Fake Date, Real Fate
Chapter 156: My Priority, My Problem

Chapter 156: My Priority, My Problem

"Better?" he asked, his voice a low murmur.

I could only nod, my throat suddenly thick.

"Good." He tossed the towel aside. "Arms up."

I obeyed, lifting my arms above my head, the water splashing gently around me. As I felt his presence moving closer, my heart raced a little, curiosity mingling with the comfort of his care.

He draped a long, plush towel over my torso, pausing for a moment to let the fabric settle around me.

"Now, let’s get you out of here," Adrien said, his tone a mix of authority and gentleness. There was a certain ease to him, a confidence that radiated from his every movement. He stepped back, giving me a small, assessing nod. "And just like that, you’re more dignified."

I couldn’t help but chuckle softly at his methods. "Dignified? This is a far cry from my nursing attire, you know. Hospital gowns were a little more flattering."

"Flattering was never the goal," he shot back, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "And besides, I think you look rather lovely in this towel."

The heat in my cheeks returned as I shifted, pulling the towel closer. The warm, soft fabric felt good against my chilled skin, but it also exposed a vulnerability that sent butterflies swirling in my stomach.

"Adrien, I really can—"

"—be a stubborn whirlwind, yes," he interrupted, his tone playful but firm. "But let’s not forget that you nearly passed out a few moments ago. Your feistiness can wait."

A part of me wanted to protest again, but another part—the one that felt tired and achy, still recovering from everything—just wanted to sink into the reassurance of his words.

"Okay," I finally relented, my voice softer now. "What’s next, then?"

"Next," he said, his lips curving into that charming smile that always made my heart flutter, ""we dry you off, get you dressed, then I’m going to get you properly fed. You need your strength. You’ve fought hard enough; it’s time for some pampering."

He extended a hand—firm, yet there was a gentleness in his grip that felt reassuring.

I took it, allowing him to help me stand. The water cascaded down my legs, and a small wave of weakness threatened to pull me under again, but Adrien steadied me, his presence a steadfast anchor against my uncertainty.

"Let’s try something," he said, leading me toward the towel rack. As I stood beside him, he pulled a large, fluffy towel from the rack, enveloping me in warmth as he wrapped it around me like a cocoon.

"There," he said, stepping back for a moment to admire his handiwork with a satisfied smile. "Now you look downright royal."

I laughed lightly. "Royal? I’ve never dared to compare myself to royalty. I’m more of a rebel."

"A rebellious princess, then," he asserted, tilting his head with a playful arrogance. "Now, shall we?"

He said pointing at the bathroom door.

I nodded, my voice muffled by the thick terry cloth. "I suppose we shall."

Adrien’s grip around me remained steady, his presence a quiet strength as he moved with fluid precision, holding me as though I weighed nothing, IV pole and all. When did he even put the iv back on its pole!?

The soft click of the wheels from the drip stand was the only sound in the otherwise quiet space as he guided me back toward the bed.

He carefully navigated us to the edge of the bed, where he set me down gently, his eyes scanning my face for any sign of discomfort.

"Arms up," he said softly, his tone shifting from the firm protector to something gentler. He was already reaching for the clean hospital gown that had been left on the bed, his hands moving with purpose.

I blinked at him, still dazed. "Adrien..."

He gave me a look that was part amusement, part resolve. "You don’t have to do anything. Just let me handle it."

I didn’t argue. There was something undeniably comforting about the way he took charge—something steady in his movements.

The towel around me was starting to slip, and I could feel the cool air brush against my skin as he began to carefully pull it away. For a moment, it was just the two of us—silent, the tension thick but not uncomfortable. It was as though the world outside of this small room had ceased to exist.

Adrien moved with careful precision, lifting the gown and draping it over my shoulders as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Hold still," he murmured, his voice low and steady as he adjusted the fabric with an ease that left me a little breathless.

Just as the gown settled into place, I heard a noise from the hallway—a loud thud followed by Leo’s unmistakable voice.

"Isabella?!" he called, his voice a mix of confusion and panic.

I froze.

Adrien didn’t even flinch. He was still adjusting the gown, his hands steady as he ran his fingers over the fabric, making sure it fit properly.

"Leo, what a—" I started, but before I could finish, the door swung open, and there they were.

Leo stood in the doorway, wide-eyed, looking like he’d walked into the wrong episode of a drama series. His eyes shot straight to Adrien, his gaze lingering on him for a moment before darting quickly to me. And then, without missing a beat, his eyes went wide, focusing on the fact that I was only half-dressed, Adrien right there with me—helping me into the hospital gown.

His jaw dropped. "Uh... wow. I—I—" He glanced at Aria, his face a perfect picture of sheer panic. "I did not sign up for this!"

Aria, trailing just behind him, took one look at the scene, then back at Leo, and burst out laughing. "Oh, Leo, you poor thing," she teased, stepping into the room. "You really had to walk in on this?"

Leo turned bright red, the chaos unfolding in front of him far too much for his dramatic soul. "I—I should’ve stayed with Dad, Aria. Why did I—" He pressed his hands to his face, clearly thinking through his life choices. "I swear to God, I don’t know what I expected, but this is... this is a lot!"

Adrien, however, seemed entirely unbothered. He calmly finished tying the back of the hospital gown, his movements as deliberate and unhurried as before. He gave the knot a final, gentle tug before turning to face the intruders, one eyebrow arched in polite inquiry.

I, on the other hand, I couldn’t help but let out a tiny, awkward laugh, though my cheeks were burning. "Leo, you—"

"Nope, not happening," he interrupted, stepping back dramatically, his hands flailing in the air. "I didn’t sign up for seeing my sister getting dressed by him." He pointed at Adrien like he was an alien species.

Adrien didn’t seem fazed in the slightest. In fact, his lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Trust me, Leo, this is the least of what you could’ve seen today."

"Oh no," Leo groaned, his eyes wide with mock horror. "I’ll never be the same after this."

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. "Leo, I’m fine. It’s just Adrien helping me get into a gown. No big deal."

Leo gagged, dramatically clutching his chest. "I knew I shouldn’t have come. Why did I think this was a good idea? This is a trauma."

Aria, now leaning casually against the doorframe, grinned as she watched the spectacle unfold. "Don’t worry, Leo. You’ll survive."

"I swear, I’m never doing this again. Not again," Leo mumbled under his breath, still looking slightly horrified.

Adrien’s chuckle echoed in the room, smooth and rich, as he stepped back, making sure the gown was perfectly adjusted. "I’m sure you’ll be fine," he said, giving me a final look. "All set now."

"I should’ve just stayed at home," Leo muttered, his voice laced with melodrama. "I have no idea what I was thinking."

"You’re here because you care about your sister," Aria said, grinning as she walked in. "Besides he is helping her. You know, like a decent human being—and a very good boyfriend—does when his girlfriend can barely stand up on her own?" She gestured towards the IV pole as if it were exhibit A.

Leo’s eyes followed her gesture, and a flicker of comprehension seemed to dawn on his panicked face, but he was too far down the rabbit hole of melodrama to stop. "But the... the state of undress! It was... compromising!"

I shot Adrien a quick glance, unable to suppress the soft laugh that bubbled up. "See what I deal with?"

He smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "It’s... certainly an interesting dynamic."