Entangled With My Rival CEO

Chapter 123

By morning, Alexander and Camilla lay bare, their bodies entwined in the gentle embrace, cherishing the tranquility that enveloped the room.

As dawn's soft light seeped through the curtains, it cast a warm, golden hue upon them.

They remained tangled together, their forms engaging in an intimate ballet of affection.

Camilla's radiant gray eyes glistened as she gazed up at him, a blend of satisfaction and longing swirling within their depths.

Delicately, she reached up to sweep a stray strand of his disheveled, ebony hair away from his eyes, her touch evoking a tingling sensation that ran down his spine.

He sighed contentedly and inquired, "What time are you planning to visit your mother at the hospital?"

Camilla responded with a nonchalant shrug.

"I'm not sure...it depends on when you decide to release me from these sheets," she playfully retorted, eliciting a chuckle from Alexander. His fingers continued their tender exploration of her back.

"Well, if it were up to me, I'd keep you here all day," he whispered, leaning in to plant a tender kiss upon her forehead.

Camilla relished in the moment, her eyes closing in appreciation. However, their connection was abruptly interrupted by the jarring ring of a phone.

Alexander sighed with mild annoyance, his playful demeanor shifting to exasperation. "Ugh...can't a man have a moment with his wife?" Camilla couldn't help but chuckle at the mention of the word "wife."

"Wife...seriously?" she questioned, raising an amused eyebrow as she regarded Alexander. He responded with a cheeky grin, seemingly unfazed.

"What?... You don't like 'wife'?...Okay, how about 'fiancée'?" he proposed. Camilla's laughter grew even heartier.

"Fiancée?... Who told you I was your fiancée?... I haven't even accepted any proposal yet," she teased, enjoying the playful banter.

Alexander's raised eyebrow indicated his surprise at her act of feigning ignorance about their relationship.

"What do you mean?...you've slept with me...and for the record, more than once. Don't you want to marry me again?" he inquired, his voice filled with a mix of amusement and sincerity.

Camilla couldn't resist playing along, smirking as she swatted playfully at his chest.

"Marry you again...hmmm...maybe, maybe not," she responded with mock seriousness. Alexander exaggeratedly clutched his chest, feigning hurt.

"Are you serious right now?...maybe or maybe not," he mockingly repeated.

Camilla couldn't contain her laughter at his expression, and without further ado, Alexander drew her closer, capturing her lips in a soft, lingering kiss.

Pulling back slightly, Alexander gazed into Camilla's gray eyes with sincerity.

"Seriously though," he said, his tone turning more earnest, "When all this is over...I would marry you again in a heartbeat."

Camilla looked at him, a mixture of amusement and seriousness in her expression.

"And...I would think about that, okay? I'm gonna go shower... I'll be leaving for the hospital soon," she replied.

With a playful swipe of her index finger along his chin, she slipped out of his grasp and out of the bed, her naked form exposed to the chilled air of the hotel suite and Alexander's admiring blue eyes.

He watched her gracefully walk towards the bathroom, his gaze captivated by her slender hourglass body shape and the soft sway of her hips.

Shaking his head with a fond smile at her playful nature, Alexander reached for his phone, which had been ringing for the second time.

The first call had cut off due to his delay in picking it up from the bedside drawer. He checked the caller ID and saw that it was his younger sister, Isabel, calling.

He swiped to answer the call and was greeted by his sister's excited squeals.

The loudness of her voice made him briefly remove the phone from his ear before placing it back.

"Hello?... What happened?... Why are you squealing?" Alexander inquired, trying to make sense of his sister's excitement.

Out of breath, Isabel exclaimed, "Alex! Oh my God, you won't believe what just happened!... Uncle Rey is awake...He's awake."

Alexander sat up abruptly at the news, his eyes widening. "Really?... I thought the doctors..." He was cut off by Isabel's excited interruption.

"He's awake, Alexander," she confirmed eagerly. "The doctors were shocked too, but he woke up. They're running some tests to make sure everything is okay, but he's okay... he's awake."

Alexander's heart raced, a mixture of excitement and disbelief flooding over him.

It felt like a dream, a miracle.

Reynold had been in a coma since the attack on his life by Red Saint, clinging to life with little hope of recovery.

The doctors had prepared them for the worst, but now, hearing that he was awake, it was almost too good to be true.

"How is he doing?" Alexander inquired with a hopeful tone.

