Chapter 0010

"The reason we struggle with insecurities is that we compare our behind the scenes with someone else's highlight reel." Unknown

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For the first time in months, Eden waited for Olivia in front of the medical faculty. It had been an eternity since they last walked together after classes. Before, they used to go on dates, but after Leo arrived, it all ended. Eden and Olivia weren't going to the theatre or each lunch somewhere. They planned to head to the hospital after they picked up Leo from school.

Eden insisted Olivia visited Harvey to thank him for saving their son from Jack's man. She refused at first, thinking of her upcoming exam as an excuse to escape. Eden cared less about her studies now. The least she could do for their family now is to speak to the man who endangered himself for Leo.

"I'm warning you. I'm not staying a lot at the hospital," Olivia said as soon as she stepped outside the faculty. "I have a lot of things to review."

"I know," Eden nodded as they headed to the bus stop. "I'm just asking you to say thank you. Then, you can leave whenever you want."

"Are you staying with him?"

Eden got on the bus and let Olivia sit by the window as he knew she loved to watch the city during a ride.

"I have to. That's my job," he replied, "After all, I'm his bodyguard."

"What about Leo? I can't bring him to the library."

"He can stay with me," Eden sighed, "Try to finish earlier though. Mr Clarke is getting discharged in the evening, and I have to get him home safely."

Eden and Olivia leave the bus and walk to school. They arrived just in time as the teachers just opened the doors and started helping the kids find their parents in the middle of the crowd.

"Leo!" Eden called when he saw his kid standing with his friends. Leo grinned and told his teacher that his father was there. He ran to him and gasped when he realised his mum was also waiting for him.

"You came both?" Leo asked, his eyes turning brighter with excitement. "You didn't tell me!"

Eden laughed and lifted him to ruffle his hair, "It was a surprise." he said.

Leo grinned and hugged his dad tight. "Are we going to visit Mr Clarke today? I want to see him."

"We're going now," Eden put Leo's little body down and held his hand. "Let's take the bus."

"Aren't we going to buy him flowers?" Leo asked, "I saw people bringing flowers yesterday."

"Should we?" Eden rubbed his chin and looked for a florist around. "I wonder what he likes," he mumbled to himself.

Later, the little family arrived at the hospital and took the elevator. Eden asked Leo to stay calm as nurses didn't like naughty kids around.

Leo insisted he held the bouquet during the entire bus ride as he wanted to be the one to offer it to Harvey. Eden found it quite surprising how his son got attached to his boss quickly. He wasn't expecting him to be comfortable with someone as they didn't have many friends and wasn't used to meeting new people.

Leo only liked Kian, but it looked like he added Harvey to his list of favourite adults.

"Mr Clarke!" Leo ran to Harvey as soon as he opened the door.

"Here you are!" Harvey grinned and patted his bed so that he could join him. "You brought me flowers?"

"For you!" Leo offered him the bouquet of alstroemerias. "Dad picked them."

"Did he?" Harvey smirked at Eden, but his smile immediately faded when he saw the woman following him inside the room. She was petite, with soft dark hair and light makeup on her face. Her lips were red and glossy, and the eyeliner on her lids highlighted her brown eyes. She was beautiful.

"This is my wife, Olivia," Eden put his arm around her shoulders, making Harvey gulp. "She wants to say something," he added, looking at Olivia.

Olivia nodded and smiled at Harvey. "Thank you for saving our little Leo. I don't know what could have happened if it weren't for you, sir."

Harvey's chest tightened as her voice sounded sweet and elegant. No wonder Eden fell for her, he thought. He gave her a small smile and shook his head, "It's alright. Anyone would have done the same. Plus, Leo is my friend, and I can't let someone hurt him."

Leo walked to his parents and hugged both their legs. Eden smiled and ruffled his hair while Olivia looked at him with a smile. Harvey lowered his head as he couldn't watch them. Seeing the three of them so happy and connected ached his heart.

"Mr Clarke, mummy is a doctor. She can heal your leg." Leo said, interrupting his thoughts.

"I'm not a doctor, yet," Olivia nervously chuckled.

"You're a med student?" that was it for Harvey. Olivia had the whole package of a perfect woman. She was pretty, had a nice voice, and a medical student.

"Yes, and for that, I have to leave now as I have to study for an exam." Olivia looked at Eden, who nodded, signalling that she could leave.

Olivia shook Harvey's hand and thanked him again before she left the room, leaving him with her husband and her son.

"We need to talk." Harvey told Eden, who looked at Leo and said, "Do you know there is a playing room on this floor?"

"Really?!" Leo widened his eyes, "Can I go play?"

Eden nodded, "But don't go anywhere else."

"Don't worry, there are nurses there," Harvey reassured.

Leo left them alone in the room, and Eden took a seat on the edge of the bed.

"You owe me an explanation," Harvey crossed his arms, "Who was the man from yesterday?"

