Chapter 81: Don’t seduce other men.
Charles Donald was rushed to the hospital, where the medical staff quickly attended to him.
Meanwhile, Augustine paced anxiously down the hallway, his heart pounding with every passing second.
No matter how much he tried to steady his breath, the fear of losing Charles gripped him tighter with each moment.
Three hours later, a male nurse approached Augustine. "You can come inside now," he said.
Augustine exhaled deeply, relief washing over him.
"Th... thanks," he stammered before quickly making his way into the hospital room, his heart pounding with anticipation.
As Augustine pushed the door open, his gaze immediately landed on Charles, who lay motionless on the hospital bed, his face pale against the stark white sheets.
"Cha... Charles," Augustine exhaled shakily, his voice barely above a whisper as he stepped closer, his heart pounding with unease.
He rushed to the bed, grabbing Charles’s hand and entwining their fingers tightly. "I don’t want to lose you," Augustine whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
He lifted Charles’s hand to his lips, pressing a lingering kiss against his cool skin, his grip tightening as if afraid to let go.
Charles scoffed, swallowing hard as he fluttered his eyelashes a few times before finally opening his eyes.
A slow, teasing smile spread across his lips as he locked eyes with Augustine. "You’re such a sweetheart," he purred, his voice laced with warmth and amusement.
Hearing Charles’s words, Augustine slowly lowered Charles’s hand from his lips, his fingers lingering as if reluctant to let go.
His gaze locked onto Charles with an intensity that sent a shiver down Charles’s spine.
For a long moment, Augustine said nothing.
His eyes, dark and searching, conveyed a feeling that words could never quite capture—concern, longing and something deeper.
Augustine’s intense gaze spoke volumes, filling the silence between them with emotions too complex to put into words.
Charles felt his heartbeat quicken under Augustine’s unwavering stare.
Then, Augustine exhaled softly, his grip on Charles’s hand gentle yet firm. "Umm... are you feeling alright?" he asked, his voice warm and laced with concern.
Charles nods his head. "I am good now," Charles mumbled. "By the way, can... can we go back home? I don’t feel safe here." Charles stuttered, sounding weak and exhausted.
Augustine quickly stood up from the bed as he placed his hands on the cheeks of Charles, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Are you hurt in somewhere?" He questioned while observing the face of Charles. "Do you want me to call the doctor?"
Charles shook his head sideways. "I just want to go home." He stated, staring at Augustine with a serious gaze. "Please allow me to go home. I hate hospital... I hate here, Augustine... I just want to leave. Please, Augustine. Take me home.." He stated, his words trailing one after the other as tears began to roll down from his eyes.
Augustine began to panic as he used his thumb to wipe the tears on Charles’s face. "Why do you want to—"
Charles exhaled sharply, his grip on the bedsheet tightening. "Augustine, for the first time in a long time, I need you to listen to me," he said, his voice low but unwavering. "I want you to leave this hospital. Now."
Augustine shook his head, his jaw tightening. "You’re not leaving until the doctors run a thorough check on you," he countered, his tone firm yet laced with concern.
Charles scoffed, reaching for his right wrist and yanking out the IV drip, a sharp hiss slipping past his lips as the sting shot through him.
"Charles, what do you think you’re doing?" Augustine questioned, his voice laced with both frustration and concern.
Charles pushed himself upright on the bed, his breaths coming out in heavy, uneven sighs.
"I need to leave, Augustine," he murmured, his voice trembling. "For the first time in a long time, I’m begging you... please let me go."
Tears in his eyes continued to slipped down his cheeks as he held Augustine’s gaze, silently pleading for his understanding.
Augustine gave a small nod before leaning in, his lips pressing gently against Charles’s blonde hair in a fleeting yet tender kiss. "Alright," he murmured, his voice low and soothing. "I’ll tell my driver to get the car ready."
With that, he slowly pulled away, his gaze lingering on Charles for a moment longer before he turned.
Augustine pulled his phone from his pocket, making a quick call that lasted only a few seconds before slipping it back inside.
His gaze remained fixed on Charles as he asked, "Are you sure you won’t change your mind?"
Charles gave a small nod, his expression unwavering.
With a sigh escaping Augustine’s lips, he assisted Charles off from the bed.
