Before Thomas could answer Ivy, the doors to her private room flew open. There were even more guards outside in the long hospital corridor, Ivy noticed. Shee managed to count until four when Noah walked in with Aiden following just behind him.

Noah's gaze was cold and hard. It didn't take an idiot to know that her lover was furious. Noah then dismissed Teo ordering him to stand out outside the door before turning to rest his gaze on Ivy.

​​

"How do you feel?" Noah asked as he scanned Ivy's body.

Ivy offered a small smile. "I think I have been better."

The response had Noah curve his lips. "If you can start grumbling, it seems you are better."

"What happened? I remembered drinking some lemonade before I felt extremely terrible." Asked Ivy her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to remember and piece bits of the evening together.

Noah sighed and then he sat on the bed and cupping Ivy's face in his large hands, he then brushed his thumb on his lover's lower lip. He turned Ivy's face left, then right and when he was finally satisfied with Ivy's condition, he released her face gently.

"You were poisoned," Noah announced in a low voice, he was still; clearly livid.

"Poisoned? You mean that lemonade was poisoned?" Ivy was taken aback this was something that happened in books or movies.

Noah's onyx eyes hardened. "Yes, high levels of arsenic were found in your drinks and if Thomas hadn't brought you to the hospital on time, you would have died from the poisoning."

"You-you're joking, right?" Ivy stuttered lost for words at the news.

Ivy searched Noah for any signs that he might be joking. But Noah's expression remained serious, his eyes were hard and displeased – none indicated that he was just joking. Ivy felt nauseous and covered her mouth with both hands. "I feel sick."

"Are you all right?" Noah asked as he handed his lover a glass of water. Ivy then took a small sip before looking at Noah, as she tried to compose herself.

"Who would do that? Why me - why –" she trailed off before realization hit her all at once. She quickly grabbed Noah's arm. "What about James, he drank the lemonade too?"

"He's fine. In fact, he is doing better than you are." Noah answered in a low flat tone.

The familiar expensive cologne on Noah's jacket soothed Ivy almost immediately. She held on to him and took a moment to recollect her thoughts before pulling back. "Who did that?"

Noah paused for a moment and did not immediately answer the question. His lips tightened as if he was thinking about something. Growing impatient, Ivy was about to ask again when Noah finally answered, "Anna."

"Anna… Governor Anna?" Ivy enquired somewhat confused. "Why would she want to poison me?"

It was Aiden who stepped forward to answer Ivy. "Ivy, in my opinion, Governor Anna wanted to get rid of you so she can have Noah all for herself. She tried to do just that by poisoning you, but was –" Aiden paused as if he was trying to think for a more suitable word, "—unsuccessful."

"Wait!" Ivy shouted as she held her hand up and closed his eyes. She drew in a deep breath, calming her heart and mind. After a while, she opened her eyes again and this time, the fear was long gone and there was only anger, she glared straight at Noah.

"You mean that b*tch poisoned me and James just because you refused to be with her?" Ivy was livid, her and James's life weren't a game.

"Simply put but yes," Noah answered taking in his lover's reaction.

The usual Noah would smirk whenever Ivy said something like that but since his expression did not change, Ivy assumed that her lover was just as furious as she was.

"But why add the poison to James's drink too? He has nothing to do with this, why she would poison – "Ivy stared up at Noah's face as if she had just realized something."—that! She didn't know which glass I'd take so she poisoned both of us."

Ivy then looked around. "Is that why there are more guards here than usual?"

Noah finally flashed his trademark smirk. "You're getting sharper," he said before his expression turned serious again. "Ivy, I need to deal with Anna myself and I need you to be safe while I do that so you cannot return to the penthouse."

"If you think I'm afraid of her –" Ivy folded her arms in protest, she didn't want to hide or be hidden

"I know you're not. You should lay low while I take care of everything." After speaking Noah stood up, walked to the couch and sat on it. "Anna is cunning. She'll find out soon enough that you're alive and knowing her, she will mobilize any resources to get you."

Ivy stared at Noah almost in disbelief. "Are you afraid of her? Is she even that scary?"

Noah's thin lips curved evilly. "She is far tamer but she's like a cockroach, and unless you crush her out completely, she'll come back to annoy you."

Noah's eyes gleamed slightly when he said that, letting Ivy know that her lover was seriously looking forward to doing just that.

"Fine," she replied, somewhat annoyed. "I'll go hide while you deal with her."

Noah held Ivy's face and kissed her lips with devotion and then let go walked to the bed and sat on the edge again. "Good girl," he murmured before turning to Aiden. "Leave us for a moment and do not come in until I give the orders."

The secretary bowed and together with Thomas, they left the room.

Ivy stared at her lover again. "Don't you dare to sleep with her? I'll kill you if you do."

Noah pulled Ivy closer for another kiss. "Behave when I'm not here."

"You know I'm not going to," she said cheekily before flashing his lethal stare. "Hurry up and deal with her."

"I intend to," he said and pushed Ivy down on the bed. As he licked the nape of Ivy's neck, she pushed him away.

"Noah, stop! I don't have the energy and we are in the hospital still" she protested.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything." The smile that her lover gave her was not at all reassuring.

"Wait, listen to me!" She waited until she had Noah's full attention before continuing, "If you're disappearing to deal with Anna, I have a request."

Noah's eyebrow rose in surprise. "Let's hear it."