The soft hum of the air conditioning filled the silent ward as Ethan watched over Adrian's unconscious body.
His once-calm demeanor was gone, replaced by a desperate need to do something, anything, to bring Adrian back to consciousness.
Or help Adrian for even a moment if he can...
As if his prayers were heard, Suddenly, the door to the ward creaked open, and the sound of soft wheels rolling across the tiled floor echoed through the room. Ethan froze, his ethereal form hovering near Adrian as his gaze snapped toward the entrance. A voice, familiar yet distant from the past, filled the air.
"Is this how they care for my little brother's wife?" The voice, laced with both concern and disbelief, belonged to none other than Leclair Levidis, Ethan's elder brother.
Ethan's eyes widened as he watched his brother enter the room. Leclair was seated in his wheelchair, as always, his gentle features now drawn into a stern expression. Beside him was his husband, Augustin Devereux, whose calm yet worried face immediately softened as he laid eyes on Adrian.
"Leclair…" Ethan murmured in disbelief. It had been so long since he'd seen his older brother—too long.
Leclair's sharp gaze immediately fell on the figure lying on the floor—Adrian, feverish and unconscious, abandoned without care. He scowled, his normally calm and composed expression darkening with anger.
"Adrian!" Augustin rushed to Adrian's side, kneeling down beside the unconscious boy. He quickly checked his temperature, placing a hand on Adrian's forehead, then feeling for his pulse. A sigh of relief escaped his lips. "He's burning with fever, but he'll be alright. He just fainted. It's probably from exhaustion."
Leclair, however, wasn't as relieved. His hands gripped the arms of his wheelchair tightly, his knuckles whitening. "How could they leave him like this? Where are the nurses?"
Ethan, though still invisible and unheard, felt a deep sense of gratitude as he watched his brother and Augustin tend to Adrian. But his relief was quickly overshadowed by anger—anger at how Adrian had been neglected, abandoned in this ward with no one to care for him. Ethan's hands balled into fists.
Just as Leclair was about to call for help, the door to the ward opened once more, and a nurse hurried in, followed by two others. They looked startled to see Leclair and Augustin there, their eyes widening as they took in the scene.
"Sir," the head nurse began, her tone hurried but placating. "We were told—"
"How long has he been like this?" Leclair's voice cut through the nurse's words like a sharp blade. His normally soft demeanor was gone, replaced by an icy, authoritative tone. "How long has this boy been left here, on the floor, without any care?"
The head nurse faltered, her gaze shifting nervously from Leclair to the unconscious Adrian. "We… we were instructed by Lady Sachel to not disturb the patients in this ward—"
"Lady Sachel?" Leclair's voice grew colder. His eyes narrowed dangerously, and the air in the room seemed to drop several degrees. "You're telling me that on her orders, you abandoned my brother's spouse, left him lying unconscious on the floor, and you did nothing? Is this what you call proper care?"
The nurses shuffled uncomfortably, their eyes darting between one another. One of the younger nurses, clearly frightened by Leclair's demeanor, tried to explain further, her voice trembling. "Sir, we—"
"Silence!" Leclair's sharp command echoed in the ward, causing all of the nurses to flinch. He turned his steely gaze to the head nurse, who stood frozen in place. "You think hiding behind my stepmother's orders absolves you of responsibility? Do you realize the consequences of your negligence?"
Augustin, who had been gently cradling Adrian's head, looked up at the nurses, his voice much calmer but no less firm. "This boy is family, and he is under your care. There is no excuse for leaving him unattended like this."
The head nurse, a middle-aged woman with a strict demeanor, clenched her jaw, trying to maintain her composure. "Sir, we were only following orders. Lady Sachel specifically told us not to intervene unless we were called upon."
Leclair's lips curled into a cold, humorless smile. "And since when do hospital staff take their orders from her? Do you report to my stepmother, or do you have a duty to uphold as medical professionals?"
The nurse opened her mouth to respond but found herself at a loss for words. Leclair's sharp gaze bore into her, making it clear that no excuse would be sufficient.
"Answer me!" Leclair demanded, his voice harsh and commanding. "When did the safety and well-being of your patients become secondary to the whims of outsiders?"
The head nurse flinched, her face pale as she realized there was no defense to offer. She stammered, "I-I apologize, Sir. We didn't mean—"
"Your apology means nothing," Leclair interrupted, his voice seething with anger. "This boy could have suffered serious harm, all because of your negligence. You will answer for this."
The younger nurses exchanged nervous glances, unsure of how to respond. The head nurse, now thoroughly chastised, bowed her head, her voice meek. "Please, Sir, we'll ensure that this won't happen again."
Leclair's eyes narrowed. "You're right. It won't happen again. Because if it does, I will personally see to it that every single one of you loses your position. Now get out of my sight and send in the doctor immediately."
Without another word, the nurses scurried out of the ward, leaving behind the palpable tension that lingered in the air. Leclair's sharp eyes followed them until the door closed behind them.
Once they were gone, Leclair's rigid posture softened, and he looked down at Adrian's unconscious form with a mixture of concern and guilt. "I should have come sooner. I didn't know things had gotten this bad."
Augustin gently lifted Adrian's head and laid it on a pillow. "He's been taking care of Ethan all this time, alone. It's no wonder he's reached his limit."
Ethan watched the scene unfold, his heart aching. He hadn't seen his brother this angry in years. But more than that, he felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Leclair had come.
Ethan moved closer to his brother, his soul still invisible but filled with emotion. "Leclair…" he whispered, knowing his brother wouldn't hear him, but feeling comforted just by being near him again.
Leclair, still looking down at Adrian, sighed heavily. "Mother is up to something. I've been hearing rumors, and now I see the evidence for myself." He glanced at Augustin, who nodded gravely.
"I suspect there's more going on than we realize," Augustin said quietly. "But for now, we need to take care of Adrian. He's not just a victim in all of this. He's family."
Leclair nodded. "Yes. We'll make sure he's safe. And once Ethan wakes up, we'll get to the bottom of this."
The door opened again, and this time, a doctor entered, followed by a nurse carrying supplies. Leclair's expression remained stern as he gestured toward Adrian. "He's burning with fever. See to him immediately."
The doctor nodded quickly, moving to Adrian's side as the nurse began setting up an IV and checking his vitals. Leclair remained silent, watching every movement with hawk-like intensity, unwilling to allow any more negligence.
Ethan lingered by his brother's side, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over him.
It seems that he is finally willing...