Love Rents A Room
Chapter 137: Adorable Her

Chapter 137: Adorable Her

Jeffrey sat at the small hospital desk, his notepad open in front of him, pen moving swiftly as he expanded on the notes from that morning’s meeting. He couldn’t afford to forget a single detail.

He had already scribbled so much—frantic, shorthand reminders that now needed proper structure. Every piece of information mattered. He needed to make sense of it all before handing it over to Noel.

Finally... finally, things were coming together.

He could protect her.

He could actually help her.

That single thought made his heart settle, even if just for a moment.

As he underlined the last note, a gentle voice pulled him from his focus.

"You should change, dear," an old nurse said kindly.

Jeffrey looked up and for the first time, really saw her nametag. Berta.

She had been checking on him often, but he had been too distracted to pay attention.

Berta’s eyes softened as she looked him over. "That suit is covered in blood."

"I’m not going anywhere until she wakes up," Jeffrey said firmly.

Berta smiled knowingly. "Well... she’s awake. Barely."

Jeffrey’s breath hitched.

"She’s still under anesthesia," Berta continued. "But you can see her now if you’d like."

Jeffrey shot to his feet, his notepad immediately tucked away in his pocket. That held everything.

"Thank you, Nurse Berta," he murmured, forcing a smile.

With careful steps, he followed her down the quiet hallway.

When he stepped into Joanne’s hospital room, his heart clenched.

She looked so small.

The steady beeping of the monitors filled the dimly lit space, the warm lighting doing little to ease the cold fear pressing against his ribs. Her head was wrapped in thick bandages, an IV line taped to the delicate skin of her hand.

She wasn’t smiling.

She wasn’t moving.

She was always moving, always busy, always full of life. And now... now she lay still.

Jeffrey hesitated, his feet glued to the floor.

Berta gave him a gentle pat on the back before nudging him forward. "Go on," she whispered.

He swallowed hard and nodded.

Step by step, he approached her bedside and lowered himself into the chair beside her. His fingers trembled as they reached for her hand, barely brushing against her skin before closing around it, careful—so careful—not to hurt her.

His throat closed.

"Jo..." His voice came out rough, strained. His grip tightened, not enough to hurt, but enough to ground himself.

She didn’t stir.

But she was here.

She was alive.

And that was enough.

"Joanne..." Jeffrey called again, his voice a little louder this time.

Her eyebrows twitched. Then—was that? The corner of her lips curved slightly.

Is she... smiling?

Jeffrey leaned closer, hope stirring in his chest. "Jo... how are you feeling?"

Slowly, her lashes fluttered open.

And then...

She blinked. Hard. Once. Twice. Again.

Then, out of nowhere, she giggled.

Jeffrey stiffened in surprise. "Jo?"

Groggily, she lifted her hand, and Jeffrey instinctively reached for it, ready to hold her.

But then...

She gasped. Loudly. Dramatically.

"There’s a handsome guy here!" she announced, her wide eyes darting to Nurse Berta.

Berta chuckled. "He is, isn’t he?"

Jeffrey blinked. Wait. What?

His stomach dropped. Did she... forget me?

Panic shot through him, but before he could react, Berta was already pulling out her phone, a giddy smile on her face.

"What’s going on?" Jeffrey asked, his voice laced with worry.

Joanne, however, seemed entirely unconcerned.

"Handsome..." she sighed dreamily, her voice slurring slightly. Then, her brows furrowed in deep thought. "Kite..."

Jeffrey frowned. "Kite?"

Joanne’s eyes went wide, as if she had just discovered the meaning of the universe.

"Kite... kite..." she whispered. And then, completely unprovoked, she burst into giggles again. "What a funny word... kite...!"

Jeffrey sat there, utterly bewildered.

Berta leaned over, whispering in his ear. "She’s high as a kite on the anesthetics."

"Oh." Jeffrey exhaled, relief washing over him. So that’s what this was.

"Kite... kite... kite..." Joanne kept repeating, laughing so hard that her eyes watered.

Jeffrey sighed, but a soft smile tugged at his lips. She’s okay.

Reaching forward, he gently wiped her eyes with a towel.

That simple action made her freeze.

Joanne stared at him, her blush deepening. She clutched his wrist, her fingers warm and delicate.

And then, in a hushed, almost flirty tone, she asked, "Who are you?"

Jeffrey hesitated. He knew she wasn’t thinking clearly, but before he could stop himself, the words just slipped out.

"Your husband."

Wait.

What?

Husband?!

The moment it left his mouth, realization hit him like a freight train. He hadn’t meant to lie. He wasn’t even sure why he said it.

Or maybe... deep down, he already saw himself that way?

Joanne gasped again, her eyes as wide as saucers. "My husband?"

She turned to Berta, then back to Jeffrey, then back to Berta, her cheeks glowing red.

"This handsome guy is my husband?" she whispered in pure, unfiltered shock—as if she had just won the biggest jackpot in the world.

Jeffrey’s heart melted.

"Do we have children?" she asked. "I want seven... Where are our babies?"

"Seven?" Jeffrey raised his brows. Wasn’t that a...lot?

But then, her gaze dropped to her hand.

Her smile disappeared.

Panic flickered across her face.

"My ring..." she murmured, her voice trembling. "I lost my wedding band..."

"Oh, dear..." Jeffrey’s mind blanked. He hadn’t expected his little mistake to send her into distress.

"Don’t cry," he whispered, reaching for her.

Joanne didn’t cry, though. Instead, she grabbed his hand, inspecting his fingers—and then, all at once, she laughed.

Jeffrey was beyond confused.

She wiggled his bare hand in front of him and giggled. "Liar... You’re not my husband, are you?"

Beside them, Berta was barely holding back laughter, her phone raised slightly as she was recording the whole thing. They were too adorable.

Jeffrey sighed in defeat, a sheepish grin breaking through. "You got me," he admitted, squeezing her hand. "I’m sorry for lying."

Joanne hummed, still grinning like a fool. Then, tilting her head, she pouted. "Mmm... but who are you?"

Jeffrey chuckled. "I’m your boyfriend."

Joanne’s eyes widened in pure delight. "Boyfriend?!" She gasped as if she had just discovered the greatest secret of the universe. Then, she turned to Berta, utterly scandalized. "I have a boyfriend?! A cute boyfriend?! Look at this... handsome... boyfriend of mine..."

She immediately covered her face with both hands, her cheeks glowing red.

Jeffrey laughed softly, his throat tightening with emotion. Even in this state, she’s excited about me.

Berta chuckled beside them, clearly enjoying the show.

Then—just as suddenly—Joanne’s hands dropped, and her expression turned serious. Suspicious, even.