"Incredible." Aria breathed before she succumbed to a night of deep sleep. Noah chuckled hearing her response, and his heart swelled with pride. What more could he want than to see his woman lying beside him satiated and happy after their intense intercourse?

At first, he had been skeptical and feared if Aria could take his desires. Unlike other men, he did not do gentle and soft. He liked it hard, and this had made him hold back his desires for Aria many times. Now that Aria had accepted and enjoyed what he had to offer, his heart sighed in bliss. He observed the girl, his eyes twinkling in joy as he saw the various marks he had left on her.

Noah had never felt this contented and at peace before, and he knew that it was all because of Aria. "Thank you, love. Thank you so much for coming into my life." He kissed her lips lightly before he got off the bed and went to the bathroom to take a shower. When he was done, he brought a wet towel and wiped Aria's entire body, making sure that he did not wake her up in the process. She needed to sleep as he knew Aria had stayed up the entire night during her shift, and he had tired her out with their intense workout.

After cleaning her body, he jumped on the bed and laid down beside her. With ease, he slipped his hand under her neck and made Aria roll over to him. He then wrapped his hands around her waist and hugged her sleep. "Thank you, Aria. Thank you for everything." He sighed and kissed her forehead before he too joined her in her dreams.

Back at the hospital.

Ivy glared at the man who had not stopped wandering his hands on her body. "Joshua, please." She whined when she felt his hand on her waist. Ivy had just closed her eyes when she felt the man lift her shirt and run his hand on her waist.

"I have no idea what you are talking about, sweetheart." Joshua feigned ignorance as his hand inched closer to her breasts.

"Please let me sleep." She begged, pleading with him through her eyes.

"When did I stop you? You can go to sleep, Ivy. Good night." Joshua kissed her forehead. Even though he gave her permission to sleep, his hand did not stop their exploration, and Ivy was slowly losing her mind.

"Go to sleep, Joshua. You must be tired by now." She tried to coax the man to sleep. But Joshua was fully awake and excited. The four-hour nap he had taken after lunch had replenished his energy, and he was now in high spirits, unlike Ivy who could not keep her eyes open.

"I should have gone home after dinner." She muttered as she sent another glare towards the shameless man.

"Why do you say so, darling?" Joshua smiled, reveling in the feel of the girl's skin under his palm.

"At least, I could have slept well then. I wouldn't be tortured by you." Ivy revealed, cursing herself as she remembered how she had begged Noah and Ian to allow her to stay at the hospital for the night. She was excited beyond measure when she found out that Joshua had gained consciousness. Who knew that she would end up getting her own legs shot?

"How are you in such high spirits? Aren't you weak? You should be sleeping like the dead by now." She complained, and Joshua chuckled hearing her words. She was right but the man was well-rested, and he was not sleepy at all. So, he was wide awake and in the mood for some amusement. But he also realized Ivy was dead tired. The last few days had not been good, especially for her, and given her character, he knew she would not have slept well.

Joshua stopped running his hand on her waist and pulled her shirt down. "Sleep, Ivy. I will stop teasing you." He assured her softly. But Ivy was not convinced. She gave him a skeptical look, blinking at him in suspicion. "I promise, sweetheart. I will not do anything. Sleep well." He kissed her eyes, forcing them to close, and soon, Ivy had slipped into a deep sleep.

As soon as he saw Ivy succumbing to her sleep, his smile vanished. He remembered how Amber had barged into the ward, claiming herself to be his girlfriend. He would be lying if he were to say that her presence did not affect him. But there was nothing but resentment for the girl who had made an entry after a long time. There was nothing but bitter feelings for her, which were slowly fading away.

After he fell in love with Ivy, he forgot what he had felt for Amber. The girl just became a distant memory. She was nothing but his mistake now. Joshua realized only now that what he had felt for Amber was never love, and also what the girl claimed to be her love for him was not at all love. They had been in a relationship but never in love. Period.

Joshua only now realized what love was and who he truly loved. He gazed at the girl sleeping in his embrace and pulled her closer to him. "I am sorry, sweetheart. You had to deal with Amber in my absence. Please forgive me." He kissed her forehead before he rubbed her back gently.

"I will rectify everything and make sure that Amber does not hinder our life again. I know why she has come back and what she wants. Rest assured, Ivy, she will not disturb us from now." Joshua wrapped his hands tight around her and sighed lightly.

'Amber, you have already destroyed my life once. I will not allow you to do it again. I will never allow you to come into my life.' Joshua made a resolve to speak to her once he was discharged and explain everything to her. If she was willing to leave him on her own accord, then it was well and good. Otherwise, Joshua knew exactly what measures to use that could make her leave the city or even the country.