The next morning, I woke up before Xavier in our luxurious hotel room. I quietly got out of bed and made my way to the room's kitchenette, where I prepared a delicious breakfast. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and toasted pastries filled the air, tantalizing my taste buds.
After cooking, I took a few minutes to tidy up the room, ensuring everything was in its place. Xavier still hadn't stirred, so I decided to wake him up, not wanting our breakfast to go cold.
I walked back to the bed, a gentle smile on my face. "Good morning, sleepyhead," I whispered, softly shaking his shoulder. Xavier slowly opened his eyes, his gaze locking onto mine. "Morning," he rasped, his voice husky from sleep.
I handed him a cup of steaming coffee. "Breakfast is ready. Let's eat before it gets cold." Xavier sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and swung his legs over the side of the bed.
After breakfast, Royalty knocked on the door, her usual composure replaced by a look of distress. "It's Elvis... I don't know what's wrong with him," she exclaimed, her voice trembling.
Xavier sprang into action, rushing out of the room to the adjacent suite where Elvis and Royalty were staying. I followed closely behind, concern etched on my face.
Upon entering the room, we found Elvis writhing on the floor, clutching his stomach in agony. Tears welled up in his eyes as he groaned in pain. Xavier swiftly grabbed Elvis's clothes and helped him dress. Then, with a gentle yet firm grasp, Xavier lifted Elvis into his arms and hurried out of the room.
I trailed behind, opening the car door for Xavier. Royalty slid into the back seat beside Elvis, trying to comfort him. I took the driver's seat, noticing Xavier's hands were shaking. His concern for Elvis was palpable.
"Where's the nearest hospital?" Xavier asked, his voice tight with worry.
I quickly programmed the GPS, and we sped off towards the hospital, hoping to get Elvis the medical attention he needed.
We arrived at the hospital, and Xavier carefully carried Elvis inside. Thankfully, the emergency room was nearby, and we quickly checked Elvis in.
The medical staff swiftly attended to Elvis, and we were soon ushered into a private room. Royalty clutched my hand, her eyes brimming with tears. "What if it's something serious?" she whispered.
Xavier stood beside us, his face etched with concern. "We'll get through this together," he reassured us, his voice steady.
As we waited for the doctor's diagnosis, the tension in the room was palpable. We could only hope that Elvis would receive the treatment he needed and make a full recovery.
The doctor finally arrived, a kind-faced woman with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, we'll take good care of him," she said, glancing at Elvis's chart. "It seems he's suffering from severe food poisoning. We'll need to run some tests and administer treatment to manage his symptoms."
Royalty let out a sigh of relief, her grip on my hand easing. "Thank goodness it's not something more serious," she whispered.
Xavier nodded, his eyes never leaving Elvis's face. "We'll stay with him until he's better," he said, his voice firm.
The doctor nodded. "I'll make sure you're kept updated on his progress. In the meantime, please feel free to stay with him. We'll do everything we can to get him back on his feet."
As the doctor left, Royalty turned to me, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm so scared," she whispered. "What if something happens to him?"
I pulled her into a hug, trying to reassure her. "He'll be okay, Royalty. We're here for him, and the doctors will take good care of him."
Xavier stood up, his eyes locked on Elvis's face. "I'll stay with him," he said, his voice firm. "You two go get some rest. We'll keep each other updated."
I nodded, knowing Xavier would take care of Elvis. Royalty and I exchanged a glance, then left the hospital room, our hearts heavy with worry.
As we stepped out of the hospital room, Royalty turned to me, her eyes red-rimmed from tears. "Let's get some coffee," she suggested, her voice shaky.
I nodded, and we made our way to the hospital cafeteria. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped us, providing a small comfort.
We sat down at a quiet table, sipping our coffee in silence. Royalty broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so scared, Eliana. What if he doesn't make it?"
I reached out, taking her hand in mine. "He will, Royalty. Elvis is strong, and he has the best medical care. We just need to stay positive and support him."
Royalty nodded, a small smile on her face. "You're right. I just can't imagine life without him."
I squeezed her hand. "You won't have to. We'll get through this together."
Just then, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen, seeing a text from Xavier. "Elvis is stable," the message read. "The doctor says he'll make a full recovery."
I showed the message to Royalty, who let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness," she whispered.
We sat there for a while, sipping our coffee and talking about everything except Elvis's condition. It was a much-needed distraction, and I was grateful for the chance to support my friend.
Finally, we received a call from Xavier, informing us that Elvis had regained consciousness. I immediately turned to Royalty and said, "Let's go."
We swiftly settled the bill and exited the café, rushing to the hospital to see Elvis. The anxiety and worry that had been building up inside me began to dissipate, replaced by relief and concern for Elvis's well-being.
As we arrived at the hospital, Xavier greeted us, looking visibly relieved. "He's stable now," he assured us, leading us to Elvis's room.
Upon entering the room, I was met with the reassuring sight of Elvis sitting up in bed, sipping water. Royalty hurried to his side, embracing him warmly.
"I was so worried about you," she whispered, tears of joy welling up in her eyes.
Elvis smiled weakly, his eyes locked on Royalty. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to scare you."
I stood at the foot of the bed, observing the tender moment between Royalty and Elvis. Xavier stood beside me, his expression serious.
"What happened?" I asked him quietly.
"The doctor thinks he was poisoned," Xavier replied, his voice low and concerned. "We need to investigate further."
My eyes narrowed, determination coursing through my veins. We would get to the bottom of this, no matter what it took.
As Royalty clung to Elvis's hand, relief washed over her face. Xavier, satisfied that Elvis was stable, turned to us. "Royalty, you can stay with him. I'll drive Eliana home."
