Chapter: 75: loud cries
Elena
A soft weight pressed against my side, followed by bouncing and a tiny, warm hand patting my cheek.
"Mommy… wake up," Lily's sweet voice whispered, her warm breath grazing my cheeks.
I groaned, burying my face deeper into the pillow. "Sweetie, can't you let mommy sleep some more," I mumbled out.
Suddenly came a bounce on my stomach. "Lily!" I gasped, my eyes flying open.
"Are you trying to send Mommy to the afterlife?"
She giggled, grinning down at me, her hair a total mess from sleep.
It's Saturday, Mommy!" she declared, tugging at both my cheeks.
I blinked, my brain catching up. Right. Saturday. No work, no school run… technically, I could sleep in.
"I know, sweetie, which means we can stay in bed a little longer," I murmured, pulling the covers over my head.
"Mommy! I'm hungryyyy," she whined dramatically, dragging out the last word.
I sighed. Stretching my hands to the landline on my nightstand, I dialed the maids in the mansion.
"Good morning Miss Elena." A maid's voice came in.
"Morning. When would breakfast be ready?"
"In the next twenty minutes Ma."
"Alright," I said ending the call.
"Food would be ready in twenty minutes, so let Mommy sleep some more, " I said, reaching out to pull Lily into my arms.
She giggled. "Nope! Uncle Ethan is downstairs, and he said he's been waiting forever."
"Ethan?" I pushed the covers down with a questioning look.
Lily nodded eagerly. "Uh-yup. He said Grandpa called you and that you need to go see him."
"Did he send you here to wake me?"
"Maybe," she replied, smiling sheepishly.
I exhaled, rubbing my temples. Of course.
What did father need that he had to call my assistant?
"Alright, go wash up. Ask Nanny Helen if you need help with anything," I said kissing her cheeks and tapping her out my room.
"Okay," she called over her shoulder before running off.
I sighed getting out of bed. There goes my free day
I made myself presentable before heading downstairs.
I found Ethan seated on the couch, checking his watch. When he heard my footsteps, he looked up, raising an eyebrow.
"You're finally out," he said, standing. "I was starting to think I'd be forced to drag you out of bed."
I shot him a look. "It's Saturday, Ethan," I said placing my hand on my waist. "Normal people sleep in."
"Normal people, maybe. But not you." He gave me a knowing look.
I sighed, grabbing my coat. "Soo, what's urgent? I know you won't be here if it wasn't important."
"Your father called me early this morning, he said there is an important client he wants you to meet in his stead."
"Why is there no record of this client?"
"I have no idea. He said he would brief you about everything when you come by the hospital."
"This had better b—" I said before Lily came running down to me, nanny Helen trailing behind her.
"Mommy you're going already?"
"Yes sweetie, I've left Grandpa waiting for long."
"I want to go with you."
"Some other time Sweetie. I won't take long," I said signaling Helen to come take her.
"Good morning, Miss Elena," she greeted. "Lily, let's go have breakfast, dear."
Lily pouted but let the nanny take her hand.
Helen was my trusted maid and the only one who took my side against my stepmother and sister, so now that I got back I asked her to be Lily's nanny.
"Well, isn't it my lovely big sister," Cassandra's voice came in breaking me from my thoughts.
"Keep your pleasantries to yourself."
"Can't I talk to my sister," she responded with hints of amusement.
"What do you want Cassandra?" I said curtly.
"Nothing, just say hello to Father for me," she said grinning with a dubious look on her face.
What was she plotting now?
I eyed her turning back to Lily. "Bye sweetie," I said kissing Lily on the cheek. "Mommy will be back soon." She smiled giving me a nod.
"Let's go Ethan."
The drive to the hospital was quiet till Ethan broke the silence asking about last night's ball.
"A lot happened," I said, sending back the strands of my hair that fell over my face.
"What do you mean? Did Damien show up?"
"I wish." I exhaled sharply. "Sophia was at the ball," I continued. "She tried causing a scene to put me in bad light."
"What—that lady's crazy—like who does that?"
I chuckled at how agitated he reacted to my statements.
"So how did you handle her?"
I smiled. "I gave her a taste of her medicine," I said but the smile turned upside down when I recalled what she said about Damien.
"What's wrong?" Ethan asked noticing the frown on my face.
"She also told me that Damien got into an accident and has been in a coma."
Ethan's eyes widened in shock. "for how long?"
"She said it happened the day I left for home."
"Do you believe her?"
"I don't know… I want you to confirm her words as soon as possible."
"Alright."
I chose not to mention meeting Cornell. There was no way I was going to see him again, and it was best things remained that way.
We arrived at the hospital, I had stopped by a small diner across the street to buy Father's favorite soup—chicken broth with a hint of ginger.
Ethan stood outside my father's room, while I went in.
The moment I stepped into my father's hospital room, I felt the shift in the air. He looked frailer than before, but his sharp, calculating eyes were still the same.
"You took your time," he remarked.
"Good morning Father," I said, setting the soup on the table.
"What do you have there with you?" He asked eying what I dropped on the table.
"Nothing much just chicken broth," I said plainly.
I sat beside his bed, crossing my legs. "So why did you call for me?"
He exhaled and leaned back. "There's a deal I partially closed before this happened. The final negotiations are in a few days. I need you to handle it."
"What's so important about this deal that you had to call me here for it?"
"Once it's finalized and we start off the project with the client, our company will soar to greater heights.," he spoke with enthusiasm.
"The documents are not yet in the company's database. They're in my home office. I want you to get them and get acquainted with the details of the project."
"Is that all?"
"Yes. I want this deal finalized at all costs."
"Yes Father," I said rolling my eyes to the side.
"This is a really importa—"
"Father I know," I cut him off. "I'll be sure not to screw it up."
He stared at me dejectedly. I looked away trying not to hold eye contact.
"Are we going to continue like this?"
"Like what?"
"Like there's a wall between us."
But there was now a wall between us—one I wasn't ready to pull down.
"Father you're just…overthinking things," I said still maintaining my straight face. "Lily is waiting for me at home, I have to get going," I added as I got up to my feet.
But before he could say anymore, a nurse entered. "Mr. Kingston, it's time for your checkup."
"I'm going," I said to my father before nodding at the nurse and leaving.
———————————-
By the time Ethan and I pulled up to my house, the sun was high, and the morning quiet had settled over the estate. But something felt off.
We barely made it past the foyer when a noise stopped us in our tracks. A muffled noise came from the side of the house—painful grunts.
Did you hear that?" I whispered.
Ethan immediately stepped forward, his body tense. "Stay here," he said before a loud cry cut through the quiet.
"Please, please don't."