Ophelia Gets Thrown Out (Ophelia) novel Chapter 66

**Paths Lead To Purpose — Kevin Masters**
**Chapter 66**

“Ouch, that stings,” Alaric exclaimed, a chuckle escaping him as he theatrically clutched his chest, feigning deep hurt. “You wound me, Ophelia. I honestly believed that saving your life would at least earn me a smidgen of gratitude.”

“What, so now you’re keeping score?” she retorted, an eyebrow arching in disbelief. The sheer audacity of his words almost made her laugh, despite the irritation simmering beneath the surface.

“Would it make a difference if I did?” he inquired, his tone unexpectedly sincere. “If I called in this favor, would you agree to marry me?”

“Not a chance,” she shot back instantly, her voice firm and unwavering, shooting him a look that clearly indicated the conversation was over.

Whether Alaric was being serious or merely toying with her emotions, her answer remained resolute.

Alaric blinked, momentarily taken aback by her swift dismissal before shaking his head with a dramatic sigh.

She wouldn’t even indulge him with a white lie to soften the blow. Yet, he couldn’t help but find her stubbornness oddly captivating.

“Well then,” he said, letting the sigh linger in the air like an uninvited guest. “How do you plan to repay me for my heroic deeds?”

Ophelia simply gestured toward his bandaged arm, as if the answer to his question was glaringly obvious. After all, she had already cleaned the wound and brought him to the hospital.

“That’s not repayment. That’s just basic human decency,” he corrected, just as a nurse approached them with a clipboard in hand.

Catching his subtle glance, the nurse quickly picked up on the tension in the air.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, miss,” she said, feigning a hurried check of her phone. “I’ve just consulted the night shift roster, and unfortunately, all our caregivers are either assigned to other patients or on leave tonight.”

“No caregivers?” Ophelia frowned, disbelief etched across her features. “How is that even possible?”

This was Dunhollow Hospital, a place renowned for its impeccable service. The absence of caregivers felt utterly incomprehensible.

The nurse, her expression apologetic, explained, “We’re short-staffed on night shifts, and calling someone in last-minute is always a challenge. You’ll have to manage for tonight. I’ll notify those on leave, and they’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Fine,” Ophelia relented, though her tone remained tight with frustration.

With no other options available, she resolved to take care of him for the night, knowing that the caregivers would return the following day.

“I’ll stay tonight to look after you,” she informed Alaric, her voice clipped and resolute. “Consider us even after this.”

Turning back to the nurse, she added, “Please take him to his room. I’ll handle the paperwork.”

“No need for that,” Alaric interjected smoothly, a confident smile gracing his lips. “This is one of the Caldwell Group’s hospitals. I won’t be charged a dime.”

Ophelia eyed him with skepticism. “You own the place, and you still can’t arrange for a caregiver?”

“Even the boss has to adhere to the rules. We respect our employees’ rights here,” he replied, his expression innocent, almost childlike in its sincerity.

She narrowed her eyes, a flicker of suspicion igniting within her.

‘Is this all part of his grand plan? To keep me here with him?’

As if reading her thoughts, Alaric met her gaze squarely, his eyes unwavering. “If I wanted you to stay, I’d ask you directly. I don’t need to resort to underhanded tricks.”

Reluctantly, Ophelia looked away, acknowledging that he had a point. What she didn’t realize was that Alaric wasn’t above a little manipulation if it served his interests.

“Let’s go,” she said, stepping behind his wheelchair. “By the way, if you’ve injured your upper body, why are you in a wheelchair?”

A faint flush crept up Alaric’s neck, though he maintained a neutral expression. “The doctor advised against unnecessary movement. Didn’t want to strain the wound.”

In reality, he understood that playing up his vulnerability was his only chance of earning a sliver of her concern.

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