Chapter 15

Aidan frowned as soon as he saw how Eliana collapsed onto the floor as though she was boneless - he realized that something was very wrong. He instantly realized just how hot she was when he knelt o scoop her up into his arms from the ground. “Eliana? Eliana - can you hear me?” He murmured anxiously as he shook her, trying to incite a response to her but to no avail. And so, Aidan carried Eliana out of the basement as swiftly as he could… Robert, who was just returning from sending Laura back to rest, bumped into them - he immediately stepped forward to assist Aidan as soon as he noticed the lifeless-looking Eliana in his arms. “Second Young Master, is Miss Harvey…” “Get Travis.” Aidan ordered in a cold voice. “Yes, Second Young Master.” Aidan carried Eliana back to his room and laid her down on his bed. Soon enough, Travis arrived with his medical kit - he asked, “Second Young Master, what’s the matter? Robert called and said that it was pretty urgent…” Aidan interrupted him before he could finish speaking - he pointed towards Eliana as he explained hurriedly, “Please do a checkup on her - she passed out earlier. I think she has a pretty bad fever.” Travis’ eyes widened as soon as he realized just who the woman lying on the bed was. “Hang on a second - why is she here? Are you really going to make her donate her liver to Laura?” “Just shut up and treat the patient.” Travis immediately zipped his mouth and surged forward to do a checkup on Eliana. … After a long while of examining her, Travis removed his stethoscope and looked at Aidan incredulously. “She has a very high fever of nearly 40 degrees Celsius - this is very serious and can be quite dangerous! Why didn’t you call me earlier?” Aidan ignored his question and asked, “How bad is her condition?” “She is severely malnourished and has lost a lot of blood - well, no surprise there considering that she’d slit her wrists. She’s so weak now that she’s as pale as a sheet and looks half-dead - I believe that even an idiot can tell that she’s in a very bad condition.” Aidan frowned, “What? Severely malnourished? But she only hadn’t eaten for a day - isn’t this something that’s incurred over a long period” “Anyway, as I was saying,” Travis continued, “She’s in no condition to be a liver donor - she might die if you make her donate her liver to Laura. Don’t you think that’s such a cruel thing to do? You’d better find a replacement donor for Laura.” … Aidan stared at the unconscious Eliana, who was lying motionless on the bed as she received a blood transfusion due to the large amount of blood that she’d lost. Just then, the former recalled the scars that he’d seen littered all over the latter’s body - he hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take Eliana’s clothes off. He wanted to take a look at them again. However, just as he’d undid the second button of her clothes, Eliana suddenly stretched out her hand and grabbed Aidan by the collar - she shook her head vigorously, her eyes still shut and her voice hoarse, as she mumbled, “No, please...don’t touch me. Aidan...Aidan, please...save me, Aidan…” Aidan immediately let go of Eliana and frowned - Why is she calling out for me? Doesn’t she hate and detest me to the core? Why would she beg me to save her then? “No, wait...what am I talking about...Aidan hates me...he resents me...why would he save me?” Eliana muttered - just then, tears started to roll down her cheeks. “Aidan...why did you...why did you do this to me...why did you cause my mother’s death...Aidan...I...I hate you so much…” Eliana tossed and turn in discomfort and unease - she felt as though she was being baked in a fire and being frozen in an ice cave at the same time. It was almost as though she was taken back to that fateful day...the day when she’d rushed back to save Aidan as soon as she heard that there had been a big fire at Blanchard Garden, only to be kidnapped and nearly sexually assaulted at a hotel on her way there… She was so frightened that she yelled and screamed for Aidan to save her...by the time that he came, however, it was too late - he’d allegedly caught her in the act of cheating on him. Angered and hurt, Aidan had tugged at her hair and growled, “Eliana, you’re such a cheap and filthy whore - how dare you betray my trust and cheat on me…” Eliana felt as though her heart had been crushed at that exact moment - she couldn’t help but reminisce about how she used to be so innocent and naive, thinking that loving someone would only mean sweetness and happiness, no suffering or pain whatsoever...alas, she soon came to learn that she was very wrong - that all of her hopes and dreams were nothing but overly-idealistic and unsustainable. This was why Eliana couldn’t help but feel confused - she felt the presence around her and wanted to resist it. Alas, for some reason, she was at the same time captivated and entranced by it. It really felt as though Aidan was there again for her, comforting and reassuring her… Is this just a dream? Yes, it probably is...it probably is just a dream… After all, why would someone who wants me dead so badly do something like this for me? … Later at night, Robert entered Aidan’s study and placed a document on his desk. “Second Young Master - this is the information about Miss Harvey’s time in prison that you requested for…”