Chapter 16: Sickness
Eira stumbled through the front door, her eyes blurred, her body ached in strange, sharp stabs.
Her hand pressed against her stomach as a wave of nausea hit.
She barely made it a few steps inside when her body lurched, and she vomited, feeling the harsh, metallic taste of blood in her mouth.
Her knees gave way, and she crumpled to the floor, her breath started coming in short, shaky gasps.
'Not now…not like this.' thought, squeezing her eyes shut.
Her whole body felt like it was being pulled apart; her pelvis throbbed painfully.
She tried to move but felt too weak, her body started vibrating without any control.
*Weh! Weh!* She vomited blood.
"Please…make…it…stop…please…"
*Weh*
Her thoughts grew foggy as the pain intensified, pulling her into darkness.
When Callian entered moments later, his heart sank.
Eira was on the floor, her pale skin was like snow, a small puddle of blood stained the carpet beneath her.
For a moment, he just stared, stunned, as his heart raced. Then he snapped into action.
"Eira! Stay with me, alright? I'm taking you to the hospital," he murmured, lifting her gently into his arms.
She was light, almost frighteningly so, and he could feel the heat coming from her skin as he hurried out the door.
In the private hospital room, Callian sat beside Eira's bed, watching her with a tense glare as the doctor reviewed her chart.
"Mr. Reed," the doctor began cautiously, "Eira's blood tests show severe anaemia, along with a history of anorexia. This has weakened her immune system. The anaemia has left her extremely vulnerable, and this level of weakness… it's not just a passing illness."
Callian's face hardened, though he kept his expression steady. "How serious is this? How can we fix it?"
The doctor looked at him. "Right now, she needs rest, a strict nutritional regimen, and to avoid any unnecessary stress. Her immune system won't handle much more if she doesn't take proper care."
Callian clenched his fists. Stress? She'd been drowning in stress from his family, her studies, even from him.
It all came back to him, and the anger came back like an old hurricane.
He couldn't let anyone push her to this point again.
The moment the doctor left, he pulled out his phone and called his assistant. "I don't care what you have to do. I need every detail on who leaked those photos. Trace it back to the source. And do it fast." His tone was cold.
He couldn't let this go; whoever had made Eira's life harder was going to regret it.
With one last look at Eira, Callian stepped out to get some food for her, feeling the need to do something, however small, to help.
He'd barely walked down the hall when another person slipped quietly into her room.
The man was dressed in hospital scrubs, his face was partially hidden beneath a cap and mask.
He moved to Eira's side, checking to ensure she was deeply asleep before pulling out a small bag.
Gently, he reached over, grabbing a few strands of her hair and securing them in a bag.
Then, he took a small swab and collected a sample of blood from a bandage on her hand.
Without a sound, he slipped out of the room, vanishing down a corridor.
When Callian returned, he saw Eira's eyes were still closed, her breathing steady.
He set the food on a small table beside her bed, then pulled a chair close and watched her.
He could see the faintest shadows under her eyes, the strain on her face.
She looked so fragile, a side of her he rarely saw, and it stirred something deep within him.
Quietly, he murmured, "Eira… do you even know how much you mean to me?" He shook his head slightly, feeling a bitterness rise. "I don't want anyone else. It's always been you. I wish you could see that."
As if hearing him in her sleep, Eira shifted slightly, her fingers curled around the edge of the blanket.
Callian leaned forward, he placed his hand and made it rest on the bed beside hers.
"You're everything to me," he continued with a softer voice. "I don't know how else to show it, but I'll keep trying. I'll be here, no matter what anyone else thinks."
He let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair. "If only you knew…"
Eira's eyes fluttered slightly, but she stayed asleep, oblivious to his words.
For a moment, he just sat there, watched her, wondering if she'd ever fully understand the depth of his feelings.
"I knew you were going to find me…how could I forget my promise, my brown rabbit…"
He then looked at her finger and noticed blood, "what?" He got up immediately.
He grabbed his phone and dialled the bodyguards that were supposed to stand at the entrance, "please, look for anyone suspicious…someone took blood from Eira."
"Boss, are you sure? She's in the hospital, and-"
"Yes! I'm sure!" Callian raised his voice, "how dare they?" He gritted his teeth.
"Got it, boss. We will look for anyone suspicious."
He walked out of the ward, two men were already standing there, "perfect," he said. "Watch her, as I'm heading to security."