The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter 184

"How long have you been awake?" Rayna asked, her eyes narrowed suspiciously after the door clicked shut behind the others who had conveniently come up with various excuses to leave them alone. "I, uh... woke up when everyone came in," Ethan lied, unable to meet her gaze. There was no way he was admitting he'd been awake long enough to witness her... less-than-graceful moment earlier.

He didn't think there was any reason to embarrass her or himself by telling her he had woken up long enough to hear her fart or perceive it.

"Really?" She folded her arms, unconvinced but hoping that was the truth since she didn't want to imagine he had been awake before she went to the restroom. He nodded slowly. "Really."

She stared I at him for a

"I was...

a beat, clearly weighing his honesty. Finally, she exhaled. "Why did you pretend to be still unconscious?" embarrassed, he he admitted, his voice softer. "I didn't exactly plan to end up here. It's not the most heroic look."

Rayna's lips parted in disbelief. "Heroic?" Rayna dropped her hands and glared at him. "It was stupid. What were you even thinking?"

"Maybe I wasn't thinking much. What was I supposed to do?" he shot back, his frustration surfacing. "I saw the car coming straight for you. I couldn't just-stand there." "You could've done anything but throw yourself into harm's way like that. You could've shouted at me to move!" She exclaimed.

"You

"You saw the car and didn't move, Rayna"" he countered, his voice firm but not angry. "At that moment, all I could think about was saving you. That's it. Nothing else mattered." could have died," she pointed out with a frown.

You could

"That would be much better than watching you die," he said with a shrug, trying not to wince as he adjusted his broken arm.

Her heart skipped a beat at his words, but she refused to let it show. "You'd rather die than watch someone you despise die?"

"I don't despise you, Rayna" he said softly, causing butterflies to flutter in her belly at his use of her name, and before he could say more, she shook her head.

She didn't want to feel this way about him again. "Well, thanks for saving me even though you didn't have to. Since you are awake now, I will head out," she said, and Ethan frowned. "Wait. Don't I go."

Rayna's brow furrowed. "Why not?"

"We should talk, he said, and she shook her head.

"There's nothing left to say. And if you're awake and feeling chatty,

you clearly don't need me hovering over you. I'll be going home to freshen up and get some rest."

There's plenty

to say," he argued, sitting up a little straighter despite the pain that shot through his body.

then I'm

"Yeah. I

"Good. And that's

And now I don't want

is nothing

wanted to

for everything. I know I took things a bit too

you went on dates with had been what you

know it's the

remember a

"No, it's not.

me to move on, and I am. So, just... focus on getting better. I'm done," she said as she moved closer to the bed to grab her phone, but Ethan reached out with his uninjured hand, his fingers

as she stopped him. "Are you crazy? Do you want to hurt yourself more?" She carefully

he said dryly. "What's a

be ridiculous," she hissed, pulling her hand

just want us to talk," "

talk to

I do," he said stubbornly. "And the least you can do is stick around and help me until I recover. I'm in this bed because of

"I'm j

I got t hurt because of you," Ethan pressed, his voice

to help me," she reminded

fact that I'm here because of you. I can't bother Melvin

with me until my

will hire a nurse to

want a nurse. I want you," he said stubbornly. You

place or take me to yours. Whichever is easier," he said, and she

she muttered, clenching her fists. "Why are you doing this? Why were you there last night in the first place when you were supposed to return

supposed to be our first date," he

And I'm not staying under

so you know, I know that cereal was yours and

Let's forgive each other and

slightly. "I'm going home to freshen up and rest," she said, heading for the door. Before she could leave, Ethan

"You were doing fine before

harder than it looks,"

her admitted, giving her a pitiful look. "I just

curling into fists. "You're

smiled. "I've

did get hurt saving her, she reminded herself grudgingly. Finally, she