The Traps of Black Swan

Since Aarvi strictly told him to rest and prepare for the surgeries, Aaron chose to do both surgeries. The second surgery drained his energy by the time he came out. 

He wished to talk to Aarvi but it was late in the night hence he didn't wake her up. Thinking to rest an hour or two before going to Aarvi, he straight went and slept on the upper bed of the bunk bed.

He soon went to deep sleep due to exhaustion. His sleep broke when the bunk bed started shaking due to a person climbing up.

The first thought that came to his mind was 'Aarvi is here?' But it ruled out as he had strictly ordered his driver and Milo Wen to drop her home safe due to possible riot in the city.

'So who is it?' The tiredness and grogginess were replaced with high alertness due to the intruder. He waited to hear the voice but the person just kept moving till they could reach his upper body.

He jerked up and also sensed the shock of the person. His hand clamped the neck, moving away from him if in case hands were welding any weapons. 

Aarvi almost thought he wasn't Aaron. Since he wasn't adjusted to the faint light, she can't blame him for not recognizing her. She could only blame herself for her carelessness. 

A tear rolled down her eyes, failing to speak a word. The first time he felt his murderous air, the golden hue of his orbs darken and blazing. 

She didn't want to hurt him, if she hurt him and he leaves her neck, she will fall to the floor from six feet so she could only endure the pain of his clutch.

He was ready to strike but felt something amiss. The person is she and her hands weakly tapping his wrist trying to say something, "Aa… Aa…"

His body shook violently at the realization. He quickly moved his hand to her nape, another hand wrapped around her waist, and pulled her to his embrace.

Aarvi was also tired due to the long day and the sudden shock plus attack left her weak in his arms as she coughed due to burning pain around her neck and tears flew down her cheeks.

He had choked her for less than ten seconds, she could hold the breath for more than a minute. But his strong clutch on her neck gushed the pain through her body.

He couldn't believe he inflicted the pain when he always wanted to soothe her from the pain and past. He was angered at him more than anyone could hate him.

He could only sigh for quickly realizing her as Aarvi, didn't hurt her more and she is breathing normally.

Even after she caught hold of herself, Aarvi could still feel his heart pounding and his hands trembling. She discerned he was nervous to face her, or probably frightened at the thought of seeing her fearing him.

Slowly moving away from his arms, Her hands gently cupped his face trying to know his emotions, "I am sorry, I agitated after your long day, I should have turned on the lights and given you heads up. I will be more careful next time."

Aaron didn't utter a word and watched her in the faint light. He could make out she was paled, tear stains, the glaring red mark around her neck, and a slightly hoarse voice.

He felt his throat dry, his heartburn and stomach lurch looking at her state. He wanted to touch her, check on her neck, ask her if it's paining too much but felt suffocated.

His gaze went back to her shimmering black diamond-like eyes that were gazing at him in concern. Despite knowing she was waiting for him to speak, he couldn't bring him to say anything for what he did or respond to her apology.

Aarvi felt bad seeing him remorseful. If she had quietly gone to the Avron mansion, these wouldn't have happened. Standing on her knees, she wrapped her arms on his shoulder.

She gently coaxed him repeating it wasn't his fault and she would have done the same in his place. Then she prepped his face with gentle kisses, it didn't work. 

Then she tried her all to make him normal but he just stared at her as though she was putting on a front to make him feel good by hiding her real emotions.

After some time, she didn't know what else to do and cried, "I don't know how to calm you down. You are exhausted, you need rest. Will you rest if I leave? We will talk in the morning."

She could only come up with that to avoid elevating his guiltiness. She turned around to leave him to rest but his hand finally moved and pulled her to his arms.

She already knew his behavior so he sincerely said, "I am sorry, I will be more careful."

However, Aarvi shook her head in his embrace and said between her sobs, "You should be sorry for troubling me for so long to convince you." She never wanted to be a reason to make him feel guilty.

Aaron again apologized, he wanted to check on her but she stopped him from switching on the lights. 

She still felt a burning sensation around her neck, gulping her own saliva was causing her more pain. So she didn't want him to see and blame himself more. She had endured pain all her life, she can do it again for him.

After making sure he drank the protein shake, they cuddled to sleep.

Aaron faked his sleep.

Who was she trying to fool?

He is a doctor and he is aware of how much it affects being choked. He wasn't only shocked and regretful for his behavior with Aarvi, he couldn't believe she threw back her pain and only focused on him. 

How much did she endure all these years to ignore her such pain?

Talking, gulping and even breathing becomes painful after being choked but there she was behaving she was totally fine when her throat would be killing her with pain.

He wanted to go out to get the medicines for her but she will wake up and force him to sleep repeating she is all fine. Hence, having no choice, he waited for her to sleep.

After silently struggling, she dozed off with deep frowns while her face failed to put her signature serenity but filled with throbbing pain.

He carefully got off the bed and rushed out to hospital medicals. He returned with ibuprofen and warm water.

He didn't turn on the lights afraid of waking her up from sleep. He helped her drink water slowly to soothe her throat before giving her the tablet and some more water. It took little time before she slipped to deep slumber with steady breathing.

Milo Wen hadn't dropped him a message about Aarvi at the hospital. Nor Aarvi did that. If one of them had informed Aaron, this situation wouldn't have raised and she would be totally fine.

He didn't take the lower berth to sleep, without bothering to search for the blankets, he kept her warm in his arms. He mumbled pressing his lips on her forehead, "I am sorry." He too drifted off to sleep.

----

In the morning, at half-past nine.

Naomi looked at her a few times in the front camera of her mobile standing in front of the on-call room to wake up Aaron. The thought of Aaron waking up to see her made her thrilled and bright.