William grunted when his alarm went off and at the same time,his phone began to ring,creating a disjointed movie in the room. Rolling over on to his side, he switched the alarm off before reaching for his phone. Through his bleary vision,he saw that it was doctor Greene's number on the large screen. His vision became clear and he leapt out of bed while searching for the jeans he wore the day before.

Doctor Greene calling him only meant one thing: ANSELA was awake.

~*~*~*

Fifteen minutes later, he was at running down the hall leading to his sister's room. He was right,Dr. Greene had informed him that Ansela gained consciousness around five a.m,but didn't want to call him since it was quite early.

William was partly angry that he was not there when she woke up. He was also partly glad that she was awake. Which means that he can finally see Cassie.

He pushed the door,leading the Annie's private ward,open and walked inside with happiness radiating off him in waves. William paused momentarily,when he saw his parents on sitting either side of the bed with happy expressions.

Feeling quite happy himself, he joined them by the bedside. Ansela was still using an oxygen mask,which he found surprising. Shouldn't the mask be off now that she was awake?

"Will." Ansela said;her voice a little bit scratchy.

"Annie." William was glad when his mother moved away from the bed,so he could touch Ansela's head. "You gave me quite a scare yesterday when you passed out."

Ansela only nodded as tears filled her eyes.

"Do you feel pain anywhere? How are you now? What were you thinking to have used ethylene? Do you have any idea what could have happened if you didn't call me or if I didn't get there on time?" He fired questions at her.

"She can't talk much." Arabella placed a loving hand on William's arm. At his questioning look,she said: " Dr. Greene Said that she needs to rest. And she can't talk because of the surgery she had."

William swore under his breath when he saw tears leak out of her eyes."Don't cry Annie. I'm sorry that I wasn't there when you needed me."

"Are you hungry?" Arabella asked Annie who shook her head in response.

"Are you sure?" William asked with a frown.

She nodded in response. "Kaden?" Ansela mouthed the word.

"Mom, where's Kaden?" William ignored his father,who was busy typing away on his phone,there was no doubt that he was doing that to ignore William too,which is just fine by him.

Arabella gaze traveled between her husband and her son,a frown marring her lovely brows. "They said he came in last night and this morning just in time to see Annie open her eyes."

William bent a little bit forward,when Ansela gestured for him to move closer with her head,so his ear was closer to Ansela.

"You. Stink." She murmured in a wheezing sound.

William chuckled as he straightened his long form. "Glad to have you back, my little pet."

"Miss Mckade needs her rest." Dr. Greene announced as he entered the room; a nurse,bearing a tray filled with a syringe ,injection powder bottle and two other bottle with yellow liquid. "The faster she gets out of bed,the quicker she can see her Physiotherapist."

"You already got one for her?" Arabella moved back from the bed to create room for he and the nurse.

"I did." Steven spoke up for the first time since William entered the room.

"Can you all please step outside?"

After series of kissing and promises to come back in the evening,they all,except Dr. Greene and the nurse, filed out of the room.

Dr. Greene,after inserting the white stethoscope ear bid in his ear, placed the other end on Ansela's heart. Satisfied by the rhythm of her heart,he proceeded to fill the injection with the powder and the two yellow liquid. Then he inserted the injection into the top of the half filled drip bag.

"Do you feel any pain?" He inquired as he placed the used injection in the tray.

"No."

"You'll feel better after you're well rested." He tucked his hand into his white lab coat. "If you need anything,just press the red button by your head board,someone would attend to you."

"OK."

"See you later."

Dr. Greene met William and his parents outside the ward door,all of them looking a little bit worried. He had never see a family love each other so much,that's is,if you exclude their bickering.

"Miss Mckade is fine,but still a little weak." He told them before they could fire any question at him. "I don't think she'd be leaving any time soon,though. We have to observe her for a few days; which means she can leave after we are sure that she can breath on her own without any difficulty."

"Thank God." Arabella breathed.

"I want you to cheer her up,don't do negative things in her presence, it'll speed up her recovery."

"Thank you Dr. Greene." Steven nodded at the doctor. "Can I see you for a minute, in your office?" He eyed Arabella and William.

"Sure, follow me." He started to turn away. "By the way Will, have your hand checked before you leave,will you?"

William only nodded in response. When his father and the doctor was out of sight, he turned to his mother. He did a double take when he saw the look she was giving him. He knee that look all to well.

He was in trouble.

"William Shane Mckade, are you ignoring your father?" She placed her hand on her hips,her right feet tapping the tiled floor.

Did he mention that Arabella never ever used his full name?

"No,ma."

"Don't you dare lie to me boy." Her lips twisted in displeasure. "I don't appreciate the way you spoke to him the other day. He's your father, and no matter what he does wrong,you have to respect him. I want you to apologize to him before the end of today. If you don't do so, I won't let you see Annie."

"Alright ma." He scratched his head.

