Page 32 of Chained to You (Dark Billionaires 6)

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.”

Chapter 15

Mia

I was finally judged to be well enough to allow a proper shower by myself instead of the occasional sponge bath by the nurse, which, to be honest, was rather embarrassing to say the least. And of course, now that I didn’t have an IV line connected to me, it was even better.

After retrieving myself a towel and the bathroom essentials that Savannah had considerately brought for me yesterday evening, I headed into the bathroom. I took my time brushing my teeth and cleaning myself thoroughly, and, of course, enjoying the warm water on my skin. By the time I wa

s done, I smiled with glee at the fact that I now smelled like the Garden of Eden.

After donning the undesirable hospital gown once again and putting on some night cream over my still lightly bruised face, I headed back out, humming to myself.

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