Falling in Love : I love you, Today and Forever

"Hi," Aria whispered when she saw Noah enter the ward. "Are you okay?"

Aria had no idea what had happened, not even about Theo or the fact that he was alive. She was still in the dark as she started her shift when she entered the hospital, leaving Noah with Joshua and Ian.

"I am okay," Noah replied but his expression said otherwise and Aria caught onto the uncertainty in his voice. Something was bothering him, she saw it and he seemed restless.

"You can confide in me if you have something to say." She smiled at him assuringly, but all she got in return was a nod. However, Aria did not mind it. If he wanted to speak to her, he would and she knew that eventually, he would come to her when his thoughts calmed down.

Noah's gaze was fixed on his grandfather. He clenched his fists when he remembered what he found out about Theo. The questions he had so severely tried to forget came back in his mind like a flooding river and he felt his head on the verge of exploding.

Aria sensed the man's uneasiness and she pursed her lips. Though she wanted to speak to him about it, she held herself and sighed in defeat. Noah had to fight his monsters himself. She could only support him and stay beside him until he calmed down.

With that thought in mind, she picked up her stethoscope. "I need to go on rounds. I'll leave Grandpa Carter under your care. Do call me if you need anything."

Noah just nodded at her, not knowing what else to say and Aria observed him for a moment before she exited the ward, leaving the grandfather and the grandson to have some time for themselves.

Noah stood still with his fists clenched as he watched his unconscious grandfather. Time passed and he did not know how long he had remained in that position. Although his legs had gone numb, it did not affect him much as he kept staring at the man who had turned his life upside down in just a brief moment.

Even before Noah could think twice, his feet moved as he ignored the pain in his calf muscles and took the chair beside the bed. Not once did his eyes move away from his grandfather.

"Why?" That was all he managed to say and he lowered his head immediately. He could not bring himself to look at the man before him who had hidden many truths from him.

Although he wanted to understand him, he did not know anything, especially why his grandfather and Theo had deceived him and his family. So even if he didn't want to, he could not help but suspect his grandfather and Theo.

"What are you hiding from me, Grandpa?" He muttered, his voice hoarse and gravelly. It took him a making sure to stay as quiet as possible while she observed the man who was sitting still like a statue as he held the old Carter's palm in his.

lot of effort to speak with all the wild thoughts consuming his mind.

"Please wake up soon. I have a lot to ask you and you have a lot to tell me." Noah's tone was filled with anxiousness and frustration and he eventually held the older man's palm.

"I hope you will not disappoint me with your reasons, Grandpa. Otherwise, I do not know what will happen, what I'll do." He uttered with great difficulty and once again, silence filled the ward for a long time.

While Jonathan Carter remained unconscious, his grandson, Noah, kept staring at him, not once moving from his spot. He did not know how long he sat in the position. He did not care that his legs and body had also gone sore from all the uncomfortable sitting. Heck, he did not even care that his face was turning pale slowly.

When Aria entered the ward again, more than two hours had passed. She closed the door slowly, making sure to stay as quiet as possible while she observed the man who was sitting still like a statue as he held the old Carter's palm in his.

A frown marred her face when he did not realize her presence and she coughed softly to alert him. But all she got in return was his silence. The man had his gaze fixed on the unconscious patient and Aria's frown deepened in worry.

Silently, she scurried towards the man, her heart beating frantically in fright and the moment she saw Noah, she felt her whole world spinning. The man's face had turned pale and he seemed sick all of a sudden. Sweat trickled down his face and he was breathing heavily.

"Oh my God, Noah." She exclaimed in anguish and rushed to him immediately. "You are shivering." Aria touched his face, pushing away the strands of hair that stuck to his forehead.

"You are burning." Aria was shit scared and she pulled the man with her, who still sat frozen in his spot. "Noah, come with me."

But the man in question remained adamant and did not budge, pulling Aria with him in the meanwhile.

"Noah..." Aria almost cried in misery. "Get up, please. You are burning."

Again, no response.

Aria did not know what else to do and resorted to the only thing she could think of at that moment, threatening. "If you do not come with me now, I will never speak to you. Think about it."

Noah finally shifted his gaze away from his grandfather and Aria sighed in relief. "Please come with me. Please." She begged and pulled him again, hopefully, and he eventually moved from the place.

But the moment he did so, he stumbled over and Aria fell with a thud with Noah on top of him. Aria let out a groan and she tried to push Noah away gently.

Noah was panting heavily and his entire shirt was drenched. It took Aria quite a lot of effort and somehow, she was able to bring the man to his feet. Slowly, the couple made their way out of the ward with Aria supporting his entire weight on her.

Fortunately for her, Ronnie was right outside and the moment he saw them, he bolted towards them immediately.

"Boss..." His eyes darted back and forth between the two, worry filling them slowly.

"He is running a fever. Please help me to the ward next door."

While Aria supported him on his left, Ronnie supported him on his right and finally, the trio made it to the ward before Noah lost his consciousness.