Chapter Forty: Test Results

Evelyn's POV:  

As I slowly opened my eyes, I could hear a faint beeping sound. It grew louder as my vision adjusted, and I realized I was in a hospital room. My hand was connected to a drip stand, and my dad sat beside me, his head buried in his hands. I tried to speak, but my voice came out as a whisper.

“Dad,” I croaked, my throat dry.

He looked up, and our eyes met. A tear rolled down his cheek, and his face was etched with concern.

“It’s okay, Dad. I’m fine,” I whispered, trying to sound stronger than I felt.

He took my hand in his and moved closer. “You’ve been unconscious for a while,” he said, his voice shaking. “We were so worried. I’m just glad you’re awake.”

I tried to recall what had happened, but my memory was hazy. Then, like a lightning flash, I remembered. I’d felt dizzy during a meeting, and everything had gone dark. My head felt heavy, as though I hadn’t slept in days.

Just as I opened my mouth to ask Dad what the doctors had said, he mentioned Leonard. He told me Leonard had been with him the entire time and had only stepped out for some air. Before I could ask any questions, Leonard walked into the room.

He didn’t carry his usual aura; instead, he looked calm but troubled, the concern evident in his eyes. When he saw me awake, he gasped, quickly composing himself. He rushed to my bedside, carefully setting down what he was holding.

“How are you feeling?” he asked softly.

I felt a cold sensation wash over me, seeing the pain in his eyes. My own eyes felt heavy. “Just a little pain in my stomach,” I replied, trying to sound brave.

Leonard nodded and took my hand gently. “You’re going to be okay,” he said, his tone reassuring. “We’ll take care of you, Evelyn, until you’re completely fine.”

His words brought me a sense of comfort, and before I knew it, I drifted back into sleep.

When I woke again, Leonard stood by my side, speaking quietly with my dad. I called his name, and he turned immediately, looking intently at me. His concern seemed more concealed this time.

“My dad?” I asked, glancing around the room.

“He’s right there,” Leonard said, gesturing toward a chair opposite my bed.

My dad sat there, appearing more relaxed than before. Just then, the doctor walked in, holding a folder of papers.

“Everything is ready. You’re free to leave whenever you want,” he said with a smile. “But you’ll need to be careful about what she consumes to avoid situations like this.”

The mention of what I’d consumed puzzled me. I couldn’t recall eating anything before the meeting—just a cup of coffee that my dad had prepared for me. Perhaps I’d misheard, I thought, brushing off the confusion.

My dad asked about the bill, and the doctor replied it had already been taken care of. I instantly knew it was Leonard. I gave him a grateful look, and he acknowledged it with a comforting squeeze of my hand.

Soon, we prepared to leave. The nurse removed the drip, and I stood up from the bed, feeling surprisingly normal. As we walked out of the room, my dad held my hand while Leonard walked just behind us, his hand lightly on my back.

To my surprise, we exited through the emergency unit. Was it this serious? I questioned myself in thought, but we kept moving. My dad and I rode together in his car while Leonard followed us, driving separately, until we arrived home.

Back in my apartment, a sense of relief washed over me. It was refreshing to be back. Despite feeling weak, I went upstairs to my bathroom for a warm bath. Leonard and Dad waited downstairs, Leonard’s eyes following me as I left.

Once in the bathroom, the warm water eased my tension. Afterward, I came out of the bathroom, I walked to the mirror to take a look of myself, as I stood in front of the mirror to brush my hair, something caught my attention. The frame around the mirror was broken.

I frowned, taking it down to inspect it. I was certain it hadn’t been broken this morning before I left for work. My thoughts raced. I rushed to the place where I’d hidden my nanocam. Thankfully, it was still there, untouched.

Shaking off my unease, I put everything back in place and went to my wardrobe to pick out something to wear. After dressing, I returned to the living room. Leonard’s eyes were on me, and for a moment, it felt as though he’d been lost in thought.

As I sat beside him, gratitude filled my heart. He had stayed by my side, taking care of me when I couldn’t even take care of myself. He was everything I needed in that moment. But as I looked into his eyes, I saw something that made my heart skip a beat.

There was determination in his gaze—a look that said he wouldn’t rest until he got to the bottom of what had happened to me. I had sensed it before, but now I was certain. Leonard wasn’t going to let this go.

Deep down, I knew I was in for a wild ride, one that might uncover secrets and lies. Danger felt inevitable, but with Leonard by my side, I felt stronger. I was ready to face whatever was coming, as long as he was with me.

“Where are my test results?” I suddenly asked, breaking the silence. “What did the doctor say was the problem?”

Leonard’s expression changed immediately. His face hardened, and he looked away. My dad avoided my gaze entirely, turning his attention elsewhere.

“Can someone tell me what’s going on?” I demanded, my frustration spilling over.

Neither of them said a word.

The silence was deafening, and I could feel the tension in the room. Something wasn’t right, and they both knew it.