Sixty Seven

CHAPTER 67

Morning light slowly filtered through the hospital room curtains, casting soft patterns on the floor. Inside, the silence served as a steadfast companion to Antonio, who remained seated in his chair. His eyes were fixed on Cassandra, who lay asleep. Her face appeared calmer than the night before, though her pallor had yet to fade completely. Antonio sat motionless, maintaining his position like a tireless sentinel.

Ben stood in the corner of the room, leaning against the wall. His face showed signs of fatigue, yet he remained alert. From the corner of his eye, he observed his employer, who seemed unaffected by the passage of time. While Ben fought off drowsiness, Antonio stayed focused.

“Sir,” Ben finally broke the silence in a soft voice, “it’s morning now. Perhaps you should consider taking a moment to rest.”

Antonio didn’t respond immediately. His gaze remained on Cassandra. After a few seconds, he finally said, “Ben, how many times have you repeated that sentence since last night?” His tone wasn’t angry but firm.

Ben gave a faint smile, though he knew it wasn’t a joke. “A few times, sir. But I’m just trying to help.”

Antonio finally shifted his gaze, locking eyes with Ben. “And how many times have I answered that I’ll rest once Cassandra has fully recovered? I’m not changing my answer.”

Ben nodded slowly. He knew that opposing Antonio’s resolve was a futile endeavor.

A few hours passed, and the soft sound of a knock at the door caused Antonio to turn his head. A doctor entered with medical notes in hand, followed by a nurse. Antonio stood, ready to receive the latest update.

“Mr. Antonio,” the doctor began, “We’ve received additional lab results for Cassandra. No serious complications were found, but we still recommend complete rest for the next few days. Her blood pressure has started to stabilize, but full recovery will take time.”

Antonio nodded, waiting for the doctor to continue.

“We also advise ensuring she gets adequate and consistent nutrition. Additionally, stress factors should be minimized,” the doctor added, glancing at Cassandra, who was still asleep.

“Is there anything else I need to know?” Antonio asked directly.

The doctor shook his head. “For now, no, sir. Her condition is under good supervision. We will continue to monitor her progress.”

“Good,” Antonio replied curtly. “Make sure she gets whatever she needs.”

The doctor and nurse left the room after offering a respectful nod. Antonio returned to his seat, though his expression now appeared slightly more relaxed. However, within him, thoughts about what had caused Cassandra’s condition continued to swirl.

As the day approached noon, Cassandra began to open her eyes slowly. She blinked a few times, trying to adjust her vision to the incoming light. Antonio immediately rose from his chair and moved closer.

“Cassandra,” he said softly. “How are you feeling now?”

Cassandra turned her head, her weak eyes meeting Antonio’s sharp gaze. “I feel... better,” she replied quietly. Her smile was faint, but there was a sense of relief in her expression.

Antonio pulled his chair closer to the bed, ensuring he could hear every word Cassandra said clearly. “The doctor said your condition has stabilized, but you must continue resting. There’s no room for compromise,” he stated seriously.

Cassandra gave a small nod. “I understand. Thank you for... being here.”

“I’m here because I care,” Antonio replied without hesitation. “You need to focus on recovering.”

The room fell silent for a moment. Cassandra tried to lift her hand to reach for a glass of water on the bedside table, but Antonio was quicker. He picked up the glass and helped Cassandra drink.

“Slowly,” he said gently.

Cassandra looked at Antonio with gratitude that was difficult to put into words. In her mind, she wondered whether Antonio’s attentiveness stemmed from guilt or if there was something deeper she had yet to comprehend.

When Cassandra fell back asleep, Antonio walked over to the large window in the room. He partially opened the curtains, letting in more sunlight. From the corner of his eye, he caught his reflection in the glass. The face that was usually firm and unyielding now showed signs of weariness he could no longer hide.

Ben, still standing in the corner of the room, finally approached. “Sir,” he said cautiously, “Have you decided on the next steps?”

Antonio didn’t respond immediately. He continued looking out the window, watching the vehicles pass by on the street below. After a moment, he finally spoke.

“Something doesn’t feel right,” he said quietly, though his tone was firm. “Cassandra’s condition didn’t just happen out of nowhere. I want you to investigate what she was doing before she collapsed.”

Ben nodded. “I’ll take care of it, sir. Is there anything specific I should look for?”

“Find out who she met, what she ate, or anything else that might have caused this,” Antonio instructed. “I don’t believe in coincidences.”

“Understood, sir,” Ben replied before leaving the room quickly.

That afternoon, the atmosphere in the room grew quieter. Antonio returned to his seat, though his mind was busy with various speculations. He knew Cassandra was a crucial part of his plans, and anything threatening her safety needed to be addressed immediately.

When a nurse came in with a light dinner for Cassandra, Antonio helped adjust her position to make her more comfortable. Cassandra, though still weak, began showing signs of recovery.

“You don’t have to do all this,” Cassandra said softly as Antonio helped her eat. “I can manage on my own.”

“You’re not strong enough yet,” Antonio replied. “And I don’t mind.”

Cassandra didn’t respond. She only looked at Antonio, trying to understand the man who always seemed so distant yet now showed such deep care.

After finishing her meal, Cassandra leaned back against her pillows. “Antonio,” she said softly, “I want to know something.”

“What is it?” Antonio asked, his eyes sharp but attentive.

“Why do you care so much about me? I know we have a... complicated relationship, but I never imagined you would go to these lengths.”

Antonio was silent for a moment before answering. “Because I don’t want to lose you,” he finally said, his voice low but filled with sincerity. “You may not realize it yet, but you mean more to me than you think.”

Cassandra fell silent, trying to process his words. For the first time, she saw a more human side of Antonio, one he rarely showed to anyone.

That night, as Cassandra fell asleep again, Antonio continued his vigil by her side. Ben returned to the room with several documents in hand, presenting an initial report from his investigation.

“Sir,” he said softly to avoid waking Cassandra, “I’ve found a few things that might interest you.”

Antonio took the documents and began reading. His expression gradually grew more serious as he absorbed each detail.

“This is just the beginning,” Ben said. “I’ll continue the investigation tomorrow.”

Antonio nodded. “Make sure you gather all the information I need. There’s no room for mistakes.”

Ben gave a slight bow before leaving the room again. Antonio closed the documents and looked at Cassandra, who was still sleeping. In his heart, he vowed to uncover whatever had caused this incident and ensure it would never happen again.