"Go and bathe already. You stink." Arabella flashed him a smile before going in the direction Dr. Greene and Steven went.

He would bathe alright, but he needed to see someone first.

~*~*~*

"What are you doing here?"

Ella knew that when ever Cassie use that tone,trouble was coming in waves and the last thing she wanted was to be caught in the midst; so she did of what was best by grabbing her purse and empty cola can,then leaped to her feet.

"Would you look at that?" Ella dramatically pointed to the wall clock hanging above the entrance door. "I have to get to work now. See you later honey bun." She pecked Cassie.

"Honey bun?" Cassie scoffed in disbelief.

Ella gave her a wink before hurrying towards the door and Kaden. "Be nice." She mouthed to him as she walked past him and out the door.

"You've got a nice place." His gaze roamed about the shop with approval.

"Thank you." Cassie got down from the stool. "Why are you here?"

"Have you read the contract?" He was staring at anywhere but her.

"Yes. And what's that ridiculous rule about me not having a boyfriend,fiancé or husband for five years?"

His gaze rested on her now."you've been doing fine ever since your father's death and your last boyfriend in high school, I see no reason why you wouldn't cope."

"Do you have any idea about how old I'll be in five years time?" His smug look told her what she needed to know. "Of course you do."

"Now,what type of a business man would I be if I don't know everything about my employees?"

"You fucking pervert." She clenched her jaw in anger. "What else did you have them dig up? The number of people I slept with?"

"You're over reacting." He said offhandedly as he walked towards the isles of Chrysanthemum. "I love the fragrance of this one. You should have it delivered to my office by tomorrow."

"Why are here?" She asked again.

"I came here to get flowers for my sister." He touched the petals. "She was in a coma and only just woke up this morning. I want to get her something refreshing,what do you recommend?"

Cassie joined him by the rack. "How is she now?"

"She's better." His hand dropped away from the flower. "What flower is this?"

"Chrysanthemum, it's a lovely flower but I don't think she'd like this." She moved to the next isle. "I know just the one you want."

"What flower is this?" He was standing in front of the opposite isle.

With a sigh,she joined him. "Hyacinth."

"What does it mean?"

"Legend has it that the origin of hyacinth can be traced back to a young Greek boy named Hyakintos." She touched the bell-shaped flower, inhaling the fragrance." As the story goes,two gods--- Apollo the sun god,and Zephyr the god of the west wind-- adored Hyakintos. And one day,while Apollo was teaching Hyakintos the art of throwing a discus,Zephyr, in a jealous rage,blew the discus back, killing Hyakintos with one strike to the head. Apollo named the flower that grew from Hyakintos blood Hyacinth."

"You must really love flowers." He observed.

"I won't keep this flower shop if I don't, or would I?" She began to move away. "Hyacinth represents constancy, the blue one," she pointed to the lower rack. "Express sincerity. Not the flower you are looking for,so come with me."

"Is that a command or request?" He followed her anyway.

"Whatever rocks your boat." She stopped in front of the last isle. "This is the perfect flower."

Kaden regarded the midnight blue flower with curiosity. "And this is?"

"Catalina,Midnight blue wish bone flower Torenia." She took out the last basket, containing the said flowers. "It's perfect for your sister. It's rare and beautiful."

"It's beautiful." He was staring at her now. "Just as you are."

Cassie ducked her head to hide her suddenly bright cheeks. "Do you want the Catalina or yellow rose?"

"Roses are too common,so I would have the Catalina." He turned away from her. "Meet me outside." He said as he walked away.

"Meet me outside" she imitated him. "Arrogant arse."

Few minutes later,she joined him by his with car basket of flowers and her purse in her hands.

Even though he didn't tell her to follow him, Cassie knew that he wanted her to. And she wanted to satisfy her own curiosity about his sister. She had only seen Ansela once,the very last thing she wanted was to create any problem.

Cassie was grateful when he didn't ask her any question. He unlocked the door; Cassie got into the car before him and purred at the feel of soft leather against her skin. She placed the basket in the back seat before doing her seat belt.

"You've got a nice car." She said when he pulled away from the curb. "What sort of car is it?"

"A Porsche. Thank you." He answered curtly.

Cassie knew that the conversation was over, so she didn't say anything. Instead she leaned against the seat and stared out of the window.

It was then she remembered William and his sick sister.

~*~*~*~*

William was about to turn into the street leading to the flower shop when he saw Kaden's car pass by in a flash. He frowned at the side-mirror as the car disappeared from sight.

What was Kaden doing downtown?

Deciding that it was none of his business, he pulled into the parking lot across the flower shop and got out of the car. When he got to the door,he was surprised to find it locked.

Where did she go to?

Fishing out his phone from his pocket, he dialled her number,it went to voice mail immediately. An idea suddenly occurred to him, so he dialled a different number instead.

"Hello Amelia... I need a favour from you."