He Wasn't That Unconscious

Half an hour later, I finally saw Felix in the VIP suite.

He looked thin and pale, tubes running everywhere. Machines kept track of every heartbeat and breath.

Penelope wiped at her eyes. "He suffered a traumatic brain injury. The surgery went well, but recovery takes time. Maybe six months. Maybe three years.

"We wanted someone to stay by his side. Not because we need help changing his sheets or cleaning him up—we can hire nurses for that."

I understood what she meant.

For coma patients, emotional connection mattered.

Someone needed to talk to him every day, keep his mind engaged, give him reasons to come back.

But Felix's condition couldn't be made public.

And Penelope was busy holding Floyd Corp. together.

Sienna had been the obvious choice.

Instead, it ended up being me.

Felix's spirit stood beside the bed, looking miserable. "I really thought Sienna would stay with me. Guess I was wrong. All I wanted was someone dependable to read me the financial news every day. Why is that so hard? I don't even know if Ruth can pull it off..."

After listening to him complain for a while, I figured it out.

His consciousness was separated from his body.

That's why I could see him.

The moment he woke up, his spirit would return to where it belonged.

Once I had a plan, I laid it out.

"I'll read the news to Felix every day. I'll keep movies and music playing. I'll tell him about the weather and bring in different scents so he stays connected to the outside world."

I paused.

"As for taking care of him, I'd like to handle that myself if that's okay. It'll help us build a stronger connection."

Penelope and Felix both looked skeptical.

Neither of them believed I'd actually follow through.

They changed their minds the next day.

When Penelope came into the room—

I had just finished shaving Felix.

He looked a lot more like himself.

A newly released movie played on the TV while I quietly explained parts of it.

At the same time, I was reading financial news from a tablet right on schedule.

A cup of fruit tea sat beside his bed, its scent covering the sharp smell of disinfectant.

I'd even set up a small bed in the room.

I planned to stay with him twenty-four-seven.

Penelope looked genuinely touched. "You can go back to the estate at night."

I smiled.

As long as I didn't have to go back to my parents' house, I was good.

"Staying here helps strengthen my connection with Felix. It'll help him wake up."

As I spoke, I secretly glanced at Felix's spirit.

His expression had softened. "Sienna's always been spoiled. Even if she'd come, she wouldn't have taken care of me like this. Ruth actually seems dependable. Maybe this accident wasn't all bad."

Looks like I passed Felix's personal review.

Everything after this should be a lot easier.

I started paying close attention to Felix's spirit.

Maybe being too far from his body affected his chances of returning. Most of the time, he stayed in the hospital room, only wandering off when the weather was nice.

The last time he'd gone that far was to see Sienna.

Now that he was over her, he stayed put.

While I took care of Felix, his spirit never stopped talking.

"How does Ruth know I love opera? She must've done her research. Not bad. But how come she didn't figure out my favorite snack is blue cheese? I tried it once and got hooked. She keeps making me smell apples every day. I'm over it."

The next day, I bought a small wedge of imported blue cheese.

Back at the hospital, I unwrapped it right in front of him.

"How much should I cut?"

I'd gotten a lot bolder.

I even played with his fingers, bending them into a six, then an eight.

At first, his spirit hated it.

"Hey! Stop that! Nobody's ever treated me like this. Do I look like a toy to you?"

Eventually, he got used to it.

He'd roll his eyes, but the corners of his mouth always twitched up.

The second the smell of blue cheese filled the room, his eyes lit up.

His will to live seemed stronger than ever. "I've missed that smell so much... I need to wake up already so I can eat it with Ruth."

The moment he said that, the lines on the heart monitor flickered.

I picked up a small piece of cheese and carefully took my first bite.

"Felix, you know something? Thanks to you, this is the first time I've ever eaten something this fancy. Back home, I barely ever got good snacks. So yeah, this is my first time trying something this expensive."

His spirit froze.

By now, I was used to his face.

I talked to him like he was a friend.

"Your mom thought I was working hard and gave me ten thousand dollars. Back home, I had to take care of my parents and Sienna. Before that, it was my grandparents. Now I only have to take care of you. Honestly, it's easier."

His spirit drifted over and stared at me quietly.

That day, I told him everything.

How my parents treated me.

How Sienna bullied me for years.

After finally getting it all out, I felt like I could breathe again.

His eyes turned red.

"Are Ruth's parents insane? Why wouldn't they dote on their own flesh and blood, but pamper an entitled, spoiled brat of an adopted daughter instead?"

I was a little touched.

But I didn't need revenge.

As long as the twenty million hit my account, I'd be grateful.

After that, Felix's spirit and I grew a lot closer.

I still acted like I couldn't see him, but I always gave him what he wanted.

He stayed by my side constantly, watching everything I did.

Four months passed like that.

Then one day, while I was bending Felix's fingers again—

His finger suddenly moved on its own.

