Chapter 173
Chapter 173
“it’s the least I can do, because you’re Elgin’s lover. He’ll come around, and then we can handle everything”
Hawley was hot-headed now, but if he thought about doing something to Letitia, he’d have to consider how Elgin would feel.
Samson was running around, taking care of everything.
At the hospital entrance.
Vidonia watched the car drive away, “You always seem like a goof-off, but when push comes to shove, you’ve got some chops,”
“That’s right,” Samson said. “You think I’m all fun and games?”
“Before today, yeah, that’s exactly what I thought.”
Samson, thinking he’s slick, straightened his suit, “Looks like you’ve got me all wrong, Vidonia.”
Vidonia rolled her eyes and retorted, “Don’t push your luck.”
“Hey, you nearsighted or something?”
Samson’s sudden question caught Vidonia off guard, “Huh? What do you mean? You’ve known me this long, ever seen me with glasses?!”
“If you’re not nearsighted, why can’t you see clearly?” Samson said. “I’m a total catch, a rich and young bachelor, and you’re always looking down on me?”
*…Please.”
Letitia got back to Ivory Towers, bone-tired.
The butler had everything spick and span, calm as a millpond like nothing had happened.
“Mrs. Ramirez, you’re back,” the butler said. “Rest up.”
She nodded.
The bathtub was already filled with water, with a brand-new clean nightgown placed alongside.
In the master bedroom, Elgin’s presence lingered everywhere…
Letitia lay in bed, her nose tingling. Suddenly, her tears just started flowing.
Why had things between her and Elgin turned out this way?
Hatred, a lost child, risking life for each other…
Loving someone shouldn’t feel like a chore, and hating someone shouldn’t be scary. But the real heartache is when you both love and hate someone.
You couldn’t even tell which is stronger.
Letitia drifted off into a restless sleep, plagued by nightmares.
When she was in a psych ward and was bullied, her meal was spilled on the floor, and she was told to pick it up and eat.
At that night in the hotel room, Elgin whispered “I’ll marry you” in her ear.
Then it was her lying in the OR, waiting for the baby to be taken out…
When she woke up, it was already dark.
Letitia got up and found her pillow soaked.
“Sir,’ she asked as she came downstairs, “any word from the hospital?”
“My lady, nothing yet”
Chapter 1/2
“Can I go over?”
The butler looked troubled, “Senior Mr. Ramirez has ordered that you stay put in Ivory Towers and can’t step out until Mr. Ramirez wakes up.”
“But…” Letitia choked up her voice, “he’d probably want to see me when he wakes up.”
He loved her.
Before, Letitia had her doubts about this love, but after this ordeal, she had no more doubts.
Only deep love would drive someone to risk their life and wish her a long life while calmly facing death himself. The only pity was that for him and her, love couldn’t fill all voids.
“Ah…” The butler sighed. “Mrs. Ramirez, you’ve got it tough.”
Letitia looked down, “As long as I’m alive, it’s not that bad.”
“I’ll call the family doctor to change your dressing. Those cuts on your face and neck need timely care.”
She nodded.
The family doctor came quickly, tending to her carefully, and mentioned the scarring, “You need to take good care of it. Once it scabs over, we can start on some scar treatments, or maybe even cosmetic surgery…”
Letitia was half listening, with her mind wrapped up in praying for Elgin’s safety.
She’s stuck here now, unable to do squat.
After the doctor rebandaged the wound and packed up his medical kit to leave, looking at the chock-full box of medicines and tools, Letitia suddenly stood up.
She was pale as a ghost.
“Madam?” the butler asked, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
“The hospital… over at the hospital…”
Letitia was quivering her lips, with a fine sheen of sweat breaking out on her forehead in an instant. Everything went dark before her eyes, and she plopped down hard on the couch.
She was hit with the memory of Marcel’s death.
Back when Marcel was rushed in after a car accident in a critical emergency, a swarm of medical staff buzzed around, and yet someone still found a loophole to slip through, leading to his death.
Elgin was now lying in the hospital too…
“Everybody, out!” Letitia closed her eyes briefly to regain her composure, “Out, now! But you, the butler, stay!”
Everyone did as they were told.
Once sure they were alone, Letitia grabbed the butler’s hand tightly, “You’re the only one I can trust right now.”
“Madam, whatever you need, just say the word. I’ve been with Mr. Ramirez since he was a kid, my loyalty’s always been with him!”
Letitia lowered her voice, “Remember Marcel’s death?”
That was all she said, but the butler instantly got the message, with his face turning grave in a flash!
“We need someone from Ivory Towers at the hospital to stick to Elgin like glue,” Letitia instructed, “especially check everything given to Elgin such as medicines, IVs, the lot. Can’t let anyone slip through the cracks! Butler, you know as well as I do, Marcel’s death wasn’t my father’s doing! It was chaos then, someone must’ve played dirty… and we can’t let that happen again!”
