Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Stay hidden
The moment Lucas’ voice reached my ears, my body went rigid, and my breath hitched in my throat. They absolutely couldn’t know that I heard everything. My mind was screaming at me to run and hide, yet I remained rooted to the ground, not moving even an inch.
But then I felt warm fingertips wrap around my wrist within the next second, and we disappeared from their line of sight. I knew immediately who it was. I let Rhys pull me along behind him without question, while my mind was still busy processing the words I had just heard.
The next thing I knew, a heavy door shut behind us and I found myself standing in the stairwell with Rhys. I watched as he took a quick glance outside through the little window carved into the door.
Grabbing my arm, he swiftly pulled me down until we were both squatting just behind the thick door. His eyes met mine, and a finger was brought to his lips as he observed me with a knowing look.
Other than the two of us, the space was empty. The silence within these four walls was deafening. Yet, I could only hear my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.
Footsteps continued to echo outside the door, and I could hear them closing in, their muffled voices just right outside.
"I thought I heard someone just now..." Lucas’ voice drifted through the tiny gap from under the door.
"Maybe it was just one of the nurses or doctors," Jessica supplied.
I could imagine the frown that would cross Lucas’ face when he spoke. "I swore I heard someone..." his voice trailed off. Then a loud gasp tumbled out of his lips. "What if it’s Evelyn and Rhys? What if they heard us?"
For a while, there was only silence on the other side of the door. It seemed that neither of them spoke, as if they were seriously contemplating that possibility, and fear had begun to consume them.
My heart beat faster than before. Did they realise it?
But then, Jessica’s voice came through.
"No, that’s not possible. It can’t be them. They were still in the ward when we left. It can’t be..." I could hear Jessica explain to Lucas. "Besides, didn’t we check and make sure there was no one around?"
"But what if..." A sigh rushed out through his lips. "Do you think they went out through that door?"
Even though I couldn’t see them at all, I could somehow sense his burning gaze through the door. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach, and a knot twisted in my tummy. The stairwell was the only door they could be referring to. Every other door along the hallway led to another ward. Did they figure it out?
I held my breath while Rhys’ expression hardened beside me. His jaw was clenched as his arm slowly reached for the handle above us. It was almost as if he was ready to hold the door shut and stop them anytime now.
Time seemed to stand still for a brief moment, my eyes glued to the shiny metal handle as I pressed a hand over my mouth, too afraid to make a sound.
Then, much to my horror, I watched the door handle jiggle before my eyes, but it came to an abrupt stop when a sharp ringtone sliced through the suspense that lingered in the air.
"You got it?" I could hear the joy and satisfaction that lit up Lucas’ voice. "Send them to me. You did well."
"What is it?"
"She got the files we needed."
Those were the last few words I heard from them before their receding footsteps, and chatter echoed down the hallway. It was only then that I finally let out a sigh of relief, my body now relaxed and at ease.
I turned to look at Rhys, only to find him already looking at me. His gaze was soft, a tender look etched onto his face as the words tumbled out of his lips. "You alright?"
I averted my gaze as I nodded and muttered under my breath. "Yeah."
I watched as he slowly rose to his feet and peeked out through the tiny glass window. It was only when the surroundings were clear that he turned back to face me with a contented smile.
"They are gone."
"That’s gr—" The words had barely left the tip of my tongue when I felt his fingers brushed against the underside of my thighs as he picked me up into his arms effortlessly.
My breath was caught in my throat, the simple touch was enough to send butterflies fluttering through my tummy. I blinked up at him with a puzzled look, hoping that my cheeks weren’t ridiculously red. "What...what are you doing?"
He only flashed me a charming smile as he looked down to meet my eyes. "Carrying you."
I gaped at him. "I can tell," I deadpanned. "But w—why?"
The smile on his face widened as he arched a brow at me, amusement glistening in his dark chocolate eyes. "Why not? Can’t I carry my girlfriend?"
I didn’t correct him, I didn’t tell him that it was all just play-pretend, that we weren’t really boyfriend and girlfriend. Maybe a part of me already accepted it, maybe a part of me actually enjoyed this feeling that was currently spreading within my chest and taking over me.
I think I enjoyed this.
"I—I can walk perfectly fine on my own," the words finally left my lips.
"I know you can," his response was immediate, almost as if he had it rehearsed already. "I just wanted an excuse to hold you."
The shameless confession left me staring at him for a moment. For once, I couldn’t find a single comeback. Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I quickly looked away, pretending to be fascinated by the dull gray walls of the stairwell as a low chuckle rumbled from his throat.
"Put me down," I grumbled, refusing to meet his eyes.
"No."
"Rhys."
"No."
I finally looked back at him in disbelief. "You are unbelievable."
His smile only widened. "Yet you still like me."
I opened my mouth, "I..." then I pressed it shut. "Rhys."
"Yeah?"
"You still haven’t put me down," I pointed out, and his expression turned suspiciously innocent.
"Oh."
"Don’t ’oh’ me," I retorted, but a hint of amusement threaded beneath my voice.
"Right." But he still didn’t make any attempt to move or put me down. Instead, his laughter rang through the stairwell once more before he finally began walking toward the door, still carrying me. "That’s not happening."
And just like that, he carried me all the way back to where my ward was.
***
I couldn’t sleep that same night. I thought it might have something to do with the foreign environment. But even after I was officially discharged from the hospital just yesterday and returned to Rhys’ apartment, nothing changed.
After tossing and turning, I finally stopped to stare at the ceiling above me, still lost in thought. A million thoughts crossed my mind as I flipped through the possibilities, and questions continued to haunt me.
Why would my father be stepping down so suddenly?
Did something happen that I didn’t know about?
Jessica even went to the extent of removing me from my own father’s will? Did he know? Of course, he did. He had to approve it, right?
I snapped myself out of the spiraling thoughts. I couldn’t let mum down, I needed to protect the Hart Group at all costs. And I will keep trying and trying.
Picking up my phone, I looked at the bright screen staring back at me, squinting in the darkness that swallowed the room. I knew exactly what I needed to do, but my finger hovered over the screen for a long time.
A part of me was still afraid, mostly afraid that it wouldn’t work out. But alas, I knew I needed to try. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I dialled the foreign-looking number and let the call ring.
My heart pounded against my chest as the ringer went on for God knew how long, it stretched on like the ocean with no end in sight. But I continued to wait, and wait. Just when I thought that the call was about to end, I was quickly proven wrong.
I didn’t think he would actually pick up the call after what happened, but then a familiar deep voice came through from the other end of the line.
"Evelyn?" I could hear the confusion in his voice. After all, it was not often that I would reach him via call, especially at this hour. "Why are you calling me so late at night?" He questioned, his tone sharp and curt. In my mind, I could picture the frown that made its way to rest between his brows, and maybe there was even a scowl on his face.
I sucked in a deep breath and was determined to keep my voice steady.
"Father, we need to talk."
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