His spirit stared in shock. "My nerves and muscles are responding. That means my brain's recovering. Am I finally about to go back?"

I was thrilled and immediately told Penelope.

The news spread fast.

Soon, a team of experts arrived to examine Felix.

And not long after, Sienna stormed into the room.

She shot the unconscious Felix a look of disgust, then dragged me out into the hall.

"I heard Felix's about to wake up."

When I didn't answer, she slapped me.

"You really think you're engaged to some old-money heir now? Who gave you the right to act like that?"

Felix's spirit clenched his jaw. "Ruth, are you serious? Hit her back! I've got you. You're not gonna do it? Fine. I'll do it myself."

He swung at her.

The punch only stirred a cold gust of air.

Sienna jabbed a finger at my face.

"If Felix wakes up, you'd better disappear. I'll make him believe I've been the one taking care of him this whole time. I'm the girl he loves. When he wakes up, he'll marry me. Not you."

Felix's spirit reacted before I could.

"As long as I remember everything from when I was a spirit, I am never marrying you."

Then he froze.

"Wait. What if I don't remember any of this when I wake up? What if I forget everything? Will my spirit and body even sync up properly? I didn't think about that. Damn it. What if I wake up and actually believe Sienna was the one taking care of me?"

I rubbed my stinging cheek, just as unsettled.

I didn't really care who Felix ended up marrying.

But if Sienna stole my credit, there went my twenty million.

Felix suddenly smacked his forehead.

"Hold on. My mom. She's seen Sienna's true colors. There's no way she'd let me marry her again. As long as Mom's around, she can prove Ruth was the one taking care of me."

Except—

Sienna wasn't about to quit.

She went straight to Penelope.

Without a shred of shame, she said, "You know Felix. Once he decides on someone, that's it. When he wakes up, you can't force him to marry a girl he doesn't even know. He survived something terrible. As his mother, you should support him, not meddle in his love life."

To my surprise, Penelope actually bought it.

She turned to me, looking uncomfortable. "Felix doesn't know who's been caring for him anyway. When the time comes, I'll just tell him it was Sienna. They were already in love. It'll make sense for them to get married. Everyone wins.

"I'll compensate you generously. As long as you stay quiet, nobody has to know you were the one taking care of Felix."

I nodded without arguing.

Felix practically lost his mind. "Ruth, can you please stand up for yourself for once? Why are you just handing over the credit?"

I wanted to.

But I'd spent my whole life swallowing things and moving on.

I had no family backing me up. No connections. No confidence.

What was I supposed to fight with?

Felix dragged a hand down his face. "Unbelievable. None of you are reliable. Fine. I'll handle it myself. I just need to make sure I keep these memories."

After winning Penelope over, Sienna decided to lock things down.

She told the media before Felix even woke up.

"After everything I've done for Felix, he's finally about to wake up! We'll be getting married soon, and before long, I'll officially be Mrs. Floyd. Thank you all for your love and support."

Everyone outside believed Sienna's devotion was what created the miracle.

As more specialists got involved and Felix kept fighting, his condition improved fast.

Less than six months later—

Every test showed the same thing.

His brain had fully recovered.

He could wake up at any time.

The closer that day got, the less Felix wanted to leave.

"Ruth, I really hope I remember all of this when I wake up. I hope I don't forget how good you've been to me. And I really, really hope I don't wake up thinking Sienna's the one who saved me."

I hoped so too.

But there was nothing I could do about it.

Then one morning, I opened my eyes—

And Felix's spirit was gone.

My heart skipped.

He was waking up.

I immediately called Penelope and the specialists.

The second Sienna heard the news, she showed up with reporters in tow.

With everyone watching nervously, the doctors performed the final procedures.

Then a soft beep sounded.

Felix's eyes slowly opened.

The room fell silent.

Nobody dared breathe too loudly.

His fingers twitched.

He swallowed hard.

Then he stared up at the ceiling, like he was trying to piece something together.

All I could do was pray.

Pray he remembered.

Pray he remembered those six months.

Pray he remembered who had actually been there for him.

Because if he didn't—

Then everything I'd done was for nothing.

And I'd basically handed Sienna the win.

Sienna couldn't wait another second.

She rushed to his bedside.

"Felix! You're awake! It's me, Sienna! The woman you love! I've been taking care of you for the past six months. I stayed by your side every day. I took care of everything. You remember that, right? You remember me?"

The look in Felix's eyes made my stomach sink.

He looked... confused.

Had he really forgotten?

My parents immediately jumped in.

"Stop fantasizing. Even Felix's mother said that if he doesn't remember, then Sienna's the one who took care of him."

"Why are you still standing here? Quit ruining Sienna's moment."

Felix kept staring at Sienna.

My chest tightened.

Guess that was it.

I lowered my head and turned to leave.

Then—

Felix finally spoke.