Chapter 7 - Held Responsible

Up close, Red could see Emerald's nervous fidget while seated on the bench outside the emergency room.

Self absorbed, Emerald wasn't aware that Red was closely observing her. 

Unable to hold back, Red opened his mouth to speak out his observation. "It seems that you and my cousin have known each other." 

Emerald snapped back from her musing, abruptly turned her head so that it hurt her neck a little. 

"Nonsense, I don't know him," Emerald just hoped Red would believe her and ask no more questions. 

"The way you called his name felt like he's someone close to you and why did you cry?" Red couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something between Clayton and Emerald. 

"I was the one who ordered the food. And if he died, who would be held responsible? The time his life ends, so does my career. Do you understand it?" Emerald stood up, feigning anger so as not being interrogated again.

Comparing the two cousins, Red and Clayton both are good looking men but Red was inferior when it comes to masculine aura. Clayton's aura commands respect and attention. 

Red couldn't help but worry that Emerald will be drawn to Clayton. 

To know that Emerald was acting like that was because her career was in the line if ever something will happen to Clayton consoled him greatly. 

Half an hour later, Clayton was brought to the private ward. 

Emerald restrained herself from asking the doctor so as not to arouse Red's suspicion. 

"He had an allergic reaction to sesame. Good thing you have brought him to the hospital right away, if not you'll be widowed," the doctor gently patted the pale faced Emerald. 

"She isn't his wife," Red unhappily corrected the doctor. 

The doctor's lips twitched and looked at Emerald knowingly.

"I didn't know that he was allergic to sesame and I was the one who chose food for our group," Emerald explained to clear the air. 

"Oh, sorry," the doctor said and left. 

"Did you know he had an allergy?' Emerald asked Red, her eyes trained on the unconscious man whom she nearly killed accidentally. 

Red was nervous as he screwed up. If he didn't persuade Emerald to order for Clayton he wouldn't have almost lost his life and end up in the hospital. 

Red was to reply to her query when Shannon barged into the room. 

Shannon strode and stood at the bedside. "What happened to him?" 

Red rolled his eyes as Shannon acted like his cousin's girlfriend. "A friendly advice for you. Stop whatever silly thing you have in mind. You could never get my cousin's attention as his heart belongs to someone else."

Red caught wind about Clayton's relentless search for that woman. Paying a hefty amount just to find her. However, Red had no idea who the woman was. 

Emerald thought it was Lizzy who Red was talking about and felt a dull pain in her heart.

'Even Red knew that Lizzy's position in Clayton's heart was irreplaceable.' 

Later, Red had to leave as there were things he needed to attend to, leaving only Emerald and Shannon in the private ward. 

"You should have been careful when you ordered food and asked him if he had allergies. You were so careless," Shannon put all the blame to Emerald. 

Emerald didn't retort as it was useless explaining to a blockhead. She knew that this girl is stupid but only let her join the pit team because of Shannon's cousin Jonas who was part of the pit team. 

Seeing that Emerald would not retort, she opened her mouth to give her a piece of her mind but a cold and harsh voice halted her from spitting nonsense. 

"It wasn't her fault," Clayton was furious at Shannon as she scolded Emerald and acted as if they were close.  

"But she almost killed you. Clayton, you must let her pay for her mistake," Shannon countered boldly. 

Emerald looked down successfully concealing her smirk. 

This woman is ridiculous. She doesn't know her place, acting like she's Clayton's woman. What gave her that courage? 

"Who are you to decide for me? Get lost!" Clayton was so livid that the veins in his forehead and neck bulged. 

How could he let someone who was a complete stranger to him scold his woman?

Scared of him, Shannon walked away from the bed and grabbed 

Emerald's wrist.

She wouldn't allow Clayton to be with Emerald alone in the private ward. 

"Stay with me, Emerald," Clayton's voice was pleading a complete opposite of his tone when he talked to Shannon harshly. 

Guilt stricken, Emerald couldn't refuse him. She pulled her hands from Shannon's grip, making Shannon glare at her and stomped her way out of the room. 

"Why didn't I know that you have an allergic reaction to sesame?" Emerald asked after a long silence. 

"The allergy developed as my immune system dropped after our divorce," Clayton wanted her to know that he wasn't living well when she left. 

Life was so unfair, after all she did taking care of him, she was discarded like trash. While Lizzy who obviously had not taken care of him was treasured by him.

Emerald's chest tightened and started to play on her phone to deaden the pain.

Seeing that Emerald didn't want to talk to him, Clayton kept mum and watched Emerald play.

At night, the butler was stunned to see Emerald in the private ward. 

He smiled politely and placed the food on the coffee table.

"Thanks, I'll feed him," Emerald said to Mr Hodge. 

While being fed by Emerald, Clayton was ecstatic and a euphoric heat swarmed in his chest.  

Clayton knew that she was doing  it out of guilt but he couldn't care less as long as Emerald was by his side. 

Late in the night while Clayton was sleeping. 

"Emerald help me, I am in Donavan's Bar, please!" Shannon's voice was trembling.

Emerald didn't take to heart what Shannon told her in the afternoon and went to the bar to help Shannon but Shannon wasn't there. 

Due to exhaustion Emerald went home and didn't go back to the hospital to accompany Clayton. 

Early in the morning Emerald went back to the hospital with the breakfast she prepared for Clayton.

Slowly she opened the door and was stunned to see Shannon lying beside Clayton.