Winning Her Heart Back (Emelie Hoven )

Chapter 916 High School Chronicles: You Owe Me

The driver held an umbrella over William, feeling concerned.

William's face was pale and expressionless. He silently climbed into the car and headed back to the hospital to check on Emelie.

When he arrived, Emelie had finished her IV drip, but she was still unconscious.

William stood at her bedside with his clothes soaked through. Water dripped from him, pooling into a shallow puddle on the floor.

After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice rough and hoarse. "Emelie, you owe me now."

What she had lost, she would have to repay.

When Emelie woke up, she first noticed the still-damp puddle on the floor and Wesley sitting by her bed. She turned her head, realizing she was in a hospital.

How had she gotten here? What had happened?

She opened her mouth and tried to call out Wesley's name. However, a sharp, raspy pain shot through her throat.

"Your throat hurts, doesn't it? You got tonsillitis-don't speak," Wesley said.

He reached for the glass of warm water on the table. He slid his arm under Emelie's neck, carefully lifted her, and helped her sip the water.

"You caught a fever and fainted on the street. Thankfully, someone brought you to the hospital," he explained softly.

Fainted? Emelie's eyes widened in surprise. She could only remember being caught in the violent storm. Did she really pass out?

Though the warm water soothed her raw throat, it still hurt.

"Who... brought me... here? How did you... know I... passed out?" Emelie spoke in broken fragments.

Wesley set the cup back on the table and adjusted the bed to make her more comfortable." The nurse said it was a boy in a uniform like yours. He didn't leave a name.

"I went to find you after my exam, but your classmate told me you left early to go home. The storm was awful, and I was so worried. I went to your house, but you weren't there."

Emelie's family hadn't even known she had left school early.

Wesley had tried calling her phone, but there was no answer. He figured that she was feeling unwell in the middle of that storm.

The more he thought about it, the more he feared the worst. So, he called some men from his home and had people comb through the streets from school to the Hoven Residence.

When they finally reached the convenience store, the clerk mentioned what had happened. Wesley had to call several local hospitals before he finally found Emelie. It had been the longest hour of his life and Wesley felt as if his heart had stopped. Even thinking about it now sent a cold shiver through his body.

Emelie noticed it and squeezed his hand in return. "I'll be fine. Good things happen to good people. There's no need to worry."

Wesley was still shaken from the scare, feeling a mix of frustration and anger. But no matter how upset he was, he couldn't bring himself to be mad at Emelie. Instead, he gently pinched her cheek.

"There's no next time, alright? If you're not feeling well, tell me. When else would you need a boyfriend if not now?" He spoke slowly, emphasizing each word.

"Oaky, okay," she replied, brushing it off.

"Do you really get it, or are you just humoring me?" he asked.

"I really get it," she replied.

"You'll let me know if you're unwell next time?" he asked.

Emelie was annoyed. "Wesley, you're so naggy. Are you 80 years old already? I'm not talking to you anymore. You're so annoying."

Wesley couldn't help but chuckle and pinched her cheek again. She always complained he was annoying. Did she really find him that bothersome?

"Even if you're annoyed, too bad. I'll keep bothering you until we're really 80," he said.

Emelie turned her head to avoid his hand, finding the conversation silly but also fun.

She pointed at him and teased, "Wesley, a naggy old man."

Wesley grabbed her finger and pointed it back at her, mimicking her tone. "Emne, a big dummy who can't take care of herself."

Emelie lay back down, unsatisfied.

"I still don't know who that guy was... I should've thanked him," she mumbled.

Once Emelie's fever broke, she was ready to be discharged from the hospital.

Wesley took her home. "I'm calling in for you tomorrow. You're staying home to rest. No reading or studying. Got it?"

He made it clear she had no say in the matter.

"There's no need. I'm all good now." Emelie was a little amazed at his firmness.

"Did you forget what the doctor said? You've been overworking yourself. If there's not enough time, cut out the less important things. Eme, you don't have to do everything, and be perfect at all of it," he said.

Wesley knew her too well. Emelie was the type who couldn't let go of anything. She wanted to do it all and excel at it. Her perfectionism led her to overwork herself.

However, she was still human. No one can be perfect at everything.

After she thought it over, Emelie told Greta that she would stop her dance lessons and would quit the school's dance club.

Dancing had always been just a hobby for her. But since her hobby started affecting her life, it was time for her to reconsider.

She figured she could always pick it up again in college. She could also do it after she graduated, when she had more time.

Emelie returned to school on Monday after a weekend break. She was feeling much better, with only a slight runny nose left from her cold.

William coincidentally passed by the classroom of the freshman year again. At that moment, Emelie was chatting with her friends.

William left without saying anything, seeing that she looked fine.

That day at the hospital, William originally planned to stay and talk to her. However, a call from Henry pulled William away. Henry wanted to discuss Whitney's divorce, and William had no choice but to go.

Still, William wasn't planning to stay anonymous. After school, he was going to find Emelie and settle things.

While he was heading back to the Civic Studies Block, he ran into Wesley. William stared ahead and walked right past.

However, Wesley stopped in his tracks. "Thanks for taking Eme to the hospital that day."

William let out a laugh. "If she's grateful, let her thank me herself. Who do you think you

are?"

Wesley turned his head. "What's the matter? Does everyone know about us except you? William, stay away from Eme. Don't think I don't know what you're after."

William didn't respond.

"I know you love to compete with me over everything. But Eme? She's off-limits. If you dare touch her again, I won't let you off so easily," Wesley warned.

William looked at him mockingly. "Your girlfriend was burning up with fever. She fainted and nearly got clipped by a car. If I hadn't stepped in, who knows what would've happened? But all you care about is that I touched her?"

William took a step closer. "Wesley, you think you know me so well? But do you even know if what you feel for Emelie is love, or is she just a possession?"

A hint of anger flashed in Wesley's eyes, and William didn't back down either. The tension between them had always been high. It was like two barrels of gunpowder set to explode.

In an instant, the two of them started throwing punches.

...

As soon as Emelie found out what had happened, she rushed to the Civic Studies Block to look for Wesley. When she didn't find him there, she headed straight to the room where he

spent his breaks.

Inside, the school nurse was just finishing up tending to Wesley's wounds. His usually composed face now bore two dark bruises. His messy hair fell over his forehead, giving him

a rugged look.

"Wesley!" Emelie hurried into the room while Wesley sat on the bed, flashing a smile at her. How could he still smile at her? Emelie felt a mix of worry and frustration. "Are you alright? Do you need to go to the hospital? How did you get into a fight? Look at your face. What happened? Did you hurt yourself anywhere else?" Emelie said, worried.