It was morning.
Elowen woke slowly, her consciousness drifting in and out. Her head felt heavy, her body weak, as though she had been pulled back from a deep, endless sleep. The smell of antiseptic filled her senses—sharp and unfamiliar. She frowned slightly, trying to understand where she was.
"Are you awake?"
A soft voice broke the silence.
Elowen blinked. Her lashes fluttered as she turned her eyes toward the sound. The white ceiling came into focus first. Confusion settled in—until her gaze landed on the man sitting quietly at the end of the room.
Lucien.
He was watching her intently, his expression calm but alert, as if he had been waiting for her to wake up.
Elowen breathed out slowly.
Relief washed over her chest, easing the tight knot she hadn't realized she was holding. The fear faded, replaced by a sense of safety. She tried to speak, but her throat was dry.
Lucien noticed immediately. He stood up, walked to the table beside the bed, and poured water into a glass. He returned to her side and helped her sit up carefully, bringing the glass to her lips.
"You're in the hospital," he said calmly. "The doctor said you have acute gastritis."
Elowen kept her eyes fixed on him as she sipped the water slowly. She hadn't expected him to still be here. Considering how he had refused her request before, she thought he would have left already.
After she drank, Lucien placed the glass back on the table.
"Someone will bring your meal," he said softly. Then he added, almost stiffly, "I'm going to work."
It sounded like he couldn't wait to leave.
Elowen's heart pounded. Her eyes fell instantly.
He's leaving me, she thought.
"I'll be back after work to pick you up."
Lucien said it when he noticed the sudden change in her expression.
He had thought about it deeply and finally decided to agree to her request. It wasn't an easy decision for him, but her pain had touched something he didn't expect.
Elowen's eyes sparkled when she heard his words.
He wasn't abandoning her. If he was coming back to pick her up, it could only mean one thing—he had agreed to let her stay with him.
"Thank you very much," Elowen said gratefully, her voice trembling slightly. Her eyes almost filled with tears. "I promise I won't be a burden to you."
She already is a burden, Lucien thought silently.
But it didn't matter anymore. He would treat it as a duty.
He stared at her for a moment. Her hair was scattered messily around her face, and for a brief second, he felt the urge to reach out and arrange it properly. But he stopped himself.
He only nodded before turning and leaving the room.
Elowen watched the door close softly. She released a deep breath she hadn't realized she was holding. It felt as though a heavy stone had been lifted from her chest.
Her life wasn't over yet, like she had thought.
She finally had a place to stay—a place away from the Whitemere family. Away from their mocking, their shame, and their cold eyes. And while staying with him, she would do everything possible not to become a burden.
But what could she do without a working leg?
The thought made her heart tremble. Her eyes moved to her leg, and her chest squeezed painfully.
Just then, the door opened.
A woman in her forties walked in, holding two filled bags.
"Good morning, miss," the woman greeted warmly as she placed the bags down.
"Good morning, ma," Elowen replied softly, lowering her head respectfully. She wondered if this was the person Lucien had mentioned—the one who would bring her meal.
"My name is Felicia," the woman said with a gentle smile. "Mr. Calderwood sent me to take care of your needs."
Elowen smiled back faintly.
"I'll help you freshen up," Mrs. Felicia said as she moved closer, already understanding that Elowen needed assistance.
Of course, Mrs. Felicia knew about her physical challenge. Lucien had specifically informed her.
"Thank you, ma," Elowen said appreciatively.
...…..
At the top floor of the Calderwood Group building, Lucien stepped out of the restroom inside his private office. He was dressed sharply in a business suit, freshly cleaned up and ready for the shareholders' meeting.
As the CEO of Calderwood Group, his presence was required.
He walked back into the office and saw his personal assistant, Samuel, already waiting.
"Did you get the information?" Lucien asked calmly.
It had only been last night when he instructed Samuel to investigate Elowen. But knowing Samuel's capability, Lucien was certain the task had been completed.
"Yes, sir," Samuel replied, handing him an envelope.
Lucien took it and opened the file while Samuel began to brief him.
"Miss Elowen Whitemere is the illegitimate daughter of the Whitemere family," Samuel said. He went on to explain her life in the Whitemere household, the neglect, and the accident that damaged her leg.
Throughout it all, Lucien's eyes remained fixed on a name written in the document.
Adrian Jones.
His gaze darkened.
That was the name Elowen had called out the night before while sleeping.
According to the report, Adrian was once her boyfriend—and was now dating her sister.
A bitter taste filled Lucien's mouth.
He dropped the file onto the table.
"Let's head to the meeting," he said coldly.
Samuel nodded.
Lucien walked out of the office with long, heavy strides, his expression unreadable—but something had clearly shifted inside him.