I smiled warmly at Royalty and Elvis. "Take care, you two. I'll check in later."
Xavier and I walked out of the hospital, the cool evening air enveloping us. As we drove, Xavier asked, "What's the plan for the rest of the evening?"
"I need to see Jason, my little brother," I replied. "He's going on holiday with my godfather in Sky City in three days, and I want to make sure he's prepared."
Xavier nodded thoughtfully. "That's considerate of you. When do you leave?"
"In three days," I replied.
Xavier's eyes sparkled with interest. "Would you like some company on the trip?"
I chuckled. "No, Xavier. You need to stay back and keep an eye on Elvis and Royalty. They need your support right now."
Xavier nodded understandingly. "You're right. I'll make sure they're taken care of."
As we approached my residence, Xavier turned to me. "When will you be back?"
"I'll return a day after dropping Jason off," I replied.
Xavier's expression turned hopeful. "Would you like to stay with me when you get back? We can spend the holiday together."
I smiled, feeling a flutter in my chest. "I'd like that, Xavier."
Xavier's face lit up with a warm smile. "I'll pick you up from the airport on the fourth day. We'll make it a holiday to remember."
As we pulled up to my house, Xavier turned off the engine. "I'll walk you to the door," he said, his eyes locked on mine.
We stepped out of the car, the evening air filled with the promise of new beginnings.
The day of Jason's departure arrived sooner than I expected. As we arrived in Sky City, my godfather insisted that I spend the night at his place. I agreed, happy to have some extra time with him.
That evening, as we sat down for dinner, my godfather mentioned that he was expecting a visitor. I was curious, but I didn't think much of it.
As we finished our meal and the maid cleared the table, I tried to slip away unnoticed. However, a deep, smooth voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Mr. Jones, I didn't know you had a beautiful daughter," the voice said.
I turned to see a tall, handsome man standing in the doorway. My godfather smiled and beckoned me over.
As I approached, my godfather introduced us. "Eliana, meet Mr. Damien. He was your dad's business partner and close ally."
I smiled and shook Mr. Damien's hand, feeling a flutter in my chest. He held my hand a bit longer than necessary, his eyes locked on mine.
"I see you're married," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of disappointment.
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief. "Yes, I'm married."
Mr. Damien released my hand, his eyes never leaving mine. "It's nice to meet you, Eliana."
I smiled politely and excused myself, feeling a bit uncomfortable under Mr. Damien's intense gaze.
As I checked on Jason, who was already half asleep, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Mr. Damien's visit was more than just a coincidence.
I called Xavier before bed, and his soothing voice washed away the lingering unease from Mr. Damien's intense gaze. We chatted for a bit, and I felt my heart fill with warmth.
The next morning, I woke up early, dressed quickly, and had a rushed breakfast. I didn't want to miss my flight, so I hurried to Jason's room to say my goodbyes.
After a tearful farewell with Jason, I headed to my godfather's study to bid him farewell as well. However, I was surprised to see Mr. Damien still there, sipping coffee with my godfather.
"Good morning, Godfather. Good morning, Mr. Damien," I said, trying to sound casual.
They returned my greeting, and I noticed Mr. Damien's eyes still fixed on me. I felt a shiver run down my spine.
"I'll be on my way. I don't want to miss my flight," I said, trying to make a quick exit.
My godfather smiled. "Okay, then. Take care of yourself. Mr. Damien seems to be heading in the same direction, so he can drop you off."
I hesitated, feeling uneasy about the prospect of being alone with Mr. Damien. "Oh, no, I replied. The driver will just drop me off."
But Mr. Damien was already standing up, a charming smile spreading across his face. "Don't worry, Eliana. I'll be your driver today."
I felt a surge of discomfort, but I couldn't think of a polite way to decline.
I nodded, trying to play it cool. "Alright then, I'll disturb you with that, Mr. Damien."
As we stepped outside, I noticed four men in black suits guiding a sleek, black car. I thought to myself, "Does he really need all these people guiding him?"
Mr. Damien led me to his car and opened the door for me himself. His driver and bodyguards greeted us, and we drove off with their own car following closely behind.
I felt somehow uncomfortable in the car, but when Mr. Damien looked at me, sensing my discomfort, he said, "Relax, Eliana. I don't bite."
I smiled at him, trying to cover my embarrassment. He started a conversation, asking me about my life in Jai City.
"So, you stay in Jai City?" he asked.
I nodded. "Yes, I stay in Jai City since the headquarters of my company is there. I had to stay at the headquarters."
Mr. Damien smiled. "I stay in Jai City too, but I've been abroad for a year now."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, okay. No wonder I didn't know you."
He laughed lightly. "I guess so."
The conversation flowed easily, but when he mentioned my marriage, I felt a pang of discomfort.
"So, I heard your marriage is a contract marriage," he said.
I regretted getting into the car, wondering why my godfather would mention that to him. I thought to myself, frustrated.
But I quickly regained my composure. "Well, it was a contract, but not anymore," I replied confidently.
Mr. Damien studied me for a moment and said, "It seems I was late."
I looked at him confused. "Late for what?" I asked.
Mr. Damien's expression turned serious. "When you needed a husband, your godfather called me, but I was stuck with something at that moment."
I felt a shiver run down my spine, unsure of what to make of his words.
Luckily, we arrived at the airport, and we said our goodbyes. As I stepped out of the car, I felt a sense of relief wash over me.
"Thank you for the ride, Mr. Damien," I said, trying to sound polite.
Mr. Damien smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Anytime, Eliana. Take care."
With that, he drove off, leaving me to wonder about the true nature of his intentions.