Eden cleared his throat and stayed silent for a moment as he organised his thoughts. He then looked at Harvey and said, "Years ago, I borrowed money from a loan company." he pressed his lips tight, "We had Leo at an early age, and we didn't have money to take care of him. I took a loan to get us an apartment and all the things we would need to raise Leo."

"What about your parents?" Harvey lifted a brow.

"My parents barely take care of themselves, and Olivia's parents aren't the best of people." Eden sighed and looked down as he remembered the time they wanted to take Leo away from them. "I had no choice but to borrow money. I have been paying them back each month, but lately, Olivia got admitted to the hospital after an asthma attack. I had to take care of the medical fees and didn't pay them back on time."

"That's quite messed up," Harvey mumbled as he looked at Eden with concern. "Did you borrow a lot?"

Eden slowly nodded, "A lot, yeah."

"I see." Harvey hummed and looked around as he thought of something. Then, he took a breath and looked at Eden. He was wearing their school uniform, which Harvey thought suited him perfectly. His side profile was no joke. His jawline was sharp, and Harvey found trouble looking away.

"Is there a way I can help?" he asked.

Eden hesitated for a long moment before he nodded, "I was planning to come to you before the incident. Of course, I cannot ask a lot from you, but I wish you could at least help me pay them this month."

Harvey watched Eden speak with a smile as he didn't dare look at his eyes. He was nervously playing with his fingers and looking down.

"Of course I can help," Harvey said.

"I will pay you back next month."

"I don't want money though," Harvey pouted, and Eden finally looked at him. "Is there any way I can return the favour?"

Harvey hummed, "There is. You can pay with your body." he smirked. Eden froze and looked at him with surprise as he wasn't expecting him to say such a thing.

"My... My body?" Eden gulped, "I don't think it's going to be possible." he ran his fingers in his hair and looked away again.

Harvey watched him get all nervous and agitated, and he exploded with laughter. "You should look at your face," he snorted. "You're flustered."

Eden didn't say a word, nor did he try to look at him.

"I'm just joking, you know?" Harvey chuckled, "You don't have to pay me back with your money or your body. Not that I would complain about the latter." he winked.

Eden faked a laugh, and Harvey saw him sigh from relief. "Thank you, sir."

Harvey nodded, and silence reigned around the room for a couple of minutes. He kept looking at Eden and thought about the things he just told him. It must be tough to take care of a family as a university student with no stable job. He admired him for not giving up despite all the hardships. Eden must love them a lot.

"She's beautiful," he cleared his throat, and Eden looked at him with confusion. "Olivia, I mean."

"Oh," Eden pressed his lips, "She is, indeed."

Harvey gulped, "You look happy and in love." he said in a small voice. "I can't say I'm not jealous."

Eden lifted his head and looked at him. His honesty caught him off guard.

"She has you and Leo," Harvey added, "I wish I was her."

"What... What are you saying?" Eden scrunched his brows.

"Nothing." Harvey gave him a small smile and looked away.

Kian arrived in front of the mansion and unlocked his phone to check if it was the same address Eden texted him earlier. His friend skipped the afternoon class as he needed to help Harvey get discharged from the hospital. Kian was here to hand him his notes so he could review them during the night.

Kian told the maids he was looking for Eden, and they led him to the main hall. He gasped at how big the house was and understood why Eden refrained from his complaints despite his busy schedule.

He stood by the stairs as he waited for the maids to call Eden, who was in the young master's room. He saw a group of black-suited men head toward him, and he guessed they were the bodyguards. He thought his friend would be with them, but he was wrong.

"Who are you?" a deep voice surged from the group, and soon appeared a dark-haired man. Judging from how the bodyguards made way for him, he guessed he was their leader. His cold eyes and his confident stature also proved his high position.

"I'm waiting for Eden. I need to hand him some notes."

Grayson frowned and looked at the maids, "Why did you let him in?" he coldly asked.

"Come on," Kian chuckled, "I'm not here to kill anyone. I'm just here for my friend."

Grayson ignored him and nodded to his men, "Check him."

Kian yelled when two bodyguards grabbed his arms and started searching in his pockets. "What the hell are you doing?! This is a violation! This is assault!"

"Nothing to report, sir," the bodyguards let him go and went back to their positions.

"Are you serious?!" Kian approached Grayson, "You have no right to ask them to touch me!"

"I have," Grayson lifted a brow, "As long as you're inside this mansion."

Kian scoffed, "Bullshit."

"Now, wait for your friend outside."

"No way. It's freezing outside. At least it's warm here."

Grayson clenched his fists and took a deep breath to calm down. "I don't like to repeat myself. Wait outside."

Kian crossed his arms and walked closer until they were only centimetres apart. He was the same height as the fierce bodyguard, so he could look straight at his feline eyes. "Listen, Grumpy. I'm just going to be here for a few minutes. I will hand Eden his notes and get the hell out of here. Capito?"

"G—Grumpy?" Grayson looked at him with disbelief, "How dare you? You don't get to call me this way!"

Kian smirked and shrugged, "Oh, I don't care," he approached his face and whispered, "Grumpy."

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