Kevin and Marcia chatted outside the hospital room for a bit. Upon hearing that Elijah's phone was unreachable, Kevin looked surprised. "He's not still mad, is he?"
Marcia shook her head, equally worried. "I'm not sure. Anyway, Kevin, I'm thinking of taking a few days off to stay with Claire at the hospital. If he hasn't seen my text, could you talk to him when you get to the office? Please?"
"Don't worry, I'll head over now. Don't stress. Eli's just being like this because he cares about you."
Marcia smiled weakly. "Thanks, Kevin. I really appreciate you helping out today."
Kevin looked at her with an unamused expression, but she quickly added, "I won't say more, I promise. You should get some rest."
He nodded and advised, "You should get some rest too. You don't look well. If you end up sick, who's going to take care of Claire?"
"I'm fine! I'm fine!" Marcia straightened up and smiled at him, trying to look more energetic.
Kevin seem
She couldn't help but blurt out, "What are you doing here?"Myron tilted his chin up. "Isn't someone sick? I came to check on her."Marcia froze. "Who's sick?""Claire, of course." Myron said it as though it were the most obvious thing. He took the hot water kettle from Marcia's hand and opened the door on his own. "Kevin sent a message. We have a group chat. It's where we arrange our gatherings and nights out. Didn't you know?"Marcia thought to herself that whether or not she knew wasn't the point!The real question was—why was he here, with Claire in the hospital? She glanced down at the bouquet in his hands: pink roses, Claire's favorite!This made Marcia even more confused. As far as she knew, these two had barely spoken to each other, let alone had any connection. Claire and Myron barely exchanged a word."How did you know to visit Claire? And these flowers..." she trailed off."They're pink roses. Aren't they beaut
While everyone was anxiously concerned about Claire's health, Alan was growing increasingly frustrated.The banquet last night, which he had hoped would leverage Elijah's name to boost Clearvista's image and attract more investors, had only backfired, making things worse.It wasn't uncommon for rumors of scandals to circulate in the business world, but the way this one had played out was far too damaging.The company's image had taken a major hit, especially since many of Clearvista's projects were tied to government contracts.Under the intense pressure from Azure, three projects that Alan had been in talks with had suddenly evaporated overnight.With a grim expression, he slammed the phone down, his anger and frustration building up with nowhere to release it."Elijah! This is all your fault!" he yelled, slamming his fist onto the desk with a thud.The secretary, who had been about to knock on the door, hesitated when she heard his
At the hospital, Marcia managed to hold on until Claire was out of danger before finally passing out.Before closing her eyes, the only thought in her mind was that the nurse from yesterday was right—Jeff was truly incredible. His medical skills were exceptional, he was a real lifesaver!Thanks to Jeff's timely arrival, Claire's fever subsided by evening. When Jeff declared that "the patient is out of danger," Marcia and Myron almost hugged each other in relief.While waiting for Claire to regain consciousness, Marcia offered her a little water. But before Myron had even realized what was happening, Marcia collapsed. After another chaotic scene, she was moved to the adjacent bed. As soon as Jeff had left the room, he was called back in.Standing over the unconscious Marcia, Jeff took his time with his stethoscope, listening carefully before turning to Myron."She didn't faint," Jeff explained.Myron was anxious. "Then what happened to
Elijah's face darkened even more when he heard the beeping sound on the other end of the phone again.He knew Myron was doing this on purpose, but as he scrolled through the photo Myron had sent him, worry gnawed at him.Although he had figured out Alan's scheme and canceled his trip to London last night, the matter was far from resolved. Elijah couldn't relax.London was home to Sin Group's core technology, and while Alan wasn't particularly smart, he was underhanded and ruthless.On top of that, his father had been urging him nonstop, so Elijah had booked the earliest flight to London. That meant he missed Marcia's call.When he landed, his father, Louis, personally picked him up. Elijah didn't even have a chance to check his phone. By the time he found out about Marcia's condition, it was already noon.Now, Elijah sat in a conference room, listening to the marketing department's profit report. The board members had gathered around him, and sitting directly across was his father, Lo
