"Umm... Aunt Norma was quite upset about how everything ended," Aisha admitted. She couldn’t meet his eyes, instead fiddling nervously with the edge of her scarf. "She was really looking forward to our marriage." A faint, remorseful smile touched her lips. "Anyways, I made sure she wouldn’t blame you for any of it. I was the one, who from the beginning, was... selfish."
Karmen’s expression remained unreadable. He shifted his weight, glancing back at the glass entrance of the hospital. "I have to go inside now. Can’t leave Juniper alone for long," he said, his tone flat. "Take care, Aisha."
He turned to leave, but Aisha’s soft voice stopped him again, laden with obvious guilt.
"Karmen... I’m so sorry. Again," she whispered.
He paused, not turning around, and let out a quiet sigh. "Don’t say sorry all the time," Karmen advised, his voice firmer now. "It’s already over, Aisha. There’s no use dwelling on the past and feeling wrong about it."
With that final piece of advice, he walked inside the hospital. Aisha stood alone for a long moment, watching his retreating figure until he disappeared from view, before finally turning and walking away.
Karmen paused on the lower edge of the bed and saw Juniper was awake. She lay still in the bed, her gaze looked distant. Wilder was leaning over her, carefully checking her vitals and listening to her chest with a stethoscope.
Wilder straightened up, pulling the cold metal earpieces from his ears. "Everything seems fine now," he told Karmen as he offered a small, reassuring smile. "She must eat. Start with something very light, like broth or rice."
Suddenly, Juniper turned her head, fixing her eyes on the doctor. Her voice, though weak, carried a spark of impatience. "Can I just go home?"
"You can, once this glucose drip is finished," Wilder replied calmly, gesturing toward the IV bag hanging beside the bed. His expression became more serious. "Also, before you leave, I would like you to see the psychiatrist later today." He handed the clipboard detailing her treatment to the nurse who was standing quietly nearby.
"See you later, Karmen," Wilder said, offering a brief nod before walking briskly out of their sight.
The nurse moved closer to the bed, filling in a few final details on the paper before discreetly following the doctor out, leaving Karmen and Juniper alone.
Karmen walked closer to the bed after pulling the curtains around the bed while Juniper’s intense gaze focussed on him.
"Did you save me?" she whispered. "And did you... did you tell Nick that I got admitted to the hospital?"
Karmen pulled a visitor’s chair closer to the bed and settled into it, his posture conveying a deep exhaustion. His eyes held hers steadily as he delivered the news. "Prince Dominick is no longer associated with you. And, Juniper, you are not his mate."
Juniper’s breath hitched. Her eyes, already red-rimmed, began to glisten with fresh, hot tears. "Did he say that?" she managed.
Karmen gave a curt nod. "Yes." He leaned forward slightly. "You better not pull a stunt like this again. It’s going to be nothing but a headache. I cannot keep bringing you to the hospital every single time you decide to act out like this." He carefully omitted the fact that his spy had brought her to the hospital.
Juniper turned her face away, her chin trembling with resentment. "Then you should have just let me be there," she muttered into the pillow. "It’s better to die than to live like this."

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