Vega opened her eyes when she felt her body was placed slowly on a soft sofa. She pretended to touch her forehead.

"You're awake?" She could hear the warm voice again, very close to her ear.

"Uhm .... who are you?" Vega asked, pretending not to recognize Mischa. She got up and fixed her position on the sofa and looked around. "Where am I?"

"You're in the hotel lobby," Mischa said. "I already called the doctor."

Vega looked around and pretended to be surprised. "Who are you?"

Mischa seemed to wonder whether he needed to tell Vega his identity or not. Finally, he smiled sweetly and sat, crossing his arms on his c.h.e.s.t.

"My name is Mischa Rhionen. I think you have heard of my name," the man said in a friendly voice.

Vega looked at Mischa and nodded. "Ahhh ... Big brother Mischa. What are you doing here?"

"Uhm ... to look after you?" the man asked back. "Uncle Nicolae got something urgent to tend to, so your father asked me to come, and at the same time, he told me to look for a new atmosphere."

"Ahhh ...." Vega nodded. "Then, Big brother Mischa saved me?"

Mischa nodded. "What happened to you? How could you suddenly pass out on the street?"

Vega held her head and pretended to shake it. "I don't know ... my head was very dizzy. Maybe it was the heat. I'm still feeling dizzy right now. Which hotel lobby is this?"

"We are at the Noir Hotel," Mischa said. He glanced around. "I deliberately chose a hotel that is close to your accommodation."

"Ahh .. thank you very much. If you weren't there to catch me, I don't know what would happen to me," Vega said, smiling sweetly. She then tried to sit, but then she faked another pain and g.r.o.a.n.e.d again. Mischa became worried and immediately held the girl's body to lie still.

"Maybe you stumbled on something and had it hit your head. I'd better get you straight to the hospital. The doctor still hasn't come."

He then took the girl in his arms and signaled the hotel concierge to get the car ready.

"Ehh .. I'm fine, seriously," Vega tried to break away from Mischa's arms. If she was really taken to the hospital, the doctor would be able to ensure that the girl was faking her condition. She would naturally feel embarrassed in front of Mischa.

"I don't want to risk anything bad happens you," Mischa said firmly.

The car arrived by the lobby entrance and he carefully placed Vega's body in the back seat. He then sat next to Vega and put her head on his l.a.p. After the concierge closed the door, the driver immediately drove his vehicle towards the hospital.

Vega felt guilty for deceiving Mischa. She did not expect the man to be taking her condition too seriously. But, on the other hand, she also felt happy because she could put her head on Mischa's l.a.p.

Ahh ... Vega, you're so smart, she giggled inwardly.

Secretly she felt amused and worried at the same time because her father's foster son was so protective of her. He was even faster than the two bodyguards assigned to always look after her and Altair.

Vega's mind was still busy trying to come up with excuses to explain her actions when they arrived at the hospital. The man had carried her into the ICU, not even waiting for the nurse to give Vega a wheelchair.

"Sorry, you can't go right in," said the nurse who met them. "This patient needs to register first."

"Who is the attending doctor here?" Mischa asked quickly.

"Dr. Francis, but he is examining patients. Please wait for a moment."

Mischa remained standing where he was, still with Vega in his arms. Now the girl was starting to feel awkward. She did not think Mischa would be this serious!

At first, she just wanted to prank him and show off to her friends how this handsome older man saved her. She planned to confess to him that she was just joking. But now, Vega actually hoped that she was really sick so that she wouldn't have to suffer embarrassment if Mischa caught her lying.

"Big brother... this is too much," Vega said in a low voice. "I'm fine now. Really. I just fell and grazed my skin a little. It's no big deal."

"We cannot take risks," Mischa said firmly.

"Uhm ... seriously. I'm fine."

"I saw you fall, and your heartbeat was very slow," Mischa replied. "As I said, we should wait for the doctor's opinion."

"I'm really fine." Vega tried to get down from Mischa's arms with difficulty. The man's arms were very strong and she had difficulty breaking away. "Ouch .. put me down."

"I can't face your father if anything happens to you," Mischa persisted. His handsome face looked serious and for a moment Vega was blown away. This man is really too handsome, especially when he was worried sick about her.

Ah ... Vega's heart flutter, knowing this handsome man seemed to take her safety seriously. However, she could not imagine how her parents would react if they knew she was in the hospital. Alaric would panic and cause a commotion. This will make her disguise as an ordinary high school student exposed.

Her friends would know who she really was, and Vega really did not want that to happen. Finally, she forced him to put her down.

"Big brother Mischa, please put me down. I'm fine. Please don't let Father know."

"I have to make sure you're okay. We'll wait for the doctor to check you first."

Gosh .. Vega could only massage her temple. She did not know Mischa was so stubborn.

"Ugh ... okay, I confess," the girl finally relented. "I lied. I didn't fall because of the heat. I was faking it. I bet with my friends that I can make you come to me."

Mischa was stunned when he heard Vega's words. His eyes widened and his face looked disappointed. Spontaneously, his arms loosened, and he released Vega so suddenly that she fell to the floor.

"Auwwww !!!" Vega screamed while trying to hold her fall with her hands so it wouldn't hurt too much. "You're so mean!!!"

Mischa was shocked to see the results of his actions and immediately helped Vega get up. "Ah ... sorry, I didn't mean it. You surprised me."

"Now I AM in pain for real!" grumbled Vega. "You must take responsibility ..."

Mischa seemed to roll his eyes. He felt deceived by the teenage girl with a face like an angel but apparently naughty like the devil. "That's your own fault."

"I was guilty of deceiving you when I pretended to fall, but this one is not my fault. You dropped me on the floor. Everyone can be my witness!" Vega immediately got up and asked for the opinion of all patients who were sitting in the waiting room. "You all saw that he dropped me, right?"

The people there nodded.

"Jeez ... young man, why did you drop this beautiful little girl? It must be very painful," said a middle-aged woman while shaking her head.

"Right. You must take responsibility and make up for your deeds," said another woman.

Mischa frowned and was about to refute, but then he saw Vega's face looked tearful.

"Alright, I'm sorry for dropping you because I was shocked." Finally, Mischa relented. "What do you want?"

Vega wiped her tears and nodded. "My b.u.t.t and legs hurt from the fall. I can't walk home. You have to carry me."