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4__Marry me

“He’s a dickhead, innit?” said Ahmed, looking at Michael.

Michael scoffed and looked at Amelia. “So he just kicked you out?”

“Told me to get lost,” she said, struggling to open her water bottle. “Apparently, I was confusing Jamie.”

Ahmed grimaced. “It’s always the rich patients with the shittiest attitude, they act like they own the place.”

“But, my thing’s like, I get him saying I’m confusing the kid, cause obviously I’m not his mum… but the tone?!”

“Rude,” said Michael.

“The audacity,” added Ahmed, retying his long hair. “Then he asks if you’re upset he told you to leave!”

Amelia scoffed. “I’m saying!” She shook her head as Michael laughed into his coffee mug. “No, I’m serious, he was so rude and I’m actually not surprised! Typical rich British man!”

“What’s that about the British?” said Dr May as she sashayed into the room.

“Suck ass,” said Michael. “Not all the British, just one. Just you.”

Dr May glared down at him and his angelic smile. “Sometimes I feel the need to send you for a CT, Michael, your brain must be askew.”

Amelia sighed and stood. “To be honest, I don’t even want to do rounds right now.”

Dr May grabbed her arm. “Then don’t, love, let’s have a chat. I heard the Marc Aryan kicked you out of his son’s hospital room? Your application for step-mother’s been rejected!”

“Oh, God,” groaned Amelia.

Dr May laughed heartily, shaking Amelia’s arm as she did so.

“Ugh, she’s awful,” said Michael. “I hate you, Lilian.”

“I’d say her application for step-mother’s been firmly accepted!” said Ahmed with a laugh.

Michael snorted. “Well, the kid's already calling her mummy!”

Amelia pursed her lips expressionlessly as she freed her arm from Dr May’s grip. “I’ve got to go see my patients.”

“That means nothing!” declared Lilly May, glaring at Michael. “It’s only because he hasn’t met me!”

Leaving them to bicker, Amelia made her way out of the room and nearly collided with the very topic of their discussion.

Startled, she gasped, losing her balance and reaching out to steady herself. Her fingers gripped his arms and she quickly straightened, yanking her hands away from him. “Oh, I’m so sorry!”

The only hint of pain was the tiny twinge that twitched his eye, otherwise, he said nothing except, “You.”

Amelia’s doctor eyes were studying his bandaged arms. “Are you okay? Your wounds—”

“James is upset,” he said, the dark rasp of his voice silencing her. “Come.”

She blinked at him. “What?”

Without a word, he took her hand and turned on his heel.

Amelia was dragged down the hall.

“Well… excuse me?!” she called, trying to make him stop for a moment as eyes followed them through the hallways. “Not you dragging me, the audacity—”

“He’s crying,” he murmured as they walked. “Help him.”

Amelia wanted to tell him to kindly jump head-first off a bridge, but held her tongue. As a professional, she would tend to her patient when he needed her, even if he came with a rude, frustrating father.

They came to Jamie’s hospital room and she jerked her arm out of his grip, glaring up at him before marching into the room.

The sight made her stop again, just from how overwhelming it all was.

The nurse looked up as she tried to pull Jamie’s hands away from the bandages he was gripping and actively tearing out. “Dr Parker!”

Amelia hurried over. “What happened?”

He heard her voice and looked up as he lowered his arms, holding back sobs. “M… mummy.”

Amelia paused. No, this was actually wild to experience. Amelia had heard of cases lke this, but hadn't expected she'd one day become a mother overnight.

Flustered and not really knowing what to do, she stood stiffly in front of him. She didn’t know what to say! She was only twenty-four, an only child at that. She would have to call on her experience as a paediatrician for this.

His nurse was breathing heavily from trying to calm him. “He’s been… he got upset and…” She wheezed. “Tryna calm him down…”

“Dr Kruger?”

“She’s in surgery.”

Jamie’s blue eyes were red with tears and Amelia felt her chin wobble. The poor baby.

“Mummy?” he called again. He raised one bandaged hand to his head. “My h-head hurts… a-and… and my arm…”

He started crying again and Amelia didn’t waste a moment more before she sat by his side and pulled the child against her, careful to not hurt his injuries. “I’m so sorry, Jamie. It really hurts, doesn't it?"

He nodded sadly and she gently pet his back. “I’m sorry, love, it’ll be over soon. Let’s just fix your bandage so your head gets better quickly. Is that alright?”

“Y-yeah…”

“Okay, buddy, well done.” She stretched out her hand and the nurse handed her the bandages and staples. “Well done, sweetheart, you’ve been so brave.”

He was quiet, his head resting on her chest as his breath hitched from his crying.

She gently wrapped his bandage as she quietly praised his bravery. Why in the world the child called her his mother, Amelia didn’t know. She assumed she resembled his mother, but since the woman hadn’t shown up even once, she gathered there had to be a good reason. If she could help this poor child feel a little better by letting him think she was his mother, then Amelia would do that!

She finished wrapping his head and hugged him, gently rocking him side to side.

“Pain med?” she whispered to the nurse.

“It’s been administered,” she answered. “Toradol.”

Amelia nodded. “Jamie?”

He answered so quietly, only she heard him.

“The pain will be gone soon,” she told him softly. “The kind nurse has given you something to take the pain away, but you have to eat a bit more, love. Please?”

It took a long moment and Amelia didn’t want to rush him. She breathed a sigh of relief when Jamie slowly raised his head. “Okay…”

A wide smile bloomed over her face. “Yaay, go Jamie. I’m so proud of you. Once you’ve eaten, you can take a nap, alright? I’ll be here when you wake up, I promise.”

He was looking up at her with his perfect blue eyes. “Okay, mummy.”

She nodded and gently wiped the tears off his bruised cheek. “It’s okay. Don’t cry, I’ve got you.”

The food arrived and Amelia focused so much on feeding Jamie and helping him stay motivated enough to finish his food that she completely forgot about his father.

It was only when the nurse was carrying the tray away and Amelia was tucking Jamie in as he fell asleep that she suddenly remembered, looking over her shoulder.

He stood by the door, watching her with eyes she couldn’t read. He was completely unreadable this man, it unnerved her.

Amelia indicated the child. “He’s asleep. He isn’t in pain any longer, don’t worry.”

His throat muscles worked as he swallowed hard and nodded at her. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s… my job.” Amelia's heart raced as she tried to keep her cool under Marc's intense gaze. There was something mysterious about him that drew her in, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

His gaze wouldn’t leave her face. Her cheeks grew rosy and Marc knew that that usually indicated embarrassment. Was he embarrassing her by staring? It was hard not to. He wasn’t able to take the image of her with Jamie in her arms out of his head.

She had to admit, he was incredibly attractive. She tried to ignore the fluttering in her stomach, but it was no use.

Shuffling her feet awkwardly, Amelia averted her gaze from his direct staring. “Well, I’ll… take my leave. I’ll be back before Jamie wakes up. Is that alright?”

Marc Aryan tilted his head at her, a lock of his black hair falling against his forehead as he did so. "Take care of Jamie, and I'll take care of you," he said, his voice low and seductive.

Amelia's eyes widened in surprise. Did he just...? She couldn't believe what she was hearing. There was something about him that made her want to say yes, but she couldn't let herself be swept off her feet just yet. "I'm sorry, what did you say?" she asked, trying to hide the quiver in her voice.

Marc Aryan tilted his head at her. “Marry me.”

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