As Myron carried the takeout bag toward the hospital, a chill ran down his spine.He rubbed the back of his head, glancing at the ominously shadowed hospital looming in the night. Muttering under his breath, he said, "Damn it, this better not be some bad omen."Quickening his pace, he made his way to Claire's ward. By the time he reached the final stretch of hallway, he was practically running.Just as his hand touched the doorknob, a wave of relief washed over him—but before he could twist it open, a light tap landed on his shoulder."Aaaahhh!"Myron let out a startled scream, drawing the attention of a nearby nurse, who immediately rushed out of the duty room, with Jeff following close behind.Under their puzzled stares, Myron hastily clamped a hand over his mouth, trying to act nonchalant. He let out an awkward laugh. "Oh, uh, I thought the hallway lights were voice-activated!"Across from him, Elijah stood silently, a faint, amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips. His sil
Marcia inhaled the familiar scent beside her, momentarily unsure whether she was dreaming or awake.It felt like one of those dreams where she was back in the hospital, with Elijah by her side, taking care of her.She rubbed her eyes, sat up, and saw Claire smiling at her from the bed across the room. Marcia blinked, still a little dazed."Patricia! You're finally awake! Are you hungry? I had breakfast sent over," Myron's voice broke through her haze, pulling her firmly into reality.And then she saw him. Elijah was lying right there beside her, very real.Unable to resist, Marcia reached out to touch his face. She wanted to say something, but a joyful laugh escaped her instead, her eyes curving into crescent moons filled with happiness.Her expression was enough to make both Myron and Claire burst out laughing."Patricia, don't take advantage of him while he's asleep!" Myron teased. "Just kick him off the bed already. Men always get lazy after they're married! We're all awake, and he
"Claire, the discharge procedures are all done. Once Eli gets here, we can leave," Marcia announced, waving the payment receipt in her hand with a bright smile.Claire, sitting on the bed folding clothes, looked up and grinned. "Finally! I was starting to feel like I was growing roots in this bed and might sprout mushrooms!""You're exaggerating!" Marcia chuckled. "Alright, don't move. Let me take care of the packing."As Claire got up and moved toward the cabinet, Marcia quickly stopped her, guiding her back to the couch. With a gentle but firm tone, she scolded, "The doctor said that while the baby is stable now, your health is still delicate. You need proper rest! Leave all this to me. And stop overworking yourself. Your boss is terrible! Not even a visit, just endless calls asking you to return to work. What a bloodsucker!"Claire sighed helplessly. "Jobs for women are hard to come by these days. All bosses are the same. If you're not creating value for them, why would they pay yo
Marcia's face was flushed with embarrassment.She opened her mouth to explain but couldn't find the words. In a panic, she glanced at Elijah for help, but he simply crossed his legs lazily, leaned back against the sofa, and gave her a cryptic smile.At the critical moment, it was Myron who thought quickly. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, he put on a serious face and addressed the group of medical staff at the door. "Oh, the Jeff we were talking about is actually a good friend of ours. What a coincidence—he shares the same name as Dr. Jeff. Please don't misunderstand!"Marcia nodded hastily. "Yes, Dr. Jeff! I wasn't saying your face is square—it's clearly round, not square at all!""Pfft..." Claire had been trying to maintain a neutral expression, but at Marcia's words, she couldn't hold it in.She quickly covered her mouth. "Sorry, I have a sore throat..."Jeff stared at them impassively before slowly walking forward. Marcia instinctively shrank back, only to realize he wasn
