefly moved toward the bed. She hadn’t expected Micheal to still be awake for this.

Damien followed her glance. Eyes landed on Micheal. The warmth he’d shown Aurelia vanished instantly.

“Who is this?”

Aurelia answered even. “What are you doing here?”

Damien took a step closer to the bed. Studying Micheal with open scrutiny.

“Answer my question.”

“This is my house, Damien. Whoever he is isn’t your concern.”

“A man occupying a private room in your family’s residence,” he said. “Dressed like this. No background. No standing. No reason to be this close to you.” Tone stayed polite. Judgment wasn’t. “Men like him don’t belong near someone of your position. You should know better than to allow this kind of person into your private space.”

Micheal stayed quiet.

Inside, cold unease spread through him.

Damien Crowe.

He’d heard more than enough. People who became obstacles to Damien didn’t end up in scandals or court. They just vanished. No headlines. No investigations. No bodies. Damien could erase someone completely and the world would keep going like they’d never existed.

That knowledge alone made Micheal’s chest tighten.

Damien turned fully back to Aurelia. Possessiveness clearer now.

“I’ve made my intentions clear for some time,” he said. “I won’t keep tolerating these distractions around you. This man has no place here.”

Aurelia’s expression cooled. Pressure in the room got heavy. Female doctor stayed carefully silent at the side. Not wanting attention.

“I already told you I’m not interested,” Aurelia said. Voice steady but firm. “How many times do I need to repeat myself?”

Damien’s eyes narrowed a little. “You keep saying that, yet I’ve never seen any proof you’re already taken. Expect me to believe empty words forever?”

Short silence.

Then Aurelia lifted her hand and pointed straight at Micheal.

“That’s my boyfriend.”

Micheal froze.

For a second he could only stare. When the hell had he become her boyfriend? Words hung in the air. Unexpected. Dangerous.

Damien turned fully toward him now. Looked him over again—from the plain hospital gown to the complete lack of anything that suggested status or power. Cold quiet laugh escaped him.

“Him?” Disbelief edged with contempt. “You’re telling me this is the man you chose? A nobody with no name, no influence, and no future worth mentioning?”

Took another step closer. Danger in his presence sharper.

“Aurelia, even you can’t expect me to take that seriously.”

Micheal’s pulse picked up. Every instinct said the man in front of him could end his life with one order and no one would ever find a trace. Thought settled heavy in his chest. Cold and clear.

Damien’s eyes stayed fixed on him. Measuring. Dismissing. Already calculating.

“Is that so?” Question directed at Aurelia but gaze never left Micheal. “Then this should be interesting.”

Aurelia’s expression didn’t change. Walked toward the bed without hesitation. Stopped right beside Micheal.

“Whether you believe it or not is your problem,” she said coldly. “I’ve already shown you.”

Then before Micheal could react she leaned down and kissed him.

Micheal’s mind went blank from the sudden shock.

Body moved on pure instinct. Hands rose and pulled her tighter against him. Unexpected force made Aurelia lose balance. She fell forward onto him. Landed fully on top of his body across the bed.

For a second the whole room went silent.

Damien’s expression darkened.

Female doctor’s eyes widened a little. Quickly looked away.

Micheal could feel Aurelia’s weight pressing against him. Her breath close to his face. Expected her to push away in anger.

Instead she stayed where she was.

Lowered her voice so only he could hear. Tone calm. Almost playful.

“Baby, are you hurried? Don’t worry… we will play a lot tonight.”

She didn’t move. Stayed on top of him. Body still covering his. Like the position was completely natural.

Damien’s jaw tightened. Quiet authority he usually carried now held a sharper edge.

“Aurelia.”

She finally turned her head slightly toward him. Still not getting up.

“You’ve seen enough,” she said. “You can leave now.”

Seconds stretched.

Micheal’s heart was still racing when the mechanical voice suddenly rang inside his head.

[Ding! Mission completed.]

[100 System Points acquired.]

[Remarks: The Host’s performance was entirely based on luck. The system notes that the Host has now successfully acquired a dangerous love rival. Considering the Host is currently as weak as a chicken, survival is not guaranteed.]

[Note: The system’s impression of the Host remains low. Do try not to die too quickly.]

Micheal’s face twitched a little at the remarks. Couldn’t move.

Damien’s expression had turned completely cold. Chest rose and fell with restrained anger as he stared at the scene on the bed. For a moment looked like he might say something more.

Then he turned sharply and walked out. Doors closed behind him with a heavy finality.

Silence settled over the room.

Aurelia finally moved. Carefully pushed herself up and got down from on top of Micheal. Straightened her clothes with calm deliberate movements. Playful tone from earlier was gone.

Looked at him a moment before speaking.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “About the accident… and about what happened just now.”

Micheal still felt the lingering warmth of her body and the taste of the kiss. Mind hadn’t fully settled.

Aurelia continued. Voice steady.

“I want what happened here today to remain between us. No one outside this room needs to know the details.” Paused. “My secretary will prepare ten thousand dollars for you as compensation. The doctor will also arrange for your discharge papers.”

Female doctor gave a small nod and started preparing the documents without comment.

Micheal heard the offer. At that moment he could barely care about the money.

All he could think about was the kiss.

He’d been used in the most unexpected way. Refused to walk away from it feeling like he’d lost. If he was going to be used as a shield, then at the very least he would properly enjoy what had just been given to him.

Aurelia watched him a second longer. Like she was waiting for a reaction.

Micheal finally spoke. Voice a little hoarse.

“No need to apologize that much.” Faint crooked smile tugged at his lips. “I don’t mind losing a few years of my lifespan for a kiss like that. If Hades complains, I’ll just tell him it was worth it.”

Aurelia’s eyes flickered slightly. First time since Damien left, a trace of genuine surprise showed on her face.

Female doctor, who’d been quietly organizing the papers, paused half a second before continuing like she’d heard nothing.

Aurelia recovered quick. Straightened and spoke in a more composed tone.

“The money will be transferred before you leave. The doctor will handle the rest of the discharge process.”

Turned toward the door. Stopped briefly without looking back.

“Try not to cause any more trouble before you leave, Micheal.”

With that she walked out of the room.

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