Confronted by the driverâs concerned look, Elin quickly adjusted her clothes, worried he might spot something wrong.
Her voice was raspy as she apologized, âIâm sorry to worry you.
â
The driver tenderly stroked Elinâs head and asked with genuine concern, âWhat happened? Why are your eyes red and puffy?â
Before Elin could respond, Erick came over, frowning when he saw her still standing in the cold wind.
âWhy arenât you in the car?â
Elin looked down and answered softly, âI was waiting for you to get in first, sir.
â
Erick was taken aback by her sudden shift in demeanor, leaving him momentarily speechless.
He then walked over to the car.
After Erick got inside, Elin went to the passenger door and had just opened it when she heard his stern command.
âGet in the back.
â
Her hands trembling slightly, Elin slid into the backseat, trying to make herself as small as possible.
A sharp pain down there gripped her, causing her to curl up.
âAre you still feeling unwell?â Erick asked, his concern evident as he reached out to check her forehead.
At his touch, Elin instinctively flinched away, pressing herself against the car window to put distance between them.
Erickâs hand froze in midair, his fingers tightening.
Elinâs face showed no emotion, her voice steady and reassuring as she said, âIâm fine.
â
Elinâs calm demeanor convinced Erick to drop his concern and focus on other matters.
His priority was to deal with the aftermath of the bar incident.
He was determined to find the person responsible for drugging him.
The car sped down the road, moving quickly and quietly, the silence within almost palpable.
Maybe it was the relentless ache of his headache or the remnants of his hangover, but Erick leaned back and closed his eyes, seemingly drifting off to sleep.
Elin tried to make herself smaller, hiding within the large folds of Erickâs suit and even muffling her breaths.
As they drove past a pharmacy, Erickâs sharp command cut through the silence.
âPlease pull over.
â
âWhat do you need? Iâll go get it,â the driver offered promptly.
Erick glanced at Elin before responding, âIâll get it myself.
â He then exited the car and disappeared into the pharmacy, reappearing moments later with a bag in hand.
Upon arriving at the Foster estate, Elin quickly got out of the car, eager to leave the cramped space.
But before she could walk away, Erickâs voice halted her.
âElin, wait.
â He held out the pharmacy bag to her.
âHere, donât forget to take these.
â
Elin looked at the bag, seeing the emergency contraceptive pills within.
She gripped it tightly, whispering, âI will.
â
Erick paused, hesitating before he spoke again.
âAbout tonight, it was unexpected, and the blame falls solely on me for failing to control myself.
If there has been any harm to your body, please let me know.
â
As Erick spoke with a hint of tenderness, Elin, who had been holding back her tears throughout the ride, could no longer restrain them.
Erick sighed, looking down.
âEarlier, I was worried sick about you going to a bar alone.
Thatâs why I was so harsh.
I apologize.
Please donât take my harsh words to heart,â he pleaded.
He paused before adding, âAnd⦠Iâm not in the right mindset for relationships right now.
If youâre hoping for some kind of commitment from me, Iâm afraid I canât offer that.
â