Elijah frowned. "Impossible?" He couldn't understand. "But then... how could you? No, we're going to the hospital right now! The doctors I know are far more reliable than him. I've always found him suspicious. Let's get you checked first, then we can talk about this.""Are you not happy that I can conceive?"Elijah shook his head. "How could I not be happy? But I don't trust him. Let's go to the hospital, okay?"He was overwhelmed with joy, but beneath that joy lay deep concern. If Jeff was lying, how would Marcia handle it? He could live without a child, but he couldn't bear to see Marcia fall into despair again.He never wanted to see her cry. That pain would be far worse than not having a child."Eli, sit down first." Marcia dared not let him take her to the hospital—if they found out she had recently lost a pregnancy, things would be disastrous."The surgery two years ago... Jeff was actually the lead surgeon." Marcia watched Elijah's expression darken as her voice unconsciously d
Marcia leaned against Elijah's chest, yet a slight unease crept into her heart.She still remembered Jeff's instructions—no intimacy for a month. But when she stole a glance at Elijah, his brows were tightly furrowed, his expression serious. For some reason, her heart softened again and again."Eli, what are you thinking about?"Hearing the slight anxiety in Marcia's voice, Elijah held her tightly, resting his head against her neck. His voice was low and gentle. "Nothing. I just think... it's really good that you're here.""Myron is really getting engaged? To... that Nancy?" Marcia traced her fingers over his firm arm, feeling a growing sense of security.She wished she could rely on him like this forever."Mm." Elijah's response was muffled, carrying a hint of an unspoken heaviness.Marcia thought for a moment. "His family has a rule that a man can only marry one woman in his lifetime, right? Does your family have a rule like that?"Elijah chuckled lightly and ran his fingers through
Elijah let out a soft sigh and gently pulled Marcia behind him. "What are you doing?"Marcia bit her lip, feeling a bit foolish for her reaction. Why did she assume Hayden would actually come to blows with Elijah?Elijah, standing tall and unwavering, met Hayden's gaze head-on, his expression calm. "To bring Myron back to Liverpool.""Back to Liverpool? If he's taking that woman with him, then what's the point? He might as well not come back at all! Damn it!" Hayden raised his fist but ultimately slammed it against the table instead."Hayden, sit down." Myron's voice was deep and hoarse. He seemed exhausted, yet his expression remained resolute. "I chose to marry Nancy on my own. It has nothing to do with my mother or Eli. I appreciate your concern, but enough with the arguments."He glanced at Kevin and chuckled. "What are you scheming now? Think I'm lying?"Kevin cleared his throat awkwardly. "Not at all. If you say so, then it must be true." He had initially suspected this was just
"Patricia, I thought you two would head straight to the second floor!" Hayden teased with a mischievous grin, taking a sip of his orange juice.Marcia ignored him, her eyes immediately landing on Myron, who sat beside Kevin with a face as dark as ink. At the head of the dining table sat a frail, pale-skinned elderly woman who was scrutinizing her with an assessing gaze.Marcia couldn't help but feel nervous."Auntie, this is Patricia. What do you think? Beautiful, right?" Elijah draped an arm over Marcia's shoulder, grinning proudly.Gloria took a sip of water before smiling lightly. "Hmm, she is beautiful. No wonder you've been so restless, eager to come home!""That's not true! I'm also happy to spend more time with you!" Elijah chuckled, then gently nudged Marcia forward. "Cia, come say hello to Auntie."His eyes were filled with warmth, a look that was second nature to him in front of Myron and the others. But for Gloria, it was the first time witnessing this side of him, and she
Marcia and Elijah walked hand in hand toward the villa. Since it was located in the suburbs, the fresh air was a rare luxury.A cool breeze brushed against Marcia's face, making her instinctively shrink her neck."Are you cold?" Elijah asked, his voice tinged with concern as he pulled her into his embrace. "I was worried you'd feel uncomfortable if we stayed in the car for too long. Looks like I miscalculated again!"Marcia shook her head and snuggled against his chest with a soft laugh. "Not at all. The air is refreshing, and the scenery is beautiful. But how did you know I was feeling restless in the car? Do you have some kind of mind-reading power? That would be incredible!"Elijah chuckled, gently ruffling her hair. "Your nose is all red. You look just like a little bunny. Makes me want to eat you up!"As he spoke, he playfully rubbed her cheeks. When Marcia looked up at him with a smile, he couldn't resist leaning down to kiss her cool lips."Aren't they waiting for us inside? Le
