Chapter 205
Chapter 205
In Gerwulf, Penelope murmured to herself, “Huh? Why did she hang up so abruptly?”
The next second, Theodore snatched the phone from her hand, his voice icy. “You dared to answer my phone?”
Penelope quickly explained, “I’m sorry, Mr. Russell. It kept ringing, and you were in the shower, so I thought I’d help. Besides, isn’t answering calls part of a secretary’s job?”
Theodore’s expression remained stone–cold. “You overstepped. Get out.”
Penelope pouted, putting on a pitiful act. “Mr. Russell, I saw you working late on branch affairs and even brought you supper. Must you be so harsh?”
Though she had a sweet, pretty face, Theodore felt not the slightest flicker of interest. “Don’t make me say it again.”
Forcing a smile, Penelope said, “Fine, I’ll go. Don’t forget to eat, Mr. Russell. If you starve, Mr. Baker will fire me.”
Only when the suite door closed did Theodore finally exhale. His frown eased a bit.
Penelope’s superior, Dylan Baker, hadn’t ordered her to send supper out of kindness. It was just a pretext to deliver a woman to him.
Theodore thought, ‘If these branch executives put half as much effort into actual business as they did into these underhanded schemes, profits would double overnight. Who called me at this hour?‘
He checked the call log. The moment he saw Eliana’s name, his pulse quickened.
He thought, ‘She finally reached out? Ever since I left Covenhill for this trip to Gerwulf, I’ve given her space, leaving the choice entirely up to her–no demands, no pressure. After four days of silence, and now, this call… Does it mean she has forgiven me?‘
In the hospital, the operating room doors swung open, and Isaac was wheeled out. He was still unconscious, and his abdomen was wrapped in bandages. His handsome face was deathly pale now.
Rubbing her sore eyes, Eliana straightened up quickly and
lowed the gurney down to his ward.
The nurses settled Isaac into bed, and the surgeon ordered an assistant, “Put him on the ventilator.”
Eliana watched as they fitted the oxygen mask over his face and started IV lines. She bit her lower lip, feeling helpless. Just then, her phone buzzed in her pocket.
The surgeon glanced over sharply. “The patient needs rest. Keep it quiet.”
“I’m sorry.” Without checking the call, Eliana rejected the call and muted her phone.
The surgeon added, “If the patient shows any signs of distress, press the call button above the bed. The night shift will respond.”
“Thank you,” Eliana said.
“Don’t mention it. I’ve got another surgery to prep/for.” With that, the surgeon hurried off.
Eliana approached the bedside and carefully lifted Isaac’s hand, pressing it on her cheek. “You’d hate seeing me scolded by Mom and Dad, right? Wake up.” A tear slid down his knuckles before she buried her face in his palm, sobbing silently.
Suddenly, a voice called from behind her. “Ellie.”
Eliana’s shoulders jerked. Disbelieving, she turned to see Bernie leaning on a crutch, eyes full of concern.
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13:02 Mon, 23 Jun CD
Chapter 205
Outside Isaac’s room, after guiding Bernice to a bench, Eliana scanned her anxiously. “Bernie, are you alright?
Bernice’s voice was ragged. “Zoey Myers and the others shielded me. They soaked blankets in water, wrapped them around us, and formed a circle, A cough racked her smoke–damaged lungs. “So I’m fine, just….”
Eliana’s heart ached as she looked at Bernie. Tears threatened to spill again, but knowing Bernie was suffering even more, she forced them back. “What exactly happened? How could the Therapy Center suddenly catch fire?”
Bernie shook her head weakly. “I don’t know. By the time Zoey woke me, the flames were already raging outside.
“Outside?” Eliana froze. She had assumed it was a kitchen accident that caused the tragedy.
Bernice nodded, her eyes distant with memory. “Yes. The front entrance was engulfed, so we tried the side door.
“But the windows and every exit were already surrounded by fire. The children were so small, and we were all women. With Isaac… We couldn’t risk it, and we had to wait for the firefighters.”
As Bernice spoke, a horrifying realization dawned on Eliana. “Bernie, do you think someone set fire at night when everyone was vulnerable?”
Bernice frowned, “In all my years running the Therapy Center, I’ve never made enemies. Who could be so cruel as to hurt children?”
Eliana gripped her hand. “We have to demand a police investigation. Isaac, Zoey, and the others, they didn’t suffer like this for nothing.”
“I just went to see Zoey.” Bernice turned away, her voice thick. “The doctors said 30% of her body is burned. he’s a girl, never even been in love, and now she…” She couldn’t finish, hiding her face from Eliana.
Eliana could only silently embrace her. No comfort could heal this, but for now, they had each other.
Theodore made several calls in succession, but aside from the first one Eliana had rejected, the rest went unanswered.
He thought, ‘Did she fall asleep waiting? Or was that call just a moment of impulse?‘
With a sigh, he set his phone down. The incident with Luke had taught him a lesson. If he pushed too hard and ended up blocked by Eliana again in anger, it would only make things worse.
The next morning, Eliana jolted awake by Isaac’s hospital bed. She had kept vigil all night, terrified he might wake up crying if she wasn’t there. Yet the first thing she saw was still his lifeless, pale face.
Just as disappointment settled in, Isaac let out a weak groan. His hands fumbled clumsily, yanking off his oxygen mask before he bolted upright, gasping for air.
“Isaac!” Eliana’s voice trembled with relief. “You’re awake.”
