<h4>Chapter 328: Chapter 328 Missing For Two Days</h4>


    I drifted in and out of consciousness, my whole body burning as if on fire, my throat so parched it felt like it was full of sand.


    ‘Mirabelle. Mirabelle...’ A man’s voice reached me, familiar yet strange in that hazy moment.


    Cold sweat beaded on my forehead. I felt utterly wretched.


    ‘Mirabelle, Mirabelle... wake up... you’re having a nightmare,’ the same male voice urged. Then, to someone else, ‘Doctor, how is she?’


    Another voice answered, ‘Physically, she’s stable. The main issue is her mind.’ The speaker sighed. ‘Once the fever breaks, the nightmares will cease and she’ll wake up properly. She’ll be fine.’


    ‘I see. Thank you, Doctor.’


    I drifted off again.


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    The next time I woke, the sky was just beginning to lighten.


    My head was throbbing painfully, and my throat hurt so much it felt like swallowing ss.


    I shifted my still feverish and aching body, and the figure slumped beside me stirred and sat up.


    ‘You’re awake?’ He looked at me with bloodshot eyes.


    I stared nkly. ‘Rhys?’


    My mind was still foggy, everything feeling like a distant dream.


    Rhys quickly got up. ‘You must be thirsty. Let me get you some water.’


    He disappeared and returned with a ss of warm water. He helped me sit up, supporting me against his chest, and held the ss to my lips.


    ‘I... I can do it,’ I said.


    We’d broken up. I wasn’tfortable with this level of intimacy anymore, and I’d grown unused to his scent.


    It only made me think of Ashton—his smell, his presence.


    Besides, the old Rhys had never been this thoughtful or caring.


    ‘What’s wrong?’ he asked, concerned. ‘You’re frowning. Are you in pain?’


    I shook my head, sat up properly to free myself from his hold, and took the ss from him. I drank half of it in one go. It helped, but my throat still ached.


    ‘You saved me?’ I asked after putting the ss down.


    He nodded. ‘After you left the restaurant, you seemed really out of it. I was worried, so I followed you. I never expected you to just... fall into the water.’


    I tried hard to piece things together. ‘You saw me fall? Did you see who pushed me?’


    Rhys’s eyes widened. ‘Someone pushed you? I didn’t see anything.’


    ‘You didn’t?’


    He shook his head. ‘No.’ After a pause, he added, a bit awkwardly, ‘To be honest, I didn’t even realise it was you at first. After you left the restaurant, I didn’t follow. I knew you didn’t want me around. I was driving home and cut through the park as a shortcut. That’s when I heard a ssh. I stopped and ran over—all I saw were hands struggling in the water. I didn’t think, I just jumped in. It wasn’t until I pulled you out that I realised it was you.’


    I listened carefully, frowning as I tried to remember. ‘How long was I out?’


    ‘Two days.’


    I looked around. This didn’t look like a hospital. ‘Where are we?’


    ‘My ce. I bought it after I moved out of the family home.’


    He went on to exin, ‘I was going to take you to the hospital, but this was closer, and my neighbour to the left is a doctor. So I brought you here and let Dr Gould look after you. I hope you don’t mind.’


    I shook my head, which made the throbbing worse. ‘No, of course not. You saved me. I should be thanking you.’


    Even though my mind was still buzzing with questions.


    I nced around. ‘Where’s my phone?’


    I’d been missing for two days. Ashton and Yvaine were probably worried sick.


    Rhys said, ‘I don’t know. You didn’t have it on you when I pulled you out.’


    I looked down. I was wearing pyjamas.


    Sensing where my thoughts were heading, he added quickly, ‘Don’t worry, I hired a nurse. She’s the one who changed you.’


    I nodded. ‘Thank you for saving me. But I should go.’


    ‘Why the rush? You’ve still got a fever. Thatke was freezing, and who knows how long you were in there. Why not stay until you’ve recovered? Dr Gould can keep an eye on you.’ Rhys watched me closely, almost pleading.


    I shook my head. ‘No, I need to go. People will be worried.’


    As I threw back the covers and tried to stand, a wave of dizziness hit me, forcing me back onto the bed.


    ‘See? You’re still weak. How are you going to leave like this?’ Rhys said.


    ‘Can I at least use your phone, then?’


    ‘Of course. Who do you want to call?’


    ‘Ashton.’


    Rhys frowned. ‘You still want to go back to him?’


    I didn’t answer.


    ‘Haven’t you seen enough? His heart belongs to someone else—he doesn’t love you. Mirabelle,e back to me. Let’s start over.’ Rhys reached for my hand.


    I pulled away. ‘I told you, it’s not going to happen. Are you trying to hold saving me over my head? Is that why you did it?’


    He looked genuinely offended. ‘Is that what you think of me? That I’m that kind of person? That I’d take advantage of you like this?’


    I met his gaze evenly. ‘While I was unconscious, did you call Ashton to tell him I was here?’


    He nced away. ‘Why would I call my rival?’


    ‘Did you call Yvaine, then?’


    He hesitated. ‘I was so worried about you, I didn’t get round to it.’


    ‘Really? So you brought me to your ce and didn’t tell a soul. What would you call that, if not taking advantage?’