Obsession His Runaway Bride (Noelle and Adrian) novel Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Win Over

Chapter 55: Win Over

Valerian sat beside Noelle’s bed, holding her hand between both of his. His grip was firm but gentle, as if making sure she wouldn’t slip away.

After his outburst hours ago, he had cleaned up and pulled himself together. He no longer wore his usual dark clothes. Instead, he had on a simple white top, trousers, and boots. His dark hair that was usually combed back, now fell loosely over his forehead.

With his elbows resting on the bed, he kept his head bowed, his forehead pressed against their joined hands. His eyes were closed and his breathing was calm and steady.

He simply sat there, lost in his thought while his thumb absently ran over Noelle’s knuckles. The steady beeping of the monitors and the soft hum of the machines filled the silence, but he barely noticed. His world had narrowed down to the rise and fall of her chest and the warmth of her skin against his.

Then, all of a sudden, Noelle groaned softly and shifted.

His eyes snapped open. In an instant, he was on his feet, leaning over her with his grip on her hand tightening ever so slightly.

“Noelle?” he voiced gently.

She stirred again, her brows furrowing as her eyelashes fluttered. Her breathing hitched slightly, and then slowly, her eyes cracked open.

For a brief moment, Valerian prepared himself for confusion, maybe even fear. He expected a frown, a hesitant look as she tries to make sense of what had happened.

But instead, she smiled.

A small, sleepy, completely out–of–it smile.

Valerian blinked, thrown off by the unexpected sight.

Noelle who was still groggy from the lingering effects of anesthesia, gazed up at him with unfocused eyes. Then, to his absolute, disbelief-

She giggled.

“Oh… hi,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, slurred and warm with lingering exhaustion.

Valerian’s brows furrowed slightly. He parted his lips to respond, but before he could, she giggled again, her lips twitching into a dazed, goofy smile.

“…Hi, doctor… you… have beautiful eyes…”

For a second, Valerian just stared.

This woman had just gone through a miscarriage. She had nearly bled out. And now she was flirting with him… while barely

conscious.

A breath of laughter escaped him before he could stop it. It wasn’t his usual restrained chuckle, but something lighter, almost amused despite everything.

She was completely out of sorts, but she was still her.

Still Noelle.

His Noelle.

Valerian decided to play along. He leaned in slightly, a slow, teasing smile curving his lips. “Hi, beautiful…” he murmured, his deep voice smooth and warm.

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Noelle’s eyes widened as if he had just said the most shocking thing in the world. Her mouth parted slightly, and for a moment, she just stared at him.

“You called me beautiful?” she gasped in shock.

Valerian arched a brow, biting back another chuckle. “I did.”

Noelle blinked rapidly, clearly trying to process this information through the haze of anesthesia. Then, in the most dramatic, exaggerated whisper, she muttered, “Oh my God, the doctor is in love with me.”

That did it.

Valerian let out a real laugh this time, shaking his head. “Is that so”

Noelle nodded seriously with a deadpan expression plastered on her face. “Yeah. You’re totally in love with me.”

Valerian smirked, brushing his thumb gently over her knuckles. “And what if I am?”

Noelle gasped again, gripping his wrist weakly as if this was some grand confession. “Then… I accept,” she said solemnly. “But only if you promise to take care of me forever.”

Valerian chuckled, shaking his head as he brushed a few loose strands of hair from her face. “That’s a big request.”

Noelle pouted. Her lips formed a small, exaggerated frown. “What kind of doctor flirts with a patient and doesn’t commit? You’re leading me on.”

Valerian let out a breathy laugh, amused by just how dramatic she was in her half–conscious state. “Is that so?”

“Yes.” She nodded weakly, her eyes barely open. “First, you call me beautiful. Now, you’re holding my hand.” She glanced down at their intertwined fingers, then gasped as if making a shocking realization. “Wait… are we dating?”

Valerian smirked, playing along. “I suppose we are.”

Noelle’s brows furrowed deeply, her expression turning serious. “I don’t remember you proposing.”

Valerian let out a soft chuckle, tilting his head. “You don’t?”

“No,” she whispered dramatically, looking almost heartbroken. Then, her eyes lit up as if she had an idea. “Wait, do it now.”

“Do what?”

“Propose,” she said matter–of–factly. “I’m not going to date a doctor who doesn’t put a ring on it.”

Valerian exhaled while shaking his head with a smirk. “Alright, Noelle.” He lifted her hand slightly, pressing a feather–light kiss to her knuckles. “Marry me.”

Noelle gasped again, placing her free hand over her chest as if she were truly overwhelmed. “Oh my God… that was so fast.”

Valerian smirked. “You told me to.”

She blinked at him while her mind clearly struggled to keep up. “…Right.”

“Then… I accept.” She added

Valerian hummed, brushing his thumb over her cheek. “Good. Then it’s settled.”

Noelle let out a content sigh, her eyelids fluttering. “You better not cheat on me…” she mumbled sleepily.

Valerian smirked, amused. “I wouldn’t dare-”

But before he could finish, the door suddenly burst open with a loud bang.

Both Valerian and Noelle flinched slightly, though Noelle, still dazed from the anesthesia, simply blinked in confusion at the sudden commotion.

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Then, a small voice rang out.

“Noelle!”

A blur of movement came rushing toward the bed, and in an instan, Noelle’s lazy eyes focused on the little boy running toward her. Her lips parted slightly in surprise, but then–recognition struck.

“Alexei!”

Her voice was filled with warmth as she immediately lifted both arms toward him, despite still lying down. The little boy didn’t hesitate, climbing onto the bed as best as he could and wrapping his small arms around her.

Valerian, still seated beside her, watched the interaction with a frown, his eyes narrowing slightly.

‘She recognized Alexei instantly.‘ He thought.

And once again, Valerian was defeated by his own nephew.

Noelle, who had barely been awake for minutes, who had looked at him with dazed confusion just moments ago, had no trouble recognizing the little boy.

Alexei clung to her tightly. His small arms were wrapped around her as if he had been waiting for this moment forever. Noelle, despite her exhaustion, smiled as she stroked his hair, murmuring something Valerian couldn’t hear.

Valerian let out a quiet breath before shaking his head with a smirk

‘Unbelievable.‘

All he could do was laugh on the sidelines as he watched them interact, accepting yet another loss to the child who seemed to win Noelle over without even trying.