"Of course...he's weak, but he's responsive. He recognized some of us, including me, and managed to say a few words, though they were barely audible," Isabel replied, her voice filled with a mix of awe and joy.

Alexander licked his lips, a touch of uncertainty in his voice. "Alright, I'll meet you at the hospital, okay?" He said before ending the call.

He returned his phone to the bedside table and stared ahead, a rush of emotions washing over him.

While he felt immense relief that his aunt's husband had shown signs of recovery, a nagging sense of dread gnawed at him.

Red Saint had intended to kill him, and surviving might mean facing another attack.

•~•~•~•~•

Hours later, Alexander made his way through the hospital corridors, his phone pressed to his ear as he talked to Camilla.

"...And how long are you going to take?" he inquired, concern in his voice. Camilla sighed on the other end of the line.

"Hopefully, I won't be long, but it depends... it's been over a year since we last saw each other," she replied, and Alexander nodded.

"I understand. You two have some catching up to do. Just please be careful, okay?" he said, his voice filled with worry.

Camilla chuckled softly, "Of course, I promise. Don't worry... okay?... Bye." She ended the call.

Alexander sighed, putting his phone back in his pocket, and then he pushed open the door to Reynold's ward.

Inside, he was met with a scene that included his aunt standing beside Reynold's hospital bed, Isabel, the doctor, a nurse, his aunt Diana, her husband, and his cousins Clara and Violet, all present.

Walking in slowly, he greeted, "Umm... Good afternoon, everyone." He looked around the room, taking in the relieved expressions on their faces.

"Good morning, Alexander," Clarissa responded from where she stood, and immediately after, Alexander's eyes went to her, passing a silent acknowledgment before he approached the man lying on the bed, now conscious but a bit disoriented.

"Uncle Rey..." He slowly called out as he approached the hospital bed.

Reynold slowly turned his head toward Alexander's voice, his expression filled with a mix of confusion and recognition.

"Alexander?" he muttered, his voice weak and a bit groggy but slightly audible too.

Alexander smiled a little, "How are you feeling, Uncle Rey?" he questioned, and the older man seemed to ponder the question, taking a while before answering.

"I don't.... know... I feel... light-headed," he said slowly and weakly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Alexander nodded understandingly, knowing that it was normal for Reynold to feel disoriented, especially after his accident.

"It's okay, Uncle Rey. Just take it easy," he said and turned to the doctor with a warm smile, "Thank you, sir." He expressed his gratitude, and the young man nodded in acknowledgment.

"While I do appreciate your gratitude... I must say Mr. Becknard's recovery is nothing short of a miracle..."

"Though it will take some time for his body to regain its strength," the doctor stated, and both Alexander and the rest of the family present nodded in agreement.

"So, what's next, Doc?" Diana's voice came from her corner where she stood by her husband, who had his hand wrapped around her.

"Um... Some more tests, just to monitor his progress and make sure everything is functioning properly," the doctor replied.

"But for now, I'll suggest fewer people present in the ward room so he could take proper rest," he advised, and everyone nodded again.

"You guys go, I'll stay with him here..." Clarissa voiced, turning to look at Reynold briefly, her eyes filled with concern for her husband. "I'll make sure he rests and gets the proper care he needs."

"Alright, Clary... We'll be outside if you need anything," Diana said. Just as everyone prepared to leave, the door suddenly opened, and Charles entered, looking a bit ruffled.

He breathed heavily as he walked in, "...Good afternoon, everyone... I'm so sorry if I came late I..." He trailed off as his eyes met with Reynold's, who slightly raised his head to see him.

"...Ch...Ch.. Charles," he stuttered, flashes of the night of his accident coming back to him as Reynold stared at the young man.

"Uncle Rey... You're awake..." Charles muttered, and all too soon Reynold suddenly collapsed back on the bed, his body convulsing.

His sudden condition sent the entire room into chaos, especially Clarissa, who stared at him in shock, "Rey... Reynold! What's happening?... Why are you doing this?" She cried out, but Reynold didn't answer or respond, just continued to convulse violently.

"Quick, get the others here now!" The doctor said, glancing over at the nurse who stood by his side, and the younger woman immediately rushed out of the ward room.

He then turned his attention to Clarissa and said, "Ma'am, please step aside...."

Tears filled Clarissa's eyes as she stepped back, her hands trembling as she shook her head, trying to push out the thoughts that were beginning to pop into her head.

No... no. She said inwardly to herself.

She couldn't lose him.... not now."