Breaking Free, Loving Again -The Flash Marriage with Mr. CEO novel Chapter 517

Meanwhile, in a hospital room bathed in soft morning light, Ryan was resting on the couch with his eyes closed. A faint crease between his brows made him look brooding even in sleep.

When Zenith finally opened her eyes, it took her a few seconds to register where she was. The sterile scent, the crisp sheets, the IV drip attached to her hand —it all came together slowly.

Only then did she realize she was at a hospital.

Her gaze darted across the room, and not far away, she saw Ryan sleeping on the couch. She blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback.

But then, as the fragments of the previous night returned to her —her collapse, the anxiety, his voice calling her name —everything began to make sense.

"You are awake?"

The unexpected voice startled her, and she turned quickly to see a nurse walking into the room.

"You must not have been sleeping well lately. Otherwise, it wouldn't have taken you this long to wake up," the nurse said kindly, checking the monitors beside her and then helping her adjust the drip.

Zenith was about to ask her to lower her voice so she wouldn't disturb Ryan. But before she could say a word, she heard his groggy voice cut through the air.

"You are awake?"

Zenith turned her head back toward him.

Ryan had already pushed himself upright, standing up to walk toward her bed. His hair was slightly messy, his shirt wrinkled, but his eyes —still heavy with sleep —held visible relief.

She hesitated, unsure of what to say. In the end, she simply nodded politely.

"You scared me last night," he said quietly, his tone stripped of the harsh tone she had heard last night.

"I didn't mean to," she replied just as softly, her voice scratchy from sleep. "I don't even know what happened. I was just fine before I suddenly fainted."

"You have been overexerting yourself recently," the nurse said from the other side. Your body constitution isn't weak, but due to your recent negligence of your diet and sleep, you have grown weaker. If this continues, recovering in just a night won't be possible."

Zenith's face grew red in embarrassment. She hadn't been deliberate, but due to the work stress lately, she had neglected her health.

So, when the nurse said that, she couldn't retort. "I will pay attention. Thank you."

The nurse smiled and then again looked at the monitor, saying, "The rest looks alright. The doctor will be coming in a while to check on you. You can get the discharge probably after this drip."

Zenith gratefully nodded to her, and after that, the nurse left.

I was just …" he struggled, but that wasn't for long. Soon, he spoke what he had been thinking since last night. "…saying sorry to you. I should have reacted the way I did yesterday. I simply lost my temper, and you were the one who had to bear with it. It was not your fault. I shouldn't have lost my composure and snapped at you like that. All I want to say is that —I am sorry."

She was caught off guard. She never expected Ryan to say sorry to her. After all, she did cross a line when she didn't obey his words and stayed back at work.

"Sir, I —"

"Don't say anything," Ryan shushed her. "I know you would say that you were at fault, but nothing justifies the way I reacted last night. I was rude, and even if you are my assistant, it was not something you deserved. Not after getting in the condition you are, working at my company. I am responsible, so let me take the blame."

Zenith didn't know what to say. "Sir, I —"

"I know I said something that I can't take back. But I will still make this clear and tell you that you haven't been terminated. But if you are offended by the way I treated you yesterday, you are free to leave. I will write you a letter of recommendation that will help you get a better opportunity here or abroad, wherever you want to work further." He then smiled and added, "Yes, if you choose Foster Ventures, I would be more than happy."

"Don't embarrass me, sir," Zenith said in haste. "I can get no better place to work than Foster Ventures. I will be coming back to work."

Ryan felt better. Giving a small smile, he nodded, "Then rest for the day, and report tomorrow. I will be waiting."

With that, he turned and leave, but his step came to an abrupt halt when he saw Delyth standing just outside the room.