Elena stopped abruptly, causing Rico to halt as well.
She leaned her head against his back, her body trembling as she finally let the tears she had been holding back fall freely.
Her heart ached, missing her father deeply, the weight of her emotions crashing down all at once.
Rico, sensing her distress, didn't move or say a word, giving her the space to release the pain she had buried for so long.
Damien re-entered the hall just in time to see them.
His chest tightened painfully, guilt washing over him as he saw Elena's fragile state.
"Hey," Vivian's voice pulled him back to the present, her hand gently touching his arm.
He turned his attention back to his wife, momentarily shaking off the turmoil inside him.
With a forced smile, he walked away from the sight of Elena and Rico.
As the night continued, the laughter and conversations of the party guests filled the room, oblivious to the turmoil in Elena's heart.
The music played softly, but Elena's world was far from calm.
She was startled when her phone buzzed in her clutch.
Glancing down, she saw it was a call from her mother's nursing home.
A wave of dread washed over her as she answered the call, her hand trembling.
"Elena Grey speaking," she said, her voice tight.
"Ms. Grey, your mother's condition has worsened," the voice on the other end informed her.
Panic surged through her, and without a second thought, she dashed out of the venue, her heels clicking rapidly against the marble floor.
Her mind raced, fear gnawing at her insides.
Damien, who had been watching her from a distance, saw her bolt and immediately grew concerned.
His eyes scanned the hall for Rico, but the man was nowhere in sight. Without thinking, he followed after her.
"Elena!" Damien called, catching up to her as she ran out of the venue, tears streaming down her face.
"My mom," she whimpered, her voice breaking as she stumbled.
Damien caught her just as she collapsed into his arms. Her body trembled uncontrollably, her hands clutching his suit jacket.
Damien wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly, his heart pounding with concern.
"It's okay, I'm here," he whispered, his heart breaking for her. He stroked her back gently, wishing he could ease her pain.
Unbeknownst to them, a paparazzi standing nearby spotted the scene.
Recognizing Damien, the man quickly pulled out his camera and snapped a few shots of the two embracing.
He grinned to himself as he reviewed the photos. "Perfect," he muttered under his breath. "This is going to be front-page news tomorrow."
Damien held Elena a little longer before gently asking, "What happened?"
Elena sniffled, still trembling in his arms. "I got a call… from my mom's nursing home. They said she's sick, and… I need to go."
"I'm so sorry," Damien said, his voice soft as he tried to comfort her. "Let me take you to her."
She nodded weakly, and without another word, Damien led her to her red convertible.
He opened the passenger door for her, and once she was inside, he slid behind the wheel, determined to get her to her mother as quickly as possible.
The drive was long and tense.
Damien glanced at Elena every now and then, his concern growing as she remained silent, staring out the window.
Her face was pale, and her hands trembled as they rested on her lap.
Eventually, they arrived at the mental hospital where her mother had been staying.
It was located on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by tall trees that seemed to cast eerie shadows in the dim moonlight.
The air was cold, and the wind howled through the empty parking lot.
The hospital itself loomed ahead, a large, old building with dimly lit windows. The neon sign flickered slightly, casting an eerie glow over the entrance.
Damien parked the car and helped Elena out, their footsteps echoing in the stillness as they hurried toward the hospital's entrance.
The hospital was quiet, save for the occasional murmur of nurses and the distant hum of machinery.
"Alice Grey?" Elena asked the nurse at the reception, her voice shaky.
The nurse glanced at the screen and nodded. "She's in surgery, but don't worry, it's nothing serious. She should be out soon."
Elena let out a sigh of relief, leaning against the counter for support.
Damien gently placed a hand on her back, guiding her to the waiting area. "She's going to be fine," he said softly, trying to comfort her.
They sat in silence for what felt like hours, though it was only a few minutes before the doctor stepped out.
Elena shot to her feet, practically running to him.
"Doctor, how is she? How's my mother?" she asked frantically.
The doctor smiled reassuringly. "She's fine. She had a small fall and cut herself, but it's nothing serious. Just a few stitches. She'll be out soon."
Elena let out a deep breath, relief washing over her. She hadn't even realized she had been holding her breath the entire time.
The doctor's eyes shifted to Damien, who was standing behind Elena. "Ah, this must be your husband," he said with a friendly smile, extending his hand to Damien.
Damien's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the word "husband."
He shook the doctor's hand firmly, his mind reeling at the idea. It wasn't true… but the thought of it filled him with a strange, unfamiliar warmth.
After a while, Alice was transferred to a common ward.
Her head was wrapped in a bandage, but she was awake and smiling when Elena entered the room.
"Mom," Elena said softly, sitting beside her mother's bed. She gently took her mother's hand, her voice turning into a nagging but affectionate tone. "I told you to be careful, didn't I?"
Alice chuckled softly, squeezing her daughter's hand. "I'm fine, baby. Just a little tumble."
Her eyes flicked past Elena and landed on Damien, who was standing by the door. She raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on her lips. "And who is that handsome young man?"
Elena turned to look at Damien and smiled.
She stretched out her hand for him to come closer. He hesitated for a moment but then took a small step forward, taking Elena's hand in his.
She pulled him closer to her mother and introduced him. "Mom, this is Damien… my boyfriend."
Damien's heart skipped again, but this time, it was a thrill that shot through him. He hadn't expected her to say that, but the words felt right.
He squeezed Elena's hand gently, his eyes soft as they met hers. Maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something new.