Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Unexpected Arrangement

LEONARD’S POV:

My nerves were completely active, ready to indulge in aggressiveness. I slid my phone into my pocket and sat on a nearby chair. Beads of sweat gathered on my forehead as my thoughts swirled uncontrollably.

I still couldn’t believe what was happening. Why would Aaron do such a thing? What was his motive? Who had sent him? How many more enemies does Evelyn have to face?

These questions looped in my mind, my head buried in my hands. But one thought stayed longer than the rest—I had to find out what Aaron wanted.

Aaron was known to be a good guy, according to Evelyn who would always stand by students who got bullied back at school.

He was a senior prefect who considered everyone.

What happened now and who sent him.

 They did have a relationship together with Evelyn so why would he even want her to lose. But time will tell soon.

I concluded.

I stood abruptly, deciding to check on Evelyn. Walking through the hallway toward her room, I passed a sign that read EMERGENCY UNIT, and a pang of guilt washed over me. For the first time, I felt like I hadn’t done enough to protect her. Maybe I should have hired more guards.

This was supposed to be a happy day for her, but my carelessness had cost her health.

Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly collided with something hard. The impact jolted me, and I paused, realizing I’d bumped into a pole along the path. I quickly adjusted myself, looking around to ensure no one had seen the embarrassing moment. Relieved to find I was alone, I hurried to Evelyn’s room.

Inside, she lay still on the bed, her father sitting beside her, his eyes fixed on a spot. Following his gaze, I noticed he was staring at the heartbeat monitor.

I turned my attention back to Evelyn. She looked so peaceful—too peaceful to deserve everything she was going through. I vowed silently, This won’t last long. I’ll make sure of it.

It had been six or seven hours since we arrived, and she still hadn’t regained consciousness. Fear streamed through my body, but I clung to hope. She would be fine. She had to be.

I approached her father and excused myself from the room. Walking back to my car, I decided to get food for him. Even though I had no appetite, I figured he must be hungry.

After picking up food and drinks from a nearby restaurant, I drove back to the hospital. As I stepped out of the car, my phone rang. It was Alex. My heart thudded as I answered, unsure of the reason for his call.

“Alex, what’s happening?” I asked impatiently.

“Someone just walked into the house, and I think she looks suspicious,” he replied, his tone uncertain.

I was instantly irritated. “Alex, what do you mean you think she looks suspicious? Don’t you know when someone is suspicious?”

“Who is the person?” I asked, trying to rein in my frustration.

From his description, I was almost certain it was Dana. I instructed him to keep an eye on her and hung up.

Returning to Evelyn’s room, I overheard her father talking as I entered. “He’s been here the whole time, just stepped out now. I don’t know where he went.”

I shifted my gaze to Evelyn and froze—she was awake. Relief washed over me, and I took a deep breath, resisting the urge to rush toward her.

“How do you feel, Evelyn?” I asked, my voice almost breaking with emotion.

She smiled faintly, though it was clear she was forcing it. “Just some slight pain in my stomach. That’s all.”

“You’ll be fine soon,” I assured her gently.

Leaving her side, I handed the food to her father. He accepted it gratefully and started eating immediately.

Afterward, I urged him to go freshen up since Evelyn was awake. However, he refused. “Leonard, you’ve done so much already. It would be selfish of me to leave you here alone. Thank you.”

I insisted, explaining that work was under control and that I wasn’t leaving the hospital until Evelyn was stronger. Reluctantly, he agreed to step out for a bit.

With that, I went to fetch the doctor. Soon, we returned to her room. The doctor examined her and turned to us with a reassuring expression.

“She’s fine now,” he said, smiling. “She might feel weak due to the turmoil in her system and some mild abdominal pain. I’ll administer a drip for pain relief since painkillers won’t help her at this time. But she’s ready to go home soon.”

His words filled me with immense relief. I glanced at Mr. Wyatt and saw the joy evident on his face.

Evelyn had drifted back to sleep after our brief conversation. Watching her steady breathing, I thought about how to tell her about Aaron. I wasn’t sure if it was the right time to share such news, but she had a right to know.

Hiding it might jeopardize her trust in me. No matter how painful, I needed to be transparent. But I had to ensure she was strong enough first.

My thoughts were interrupted by the buzzing of her phone. None of us reached for it until it rang a second time. I picked it up from her bag and saw the caller ID—Caleb.

Instead of answering, I sent a text: “Hey Caleb, the party has been canceled. I’m not feeling well and can’t accommodate anyone right now.”

I didn’t know why he was calling, but I was too furious to care. I sent the message and placed the phone back in her bag.

“Leonard,” Evelyn called softly. Her voice was unmistakable.

I turned to her and walked closer. “Yes?”

She smiled weakly, her voice low. “Thank you for everything.”

Her gratitude touched me deeply, but I couldn’t find the words to respond. I simply nodded and stayed by her side, vowing to protect her no matter what.