Chapter 3 Three

-- Hao --

"You should go home for now," Nakago told Lexi's group as Klaus left to check on Jazz in the ICU.

"But Oji-"

"I know you want to see her," he said, cutting her off. "But she just woke up. We don't want to stress her out. And you all need rest." He gave them a rare, small smile. "You've been here since this morning. Come back tomorrow when she's more stable."

The group exchanged hesitant glances. Even though they had managed to get some rest earlier, the exhaustion and redness in their eyes were still evident.

"You too, Vonn," Nakago added, still blocking me from getting anywhere near him. "And make sure no one hears about this."

"I'll send them home," Lantis said, ushering the younger ones toward the exit.

He convinced them to leave, reassuring them that they could return tomorrow when Jazz was in a better condition.

Lexi and the others had no choice but to obey. Before leaving, they hugged and kissed Angela, making her promise to call them immediately if anything happened.

Once the door closed behind them, Nakago's sharp gaze turned to me.

"Control yourself," he warned. His tone left no room for argument.

I exhaled harshly, rubbing a hand down my face before sinking into the one-seater couch.

"I'm trying..." I said, voice hollow. "I really am."

Angela, who had been silently watching, finally turned to me.

"What happened, Hao?" she asked. She hadn't had the chance to ask earlier-too focused on Jazz's condition.

She only knew what Lantis had told her, and even he had no idea why her daughter had hurt herself.

I clenched my fists.

"She thinks I'm cheating on her."

Silence.

"And are you?" Nakago's question was immediate. He knew the answer, but he also knew Jazz wouldn't think something like this without a reason.

"NO!!!" I snapped, my voice rising. My chest heaved as anger and frustration clawed at my throat. "I've never slept with anyone else since the day I met her!!! And you know what I have done for her!!!"

I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. "After everything I've done just to keep her safe, do you really think I would hurt her this way?"

"She wouldn't think that unless she had proof," Nakago pointed out.

I turned to Angela, my eyes pleading, desperate for her to believe me.

"I swear, in my mother's name, I have never and will never cheat on her. I know you still think I'm not the best man for her, but I'm trying. I am trying."

I shut my eyes.

I felt so... lost.

Angela's eyes filled with fresh tears. She didn't doubt me. She knew I was telling the truth.

I wasn't the best for Jazz. But she could see how much I was trying to be better. And how much I loved her.

Not even Nakago could deny that fact.

The sound of the door opening made all three of us turn.

Klaus stepped in, followed by a team of nurses pushing a hospital bed.

Jazz.

"Baby!" Angela rushed toward her daughter, but the nurses gently stopped her.

"Ma'am, let us settle her in first," one of them said politely.

Angela hesitated but stepped back, letting them do their work.

I took a step forward, but Nakago's arm blocked me.

"Let the professionals do their job, Hao," he reminded me sternly.

My fists clenched. I hated seeing them touch her-moving her like she was fragile, breakable. I hated that I wasn't the one taking care of her.

But I forced myself to step back.

Klaus introduced each of the nurses assigned to Jazz. His voice was steady and professional, but his eyes flickered with exhaustion.

"She's stable now," he informed us, "but we don't yet know the full effects of the drugs in her system. I'll have her under observation for a week. The nurses will monitor her every two hours."

He continued giving instructions, making sure we knew every detail of her care plan before finally excusing himself.

"She's still weak," he warned before leaving. "So don't overwhelm her with too many questions right now."

A few moments later, one of the nurses turned to Angela.

"Ma'am, she's fallen asleep again."

Angela nodded and took the seat beside Jazz's bed, gently holding her daughter's hand.

Tears welled in her eyes as she stared at the gauze wrapped around Jazz's wrist.

I knew what she was thinking.

Why?

Why would her daughter do this?

Jazz was spoiled, but she was strong. Angela had raised her to face challenges head-on.

"Baby, I love you..." she whispered, pressing a kiss to her daughter's forehead. "Mommy is always here whenever you need someone to talk to."

I sat on the other side of the bed.

I didn't speak.

I simply reached for her other hand.

I pressed my fingers against her pulse, checking it myself-because even though the patient monitor showed she was stable, I needed to feel it.

I lifted her hand to my lips, closing my eyes as I pressed a lingering kiss to her fingers.

I didn't care that Angela and Nakago were watching.

I didn't care about anything else.

She was here.

She was alive.

Nakago sat on the couch, his eyes closing for the first time in hours.

The three of us were exhausted.

But none of us could rest.

Not until we were sure Jazz would wake up and stay with us.