Alicia sighed, her voice trembling as she began. "I’ve loved you since we were in high school, Jeff. That’s why I got so attached to you. But..." She shook her head, meeting his gaze. "You know my deepest secrets. You know everything." Her voice cracked, and tears brimmed in her eyes. "I... I don’t want a charity relationship. I don’t want to feel like you’re just doing me a favour."

She paused, taking a shaky breath. "Then I met Wilson. He seemed kind and caring, so I opened my heart to him while trying to let you go. Those first four months... he completely stole my heart. But I never hated you, Jeff." She glanced at him, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I just fell in love with someone else. And every time I thought about your love for me, I felt guilty." Her voice softened. "But I promised myself, no matter what, I couldn’t accept your love."

Jeff’s voice was almost a whisper. "Because you thought it’d be a charity relationship? Like I was just doing you a favour?"

Alicia nodded, her laughter bitter. "Yes. That’s why I kept pushing you away. But when Wilson showed his true colours, when he changed and became someone I didn’t recognize... and you were always there for me, by my side, like you always were..." She shook her head, laughing through her tears. "I started to feel that same feeling again."

Jeff asked, his curiosity evident, "What feeling?"

Alicia hesitated, then looked at him with glistening eyes. "Love." Their gazes locked, but she broke away first. "And that terrified me, Jeff. I became aggressive because no matter how hard I tried to hate you, I kept..." Her voice broke as fresh tears flowed. "I kept wanting you. I kept loving you. And I didn’t want that feeling anymore."

Jeff's voice was gentle but firm. "Alicia, it was just one incident. And you promised me you’d move on."

"I lied, Jeff," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can’t just move on."

Jeff reached out, his fingers brushing under her chin to lift her face toward his. "Then let me help you heal, Alicia. Give me a chance. This isn’t charity or pity—it’s love. I love you." His voice trembled with emotion. "I love everything about you—your inner self, your outer self. You’re special, no matter what’s happened. And I don’t care about anything else." Tears brimmed his eyes. "Just trust me when I say this: I love you, Alicia."

Alicia broke down, throwing herself into his arms and burying her face in his chest. Hot tears dampened his shirt as his arms wrapped around her, one hand soothing her back while the other gently stroked her hair. She clung to him as though his embrace was the only thing keeping her grounded. Her sobs subsided after a few moments, leaving a quiet stillness between them.

Jeff whispered into her ear. "Better now?" He kissed the top of her head.

Alicia nodded and pulled back slightly to look up at him. Her voice was hoarse but sincere. "I’m so sorry, Jeff."

Jeff chuckled softly, "Sorry? I should be the one apologizing—for not realizing the pain you’ve been carrying, Alicia. I was so focused on my own feelings."

She smiled weakly and cupped his cheeks. "Do you know what I’ve wanted to tell you for so long?" She chuckled, her voice lighter now.

"What?" he asked, his hand covering hers.

"I..." She hesitated, then let out a soft laugh. "I love you, Jeff."

Jeff couldn’t hold back his tears any longer. They streamed down his face as he laughed, pulling her closer. His lips met hers in a gentle kiss, and she responded immediately, wrapping her arms around his neck. Their movements were slow and tender, as though trying to make up for all the lost time.

A sudden knock on the door broke the moment. They pulled apart, their arms still loosely around each other.

"I’m so sorry," a young nurse stammered, bowing her head. "I must have the wrong ward."

Alicia and Jeff turned toward the door, but their brief moment of amusement disappeared when they saw who was standing behind the nurse. The warmth in the room evaporated as Alicia instinctively pulled away from Jeff, her expression guarded.