As Charles’s feet met the cold tiles, a shiver ran down his spine, and his legs wobbled slightly.
For a moment, it seemed as though he might collapse, but after a few careful steps, he managed to steady himself.
Augustine stepped in, his hands moving with practiced ease as he helped Charles out of his hospital gown, leaving him in nothing but his underwear.
"Can you send someone to get clothes for me as soon as possible?" Charles inquired because it was obvious that he couldn’t step out of the hospital room with just his underwear.
Augustine was still wearing his suit, so with a swift and polished movement, he took off the suit and handed it over to Charles. "Put this one." He stated and Charles did as he was instructed but all through the time that he began to wear his suit, he felt weak and exhausted.
"Now, all that we need is just a trouser," Augustine mumbled and Charles agreed with a nod.
Charles forced a smile across his lips as he shrugged his shoulders. "I can step outside like this," he whispered, fastening the last button of the suit.
The suit barely reached his thighs, and his boxer brief extended slightly past the hem.
Augustine arched a brow, his gaze slowly trailing down Charles’s body. "You’re joking, right?" he muttered, crossing his arms.
Charles chuckled softly, shrugging his shoulders again as he adjusted the suit. "Not at all," he whispered, fastening the last button.
The fabric barely skimmed his thighs, and the hem did little to conceal the boxer briefs that extended slightly past it.
Augustine exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face. "You’re impossible," he murmured, fighting the urge to smirk.
"I can walk out of this hospital like this, so stop giving me those eyes."
Augustine studied Charles for a moment, debating whether he should allow him to leave dressed like that. "I... I don’t think it’s right for you to walk out of the hospital in such a revealing manner, Charles," he reasoned.
With an arched brow, Charles questioned him. "And why is that?" He probed.
Sigh!
A loud sigh escaped Augustine’s lips as he closed the distance between himself and Charles, their bodies now mere inches apart.
As Augustine loomed over Charles’s petite frame, a faint smile played on his lips. He gently pulled Charles’s glasses away, his thumb gliding over Charles’s cheek to wipe away the stray tears that had fallen a while ago.
Augustine’s lips curled into a knowing smirk, his eyes glittering with mischievous lust. "There are other men here in this hospital, and the way you’re dressed—" he trailed off, his voice dipping into a husky whisper. "It looks like you’re trying to seduce them."
Augustine inhaled deeply before carefully sliding Charles’s glasses back onto his face.
His gaze roamed down, lingering on Charles’s exposed thighs, a teasing smirk curling at the corner of his lips.
"Your revealing, sexy legs could make even the straightest man question their sexuality," Augustine purred, his voice dripping with seduction.
A soft chuckle escaped Charles’s lips, a mix of amusement and flustered embarrassment. "You’re ridiculously good with words, Augustine," he murmured, his fingers instinctively wrapping around Augustine’s wrist, grounding himself in the warmth of his touch.
"But for now," Charles continued, his tone shifting to something more resolute, "let’s just get out of here."
Sigh!
As they stepped out of the hospital room, Augustine’s gaze immediately fell on his secretary, who stood just a few feet away in the passageway.
Dressed in a crisp, tailored suit, the man exuded professionalism, his posture straight and composed.
A sleek briefcase rested in his left hand, while his sharp eyes flickered toward Augustine and Charles, momentarily pausing at Charles’s attire—or lack thereof.
"Sir," the secretary greeted, his voice steady but his brows subtly twitching in question.
"Hey," Charles mumbled, waving his hands at the secretary who also waved back at him.
"Please take care of the medical bills, okay?" Augustine ordered before leading the way with Charles beside him.
As they stepped out of the hospital building, Augustine made his way to the black Ford parked by the side of the road.
Without a word, he opened the passenger door, gesturing for Charles to get in.
Charles got seated inside the car and Augustine did the same.
"Take me home," Augustine ordered, and the driver started the engine, smoothly pulling onto the road.
Augustine shifted his gaze to Charles, who had quietly rested his head on his shoulder.
His eyes drifted to Charles’s hand, and he let out a quiet sigh.
What’s the reason Charles bleeds so much from his nose? Augustine wondered, his brows knitting into a deep frown.