The butler’s expression was somber, “I understand, madam. I’ll make arrangements right away.”
“Just to be safe, you go yourself.”
“Understood.”
Watching the butler hurry off, Letitia slumped back onto the sofa.
Folks who trusted in the Sanders family were few and far between, but thank goodness the butler was one of them.
She figured the butler must know something, but… he wouldn’t spill the beans to her.
The road to the truth was long, but she was determined to see it through to the light!
At the hospital.
In the room, Phedra said, “Hawley, you’re no use just sitting around here. Better head back.”
“Ah…”
“If you’re worried, I can stay.”
Hawley got up with his cane, “Alright, I’m no spring chicken and can’t sit still for long. Any news, you let me know, don’t leave me hanging.”
“Sure, you think I’d mess up?” Then Phedra saw Hawley out. Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.
Five minutes later, she was back in the room, eyeing the IV bag.
Only about half left, time to call the nurse for a change soon.
It was just her and the unconscious Elgin in the room, guards and servants were stationed outside.
Phedra edged closer to the bed, malice flickering in her eyes.
A stepmom, how could she have Elgin’s best interests at heart?
Plus, in Elgin’s eyes, she was never a figure of respect!
Phedra had a son, maybe not as sharp or smart as Elgin, but flesh and blood nonetheless. She was dead set on getting his son to take over the Ramirez family!
But Elgin was too dominant and never gave her boy a chance!
Elgin, Elgin, I always thought you were invincible without a single weakness. I tried everything to knock you
down and set you up, but always ended up failing.”
“I kept wondering when you’d show a weak spot. Never dreamed it’d be… Letitla. Ha, even heroes have their Achilles’ heel.”
“It’d be quite a story if you bit the dust because of Letitia, right?” Saying so, Phedra’s hand crept toward the IV
tube.
The air turned heavy, still, silent.
Just then… bang! The door burst open from the outside.
Phedra jumped, quickly retracting her hand and spinning toward the door.
“What the hell?” At the sight of him, she relaxed, scowling, “What do you want? No manners, barging in without knocking!”
She was the lady of the Ramirez family and had to put on airs.
“Sorry,” the butler said, “I was so focused on Mr. Ramirez that I got ahead of myself. My apologies, ma’am.”
“Fine, just get out.”
“Ma’am, I’m here to look after Mr. Ramirez.”
Phedra snapped back, “I’m here, that’s enough.”
But the butler walked over, replying politely, “You’re the mistress and shouldn’t be doing the work, my lady.”
Phedra didn’t want to leave, her face showing her reluctance.
Couldn’t she do anything against the Ramirez family, let alone a butler?
“I don’t need your backseat driving,” Phedra said firmly, “I’m staying, you get out.”
The butler was no fool, “You’re a woman, ma’am, some things might be inconvenient for you.”
Caught off guard by this reasoning, Phedra couldn’t argue.
Still smiling, the butler ushered her out, and she didn’t insist, lest it raise suspicion.
“Alright, I’ll come back later,” she agreed.
“You’re welcome to visit Mr. Ramirez anytime,” the butler said, closing the door behind her.
Back in the room, he checked Elgin’s breathing, relieved to find him stable.
Good thing Letitia had considered the danger to Mr. Ramirez, or Phedra might have had her chance!
If something happened with just Phedra in the room, everyone would suspect the doctors or nurses, or worsening injuries. Who would suspect her?
Elgin remained deeply unconscious, his arm wrapped in thick bandages.
Three days later.
The butler had been sticking to the room like glue these past days, monitoring medication and IVs.
Hawley came by daily, yet Elgin hadn’t woken.
He lashed out at the doctor, “It’s been three days, not a peep!”
“Sir, our exams show Mr. Ramirez’s functions are recovering, and the blood loss has been managed…
“Cut the crap, Hawley interrupted, “I just want Elgin awake!”
Elgin had been away from the Ramirez Group for three days, something unheard of before.
If he didn’t show up soon, the board and shareholders would start getting twitchy.
After all, Elgin was the linchpin of the Ramirez Group!
The doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, “Having family around to chat and give Mr. Ramirez a bit of mental stimulation might just do the trick.”
“I’m on it!” Phedra chimed in, volunteering on the spot.
Hawley was about to agree when the butler cut in, “Sir, I believe that Mrs. Ramirez is the best person for this.”
“How can Letitia get close to Elgin again? No way!”
“Exactly,” Phedra piped up, “I watched Elgin grow up and can reminisce with him about the good old days.”
The butler countered, “No one can take Mrs. Ramirez’s place.”
Right then, they heard a faint whisper from Elgin’s bed, with his lips barely moving. A weak voice could be heard, “Letty… Letty…”
“What’s he saying?” Hawley couldn’t make it out.