Xander's pov:

"Kiss, kiss..."

My body ignited with some kind of fire when we heard the silly order of our parents, how can some fifty year people be this childish. Kiss. My eyes immediately drifted to Ella's lips. She was still struggling to get out of my hands. My breaths became sharp as I imagined those plump lips of hers being claimed, kissed, sucked and nibbled by me. My body exhibited a kind of longing that I never experienced and for some reason I found myself eager to connect with Ella. Maybe because she ran away for nearly a month and I missed her? Whatever the reason was and even though my desires were fulfilled earlier by Linda, I still found myself leaning in carving the kiss.

I tightened my grip on her and pulled her closer to my body so I can kiss her. But what happened next left my heart beat less. Sounds, people and our parents 'cries ceased to exist. My heart ached as her body became numb between my hands and her eyes flattered shut. I never thought that I will one day see Ella this helpless, this weak and fragile. I felt so helpless when I watched her now motionless body laying on the sofa. My heart ached for her and my brain stormed seeking a reason behind her blackout.

I might not love her but I grew used to her. I might not want her to be mine but I care for her. I tried for the last month to run from her memory but that wouldn't happen. I completed the dare alone and I was going to call her just to declare my triumph but I decided not to. I have Linda and I needed to distance myself from anything that screamed Ella. Linda threw tantrums at me sometimes saying that I became like a broken hearted lover but all that was needed to shut were rough kisses.

When I opened the door for Ella, I was shocked. I was waiting to see a healthy happy version of her especially that she eloped away from my criticism, my rudeness and anger. But I was met with lifeless eyes, a pale face and an aching body. She clearly lost some weight. But this loss didn't just affect her body but seemed to reach her soul. I hugged her for dear life as if I was seeking to be assured that she is okay. I asked and she denied. She treated me coldly and I couldn't blame her. The last time, we were together I yelled at her and targeted her with all my anger.

My body became numb as I sat on a chair next to her. I was looking at her as if for the very first time in my life and found my heart beat racing. I do care about her and I might even say I care a lot about her. I wanted those shinny dark of eyes to open, to look at me intensely and to kill me silently.

We waited for the doctor to reach our house and I lost all my nerves because he was late. Our parents were overcome with fright, shock and all. Our moms cried and our dads froze. I saw agony consume us all. Ella centrality in our lives was revealed at the moment; we all needed her and we all wished for her to wake up.

"Xander did anything happen to Ella these past few days?" my mum questioned

But I didn't know how to answer that. Guilt targeted my soul and feasted on it. I didn't ask about her at all since she left. I just believed that she will normally be happy away from me. But I guess that something wrong happened and she didn't find a shoulder to cry on. She suffered alone. But where the hell was Caden? And why didn't he call me and tell me that Ella is fading?

"Didn't you faint when you were on your first weeks of pregnancy?" Ella's dad questioned her mom as his eyes trailed to the weak motionless figure of his daughter.

Pregnant? But I didn't touch her. Caden! Now, even if I was numb my body raged with an angry fire. How could he? How could she? Did she really sleep with him and let him touch her in ways that he never should have? Did she love him to the point of giving him her soul and body, to the point of starting a family with him? I felt my body shake with rage as I pictured them, Ella and Caden sharing a house with Jenna and a new born baby. My instincts to kill grew wild and I saw red. Caden, will pay for this, for touching what is not his.

Not that she was mine but at least when she still holds my last name no one will be allowed to touch her...dammit! what the hell is wrong with me?

Knocks were heard and I jumped to the door letting Ella's family doctor in. He sat on my old chair next to her and his eyes screamed with care. Even if he was older than us the attention that he showed for her didn't settle right in my brain. His eyes as if wooed with agony as he checked her pulse, blood pressure and sugar level.

"May I speak to the young Mr. King alone?" The doctor questioned looking at our parents and though reluctantly our parents obeyed and left the room.

"What's wrong with her? Is she going to be okay?" I asked feeling my heart torn in shreds.

"Mr. King, I didn't want to tell this to the knights because I promised Ella. I promised her that if she goes back to her old habits I won't tell them directly. You have a strong wife here Mr. King. Yet she cares for anyone but herself. We will have to wait for her to wake so she can tell them little by little so they won't be hurt." The doctor continued painfully

"Old habits?" I shockingly questioned

"She didn't tell you that she suffered from anorexia? Maybe because we thought that she healed. But I guess she didn't." the doctor continued with agony as he shook his head

"Anorexia?" to say that I was startled would be an understatement.

"Yes, the eating disorder. She was starving herself. She did it before, when she was bullied. But stopped the moment she stepped out of high school. I guess that those old doubts about her weight came back harshly."

The doctor's words were simple yet they knocked me down. They were as heavy as rocks and I didn't know how to handle them. All I knew was a voice deep inside my head yelling you are the reason behind her suffering. You caused her this. You did this to her.

Unconsciously, a tear ran down my cheek and all I wanted to do was to embrace her and protect her from me? The doctor continued to talk about supportive environment, some medications, vitamins, a healthy diet and a stress free space...and I silently promised to redeem my mistake and support her till she heals. But will she accept my help or cry for Caden's?

The doctor left assuring to our parents that it was just stress but I knew the truth. He said that she would wake up shortly and I couldn't leave her side since then. I took her hand in mine and waited. I couldn't but admire how soft her hand felt against mine. She gave me comfort whenever I touched her; when we shared a bed, when I teased her and stood glued to her and now even when she is unconscious.

"Uh..." a soft grown came from the lips of Ella and I felt life rush back into my vines too.

"Ella you are awake." I happily yelled gaining the attention of our parents.

"What happened?" she asked puzzlingly as she studied our worried faces and her eyes settled on mine. How I miss those dark orbs of hers.

"You fainted...!" I explained painfully and she drew her hands out of mine.

"Oh" was all she could say and for some reason she saw through me and knew that I know the reason why.

Our parents left us alone after making sure that Ella was okay. My mum decided that all of us should stay here tonight and ordered me to take Ella to my room. After being alone with her I wanted to gain her attention but all she did was look anywhere but me.

"Ella?" I pleaded

"Don't blame yourself. Stress took over me. So there is no need to act nicely." She hushed with anger

"Ella, I am truly am sorry." I said reaching for her hand and surprisingly she didn't pull it from my grip.

"I am tired..." she declared and exhaustion was clear in all her features.

"Let's get you something to eat and then take you to my room." I explained emphasizing on the action of eating and to my second surprise Ella just submitted to my orders.

"I can sleep here." She suggested as she finished eating only few spoons of her plate.

"No" I replied strictly then took the plate out her hands put it on the table.

"Xander it is okay" she assured.

But I had no will to start an argument with her so I just acted upon my will. One of my hands sneaked under her back while the other stayed under her knees and I just picked her. To say that she was frozen and stiff will be an understatement. She was never comforted with my touch. I thought that she is going to weight more than this but I guess that my idea of girls needing to be models blinded me to the true weight of my wife.

"Xander let go of me. Put me down, I am heavy you will hurt your back." She squeaked but not an annoying way like Linda.

"Just relax or you will fall and hurt yourself if you wiggle more." I informed her

And that was the third time she complied with my words. Her head now rested on the crock of neck and she submitted to my grip. I held her closer and I walked upstairs to put her on my bed carefully as if I feared that she will break.

"Thank you" Ella said and I just nodded my head and sat next to her making sure that she is okay.

"Xander you don't need to feel guilty. I swear it was all my doing." She tried to assure me.

"Guilty or not you are coming back home." I informed her

"But I..." she wanted to refuse and tried to look for an argument

"No buts Ella, you are coming back home." I said strictly.

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