Chapter 4

Elara's POV

After splashing the wine, I left the private room without looking back under everyone's shocked gazes.

Just as I walked out of the restaurant, a sharp pain suddenly shot through my abdomen. My face instantly turned pale, cold sweat pouring down. I clutched my stomach, the pain so intense I could barely straighten up.

It was acute appendicitis. I'd had irregular meals while working on that project, and the symptoms had been building for a while. I just hadn't expected it to flare up at this moment.

With trembling hands, I pulled out my phone and instinctively dialed Lucas's number. After all, in this city, he was the only one I could rely on.

The phone rang for a long time before being answered. An angry voice came through. "Elara, what do you want now? Do you know Serena was so scared by you that she almost had a heart attack!"

"Lucas... my stomach hurts so much. Could you... take me to the hospital..." My voice was so weak it was barely audible.

The other end fell silent for a moment, then Serena's weak moan came through. "Lucas, my chest hurts so much..."

Lucas's voice immediately became anxious. "Serena, hang in there. I'll take you to the hospital right away!"

Then he said coldly to me on the phone, "Elara, if you're going to fake being sick, find a better time. Serena's in bad shape right now. I don't have time to play along with your act. Take a cab yourself!"

The call was ruthlessly disconnected.

I leaned weakly against a lamppost, my phone slipping to the ground. The severe pain made my vision go dark, but what hurt more was that completely dead heart.

This was the man I'd loved for seven years. When I was in so much pain I was about to die, he abandoned me for another woman.

My vision gradually blurred. Just as I was about to lose consciousness, a black Maybach suddenly stopped in front of me.

The car door opened, and a pair of long legs stepped out.

"Elara!"

A familiar, anxious voice rang in my ears. I forced my eyes open and saw Theodore's stern face.

How could he be here?

Before I could figure it out, Theodore had already scooped me up and put me in the car.

"To the nearest hospital! Hurry!" Theodore shouted at the driver, then turned to hold me tightly, his voice trembling slightly. "Elara, hang on. I'm taking you to the hospital."

Breathing in the crisp cedar scent on him, my taut nerves finally snapped, and I completely lost consciousness.

When I woke up again, I found myself lying in a VIP hospital room. The anesthesia hadn't completely worn off, and the wound throbbed dully.

By the bedside, Theodore was peeling an apple with his head lowered. He wore a well-tailored suit, though his tie was somewhat disheveled, and his eyes showed faint red veins, clearly having gone without sleep all night.

Hearing movement, he looked up. Seeing me awake, his cold, hard features instantly softened.

"You're awake? Does it still hurt?"

I shook my head, my voice hoarse. "How did you end up here?"

"If I hadn't come, was I supposed to watch you die on the street?" Theodore snorted angrily, cutting the peeled apple into small pieces and bringing them to my mouth. "I wanted to come early and surprise you, but the surprise almost turned into a shock. Elara, your taste is truly terrible. You actually liked that trash for so many years."

I lowered my eyes, not refuting. Yes, he was right.

"But it doesn't matter." Theodore put down the apple and reached out to gently ruffle my hair, his tone domineering yet gentle. "From now on, your life belongs to me."