His Toxic Addiction-Chapter 313: Happier

Music Recommendation: Happier - Ed Sheeran.

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The conversation in the ward paused for a moment when Arissa opened the door from the outside and walked in.

From the bed, Jocelyn smiled at her and not giving Arissa breathing space, she rushed towards her best friend like a kid would do to her favorite aunt and pulled her into a tight bone-crushing hug.

The moment Jocelyn hugged Arissa, she began, "You’re safe now. How do you feel? Don’t you dare tell me you feel guilty because if you do, I could cut that tongue of yours out," she said in one go, tears forming at the sides of her eyes.

Arissa’s lips curled into a smile and she hugged Jocelyn tight. Jocelyn who buried her face into Arissa’s shoulder did not see when Richard walked in.

When Adele saw her cousin standing by the door, staring at her with a calm smile on his lips, she smiled back, and immediately, tears trickled down her eyes.

She sat up on the bed and her smile became wide. Richard chuckled softly and moved over to Adele on the bed. He has missed her so much.

At the sound of a different chuckle in the ward, Jocelyn raised her face from Arissa’s shoulder. She parted the hug, turned her face to the direction of the voice, and her jaw dropped to the floor in surprise.

She faced Arissa with a smile and caressed her friend’s cheek with a smile, "I’m so proud of you," she affirmed with a soft nod, and the tears at the corner of her eyes fell.

Arissa drooped the nose mask and face cap she held ever since she took them off her face in the elevator to the floor and held both sides of Jocelyn’s face with her palms, "I did nothing, it wasn’t me," she was also close to tears.

"I know," Jocelyn sniffed, "If there’s any good thing your parents did for you, it was bonding you with Nicklaus,"

Arissa smiled and her cheeks turned heated up. "Aww," she gushed. Jocelyn laughed and playfully patted Arissa’s cheek.

Richard got to Adele. He stood before her for a moment and scanned the whole of her. His eyes squinted, she looked alright but the spark her eyes once held had been reduced and he understood why.

He clenched his knuckles and his heart fumed. He wishes he had known all of this earlier. If he had, he would have done something to that bastard and made sure he would never forget it.

Adele stood up from the bed and held both sides of Richard’s arms with a soft smile, "You increased your gym time," she noticed and brought it out to his open when she felt how he fumed from inside after touching him.

Her words drew a soft chuckle out of Richard’s lips, "I had to. I missed you all and also, I felt lonely and alone," he answered honestly.

Adele chuckled and tears slipped off her eyes. "I’m sorry about that. Arissa never wanted you involved because she wanted nothing to ever hurt you,"

Richard nodded in agreement, "Come here," he laughed heartily and dragged her into his arm. He ruffled her hair playfully with his fingers. Adele let go of his back, wrapped her hand around his neck, and repeated the gesture.

From where Arissa stood, she giggled at the sight of them hugging and repeating childhood memories.

Her feet arched to join the hug as she had done when they were little. She gently tapped her feet on the floor, trying to patiently let Richard have his moment with Adele.

Arissa walked over to Collins and playfully dabbed him on the shoulder. The quiet and calm doctor laughed softly and gave her a congratulatory handshake before pulling her into a small hug.

He let go of the hug shortly afterward. He struggled not to but he had to. If he had hugged her longer than he did, he knew he might end up thinking about her. He always thought about her but skin-to-skin contact always makes his imagination more vivid.

Arissa felt his attitude and after reading his body language, she looked into his eyes with pity and guilt in hers. She felt like it was her fault.

Collins gave her a mild smile with a small nod, "You did nothing. We had all the time, I had all the time but I could not use it. You’re happy where you are, Arissa. Enjoy it," he told her softly after he read the emotions in her eyes.

Arissa gave him a small smile.

"He’s right," Jocelyn spoke up from behind Arissa before her friend would reply to Collins. She got close to Arissa, stood before her friend, and patted her shoulders, "You are more happy than you were when I first knew you and you can no longer deny your reason for this happiness, which is why I want you to enjoy it."

Arissa gave Jocelyn a thin smile and darted her eyes towards Collins, "I’m sorry,"

Collins did not reply to that but changed the topic, "Adele would be discharged in three days," he informed.

Arissa took in a deep breath and turned towards her sister who was enjoying Richard’s company. From the hug, they were now seated on the bed, talking in hushed voices accompanied by laughs.

"And I’m so happy you sent your father to jail." he chuckled, "All the more reason you should be grateful you have Nicklaus,"

Arissa kept quiet and reflected on what everyone had been saying, starting with Diego. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

"I’ll take my leave now," he came close to her and placed a kiss on her left check before adding, "I’ll leave this country the moment Beatrice is stable,"

Arissa gave him an appreciative nod. Collins left the ward after that, leaving the four people in the room alone in their company.

He still has works to do and need time away to heal for the day.

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