When I woke again, I felt a lot better. The headache was gone, as was the exhaustion.

After cleaning myself up for the second time that day, I returned to my bed with renewed determination. I will no longer allow the thought of Herbert Weston to affect me. I will not cry remembering the trauma he inflicted on me nor the distress he caused me—physically, mentally, and emotionally. I will be free from that bastard!

With that, I settled myself to read some magazines Brenda had left for me, and it wasn’t long before lunch arrived. It was also around then that Andy appeared at the door again. With my mouth still full of food, I stared at him wide-eyed as he walked toward me.

“Hey,” he said. “Feeling better?”

I quickly swallowed my food and reached my arms out for him, begging for a great, big hug again.

Andy came over and took me into his arms as I wrapped mine around his torso.

I chuckled as I raised my eyes to look at him. “I hope you’re not driving Matt crazy because you’re so worried about me.”

He blushed, which told me this was certainly the case.

“Maybe.” He sat on the side of the bed and turned to look at my food. “Nice?”

I nodded and said, “It’s very creamy. Want some?” I directed the forkful of mashed potatoes in his direction.

He shook his head. “No thanks. I’m not here to steal food from you.”

Andy stayed with me, entertaining me until well past four that afternoon, until Matt made his grand appearance, along with a dark scowl that’d make most gangsters in Vegas shake in their boots at the sight of him.

“I texted!” he announced bluntly the moment his eyes met Andy’s. “You didn’t reply, and I got worried.” Which undoubtedly explained why he was here at the hospital, in my room and only inches from my bed, standing there so imposingly staring at Andy.

Andy raked his fingers through his dark hair. He looked nervous. Come to think of it, Andy was always a little bit nervous around Matt, and I wondered why. It was as if he feared the man was going to pound on him when he least expected it.

That was when it struck me! Of course, Matt was the type who’d pound the one he liked whenever he felt like it, just as James had done with me. Suddenly, I felt sorry for my brother. Andy hated those types of people, especially men who did that sort of thing to him. After all, he had to suffer that from Herbert in his teens.

“Sorry. It’s on silent mode,” he said.

Matt folded his arms across his chest. “Well,” he said. “At least I know you’re fine here in L.A.” He turned to me then and asked, “How are you doing, Mia? You look horrible by the way.”

I smiled. Straight to the point as usual, that man.

“I’m fine,” I said, grinning at him. “Still breathing, as you can see.”

He chuckled. “Feisty, just like your brother. I like it.” He flicked his eyes to Andy again, and I didn’t miss the fact that Andy was looking a little bit annoyed. That was when I saw Matt smirk.

Hmm… Something told me Matt liked Andy’s haughty attitude, which pleased me.

I raised a brow at the man. “Shouldn’t it be the other way around? After all, I’m older than him.”

Matt nodded. “True.”

As Matt was making himself comfortable on the sofa, the door opened once again, and I heard Aria’s voice coming through, which made me jump with joy.

“Aria?” I called out.

“Mia! Mia!” Aria shrieked in delight at the top of her little lungs as she rushed in through the door.

Behind her, I noted Savannah as well as James, William, Scott, and Eric. Gosh, the room was suddenly filled with people. It looked as if the whole family was here to visit me. How nice.

When I turned my gaze back to Aria again, I noted her standing in the middle of the room, staring at me. It was then that I realized I looked quite horrendous, and Aria was probably shocked to see me like this. Dear Lord, my appearance must have really frightened her.

Shit!

Aria looked at me for a moment and then slowly made her way toward me. Meanwhile, my insides were churning in dread.

The little girl came to stand by my bed and said, “I’m so sorry about what happen, Mia. Are you okay? Daddy said it was horrible and that’s why you couldn’t go home to be with us and have to stay in the hospital.”

I flicked my gaze to James, who was standing behind his daughter. I wondered what he’d told Aria about my condition.

I licked my lips and said, “Well, I’m a lot better now.”

“Really?” the little girl asked, uncertain and more than little worried based on the expression on her adorable face. Her Prussian-blue eyes were quite teary. “But you don’t look it. Are you okay, Mia?” She reached her arms out, indicating she wanted to hug me.

I leaned down and gave her a big, tight hug, my arms wrapped around her, as she began to cry.

“Aww… What’s wrong, Aria?” I asked.

She wiped her eyes as she said, “You got into an accident. It must have been painful, right?”

I raised my eyes to James again, and he gave me a handsome smile. So that was what he had told his daughter. That I was in an accident, not kidnapped and beaten by my uncle and Aria’s ex-nanny Sophie Wilson.

“Well, I’m fine now,” I said. “Though, I do have bruises all over me, but I’m still here and smiling.”

Aria nodded. “From now on, I’m going to make Daddy look after you properly so you won’t get into an accident ever again, all right?”

James chuckled, along with everyone else in the room.

“Good one, Aria,” Eric said, chuckling away enthusiastically.

“You do that, sweetheart,” Scott said, urging her on.

Once Aria finally settled down, I turned to Savannah, who had been standing there quietly and patiently waiting for her turn at my attention. I moved over and gave her a big hug as well.

“I’m so glad to see you, Mia,” she said. “You have no idea how scared I was when I heard the news.”

I nodded. “I know. I know. And thanks for coming and helping look after Aria.”

“No worries. And by the way, I brought some essential stuff.” She pointed to the small luggage sitting on the floor by her side.

“Thanks,” I said, grateful.

Matt, Andy, William, and Savannah left about an hour after they had arrived, while Scott, Eric, James, and Aria stayed behind. While I was talking to Aria and having some fun bonding time with the little girl, I faintly heard the Maxwell brothers start talking about the return of their father, Liam Maxwell, on the other side of the room. Of course, from the corner of my eyes, I didn’t miss the fact that there were more young nurses walking the ward either, their eyes straying toward the brothers with admiration.

I secretly smiled. The men were a bunch of hotties all right, and I had no doubt the girls wanted to attract their attention as much as possible, especially Scott since he was so gorgeous.

Aria was just telling me about what she had learned at school and how much fun she had with her friends when I faintly heard Scott saying something about their father being very likely to want to meet me, which made me nervous. After all, I had heard that the great man was very ruthless, more so than James, and James had already scared me shitless the first time I’d met him. If I hadn’t happened to be so attracted to him in the first place, I’d run in the opposite direction as though the devil were chasing after me.

Then again, why would Liam Maxwell want to see me? I was merely James’s mistress, wasn’t I? No, wait. I had already graduated to being his girlfriend, but still… There was no reason for him to want to see me.

I sighed, heart racing and stomach knotting in dread.

“Mia, what’s wrong?” Aria asked.

I shook my head and said, “Nothing.”