Seeing the two of them like this, Marcia couldn't shake the strange feeling growing inside her. She pulled out her phone to check for any messages from Elijah. The last thing on their chat was a simple "Good night" from both of them. A faint smile curved her lips.She casually snapped a photo of the highway scenery outside the car window and sent it to Elijah.Since it was still early, she hadn't expected an immediate response. But to her surprise, he seemed to have been awake all night—his reply came almost instantly."Already on the road? Are you tired? You should get some rest in the car!"Marcia bit her lip lightly and typed back curiously, "Did you not sleep? I'm not tired. I've been resting at home these past few days.""Hmm, I heard about that. Why are you so lazy and always sleeping?" Elijah chuckled, then added, "Even though I feel bad for you, my love, I'm so happy that I'll see you soon."Seeing him call her lazy, Marcia instinctively glanced at Kevin, who was driving. It h
Ever since that terrible experience, Marcia had developed a subtle aversion to "Calderstones."Elijah had been away for five days now. They spoke on the phone daily—sometimes just exchanging a few words, other times lingering as if they couldn't bear to hang up.The distance seemed to intensify their feelings, making them feel like a couple deeply in love.A call in the early morning. The phone was warm in her hand. Though sadness still lingered in her heart, Marcia felt as if Elijah was slowly healing her, piece by piece.Since her surgery, she had become more sensitive—more reliant on Elijah. She wanted him to return, yet at the same time, she hoped he wouldn't come back too soon. She longed for his embrace but also feared the warmth he brought.Torn between these emotions, her longing for him only grew stronger.Sometimes, as she lay in her empty bed, she couldn't help but imagine what it would be like if he were beside her&md
"He's just a wolf in sheep's clothing," Hayden remarked leisurely, pouring himself a cup of hot water. Watching the steam rise, he smiled faintly and casually asked, "Patricia, did you already know Myron was fine? Otherwise, how could you be in the mood to come out for a meal?"Marcia was momentarily stunned. After a brief silence, she chuckled. "I contacted Eli. Besides, there wasn't much to eat at home. Everyone's had a tough day—it's only right that we treat ourselves to a meal. Why? Do you think there's something wrong with that?"Hayden smirked. "Not at all. Just a funny coincidence." He blew on his cup, took a small sip, and added, "Anyone who didn't know better would think you hadn't been home at all."Shirley shot him a glare. "Hayden, your mindset is all wrong!""Oh?" Hayden raised an eyebrow and turned to look at her.Shirley shook her head dramatically and said with an air of seriousness, "Have you been spending too much time with Demon? You've picked up the nasty habit of
"Did she ask you anything? Or did she want you to do something?" Marcia sat up straight, her tone cold and sharp.Jeff snapped out of his thoughts and replied calmly, "She was curious if you were pregnant. Oh, that reminds me, was she the one at Calderstones that time...?"Before he could finish, he paused, realization dawning on his face. "No wonder!"Marcia stared at him intently. "What did you tell her? Did you take her money? What about Alan? Was he there too?"Jeff shot her a glare. "I'm a doctor. What do you take me for? She's pregnant, and Alan? Oh, you mean that man? No, I didn't see him."Pregnant? A sharp pain struck Marcia's heart. Kate was pregnant again, while she… she had lost her child.Fate was truly laughable. The heavens remained as unfair as ever.Perhaps sensing her hatred too clearly, Jeff coughed lightly and continued, "Alright, stop glaring at me. I'm on your side."Marcia eyed him suspiciously but said nothing.Jeff sighed. "I refused to be her private doctor,