Chapter 221

Chapter 221 Chapter 221 61%

As Leo was deep in his thoughts with a frown, Jack broke the silence with a joke. “Vincent, it looks like the older we get, the younger you become.”

Vincent shook his head. “Don’t tease me. I feel ancient. My memory’s shot. Just now, I saw Elysia’s driver, and I swear I’ve seen her somewhere before, but I can’t place it. Guess I really am getting old.”

‘Driver? A girl by Elysia’s side... It must be Yuna. So Vincent doesn’t know Elysia’s real identity, Jack thought and her eyes flicked to Elysia, who gave him a sly smile.

Vincent not remembering Yuna was a good thing to Elysia. It meant fate was on their side, keeping that part of her life a secret.

Elysia let out a sigh of relief and piped up, “Vincent, you’re still at your best time.”

Leo felt a pang of jealousy. ‘Is she implying we’re old?‘

It wasn’t just him; Jack and Max weren’t happy either. But Vincent? He was laughing so much he couldn’t even close his mouth.

Feeling the awkward atmosphere, Elysia quickly added, “And you all look great, Jack, Leo, and Max.”

Leo muttered under his breath, “That’s better.”

The mood lightened again as they continued chatting. By the end of the meal–two hours later–Vincent and Jack were laughing and joking like old friends. If Leo and Max hadn’t intervened, they might have ended up as brothers–in–arms.

+5 *****

Elysia had barely settled into her car after dropping Vincent off at Iskoria Villa when her phone buzzed with an unknown number.

She arched an eyebrow, curiosity sparking, and answered it.

“Ms. Rosewood, this is Nora,” came the cool, composed voice on the other end.

Elysia paused, her mind flickering back to their limited interactions. She and Nora had never really crossed paths meaningfully.

“What’s up?” she asked, keeping her tone light.

Nora responded to Elysia’s calm voice. Frankly, if it weren’t for Robert, she wouldn’t have made this call–who would willingly bow to the winner?

Although she had never directly competed with Elysia, the fact was, she liked Zane and lost to Elysia. Perhaps she shouldn’t have liked Zane in the first place. How could she ever reach someone standing at the top like him, let alone stand by his side?

There was a time when she could think about all these things, but since Matthew’s death and all the chaos at the Davis residence, she was no longer the Nora she used to be.

The Davis family now depended on her alone, and if she fell, what would happen to them? Her mother, Daisy, and her brother, Richard–what would become of them? She could only force herself to face and handle everything, not daring to wish for more.

Nora’s voice wavered slightly, a rare crack in her usual calm demeanor. “Richard is awake. He wants to see you. And... thank you.”

“For what?” Elysia asked, genuinely puzzled.

“Richard told me you saved him,” Nora explained. “He said you gave a pill. If it weren’t for that, he might not have made it to the hospital.”

1/3 14:16 Wed, 5 Mar M 0.

Chapter 221 Robert didn’t know what kind of pill Elysia had given him, but after taking it, his bleeding stopped and the pain felt less intense.

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+5 Since he used to come from a rich family, he had some worldly experiences, and he had heard that the pills from Arcanum House had such amazing effects. So, he guessed that the pill Elysia used on him was from there.

Elysia felt a pang of surprise. She hadn’t expected Nora to reach out, especially with gratitude.

She remembered their first encounter, when it had been clear that Nora had feelings for Zane. Back then, Elysia had seemed like a rival. But now, Nora was setting that aside for her brother’s sake. It was a reminder of the bonds that mattered most.

“Is it okay if you visit him?” Nora pressed, her voice tinged with urgency.

Elysia shook off her thoughts. It was just a visit, after all. She could spare the time. “Sure,” she replied, her voice steady. “I’ll come by.”

Elysia arrived at the hospital and made her way straight to the inpatient department. Nora was waiting outside the ward, leaning against the wall.

As Elysia approached down the hallway, Nora felt a pang of envy. Elysia still looked as radiant as ever, while Nora felt like she’d lost a part of herself in just one month.

When Elysia reached her, Nora straightened up and forced a smile. “Thanks for coming,” she said, not knowing what else to say.

Without acknowledging the thanks, Elysia pointed to the ward. “Is Robert inside?”

Nora nodded, and Elysia pushed open the door, slipping inside.

Nora stayed behind, closing the door gently. She stood in the hallway, watching families rush by, feeling like she was in a different world altogether. She was just an outsider now, a silent observer.

A tear rolled down her cheek as she realized she wasn’t the only one struggling. There were many others, crushed by reality but still fighting because they had something to hold on to. Giving up was never an option.

Robert looked up and smiled as Elysia entered. “I knew you’d come,” he said softly.

Elysia took a seat beside his hospital bed. “What do you want?” she asked.

Robert paused before speaking, “Remember that night at the hotel? You said I wouldn’t die if I didn’t want to. So, thank you for helping me survive.”

“I just gave you a pill,” she replied, shrugging it off.

my Robert shook his head. “It was more than that. You were my mentor when I needed guidance, and now you’ve saved life. I don’t know how to repay you.”

“I do things because I feel like it,” Elysia said. “I helped you back then because of Neo. If you want to thank someone, thank him.

And I just happened to have a pill with me that day. It was fate. Your time wasn’t up yet.“.

Robert smiled, looking at her thoughtfully. “You’re different. You have a soft heart, but you always act like you want to push people away. Do you really want nothing to do with me?”

Elysia didn’t respond, and he continued, “I always hoped you’d say you saved me because it was me. But I know that’s wishi thinking. I don’t deserve it. That pill must have been expensive, right? Just name your price, and I’ll pay you back.”

Elysia met his gaze. He seemed more likable than usual.

2/3 14:16 Wed, 5 Mar M Chapter 221 He said, “I know it’s hard to get anything from the Arcanum House, and no amount of money might be enough for that potion. But I’m sincere, so please don’t turn me down.”

Seeing his earnest expression, Elysia nodded. It was better to settle things now and avoid future complications. “30 thousand dollars.”

Robert’s brows furrowed. ’30 thousand dollars? Isn’t that too little?‘

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