REBIRTH : Chasing The Limelight

Chapter 104: Trouble in the ward

Elara’s eyes went to the door again and met Mrs. Vale’s gaze. She instantly turned back to Adrian, who was still staring down at her.

Her heart beat rapidly. Then she pushed him again. This time, as if he finally decided to let her go, he moved back.

Elara scrambled from beneath him and got up from the bed instantly. It took exactly five seconds for her to regain her calm expression.

The longest it had ever taken her.

She looked at Adrian, then quickly picked up her phone. She turned toward the entrance. Mrs. Vale had already walked into the room and dropped the bag she brought onto the table.

"I’m leaving," Elara said calmly to no one in particular, but she hadn’t taken three steps before Mrs. Vale’s voice came from behind her.

"I didn’t say you should leave, Elara."

Elara paused for a long second, then turned slowly.

Mrs. Vale was still standing by the table. Her expression was calm and unreadable, like she had just seen something completely normal in everyday life. She didn’t look aggrieved at all.

Isn’t she angry that her betrothed son is making out with another woman?

Elara stood there awkwardly. Facing this kind of situation, she even thought it would have been better if Mrs. Vale had reacted harshly right away. At least then she wouldn’t be standing stiffly like a fool.

"You can go sit back down," Mrs. Vale said, staring at her.

Though Elara’s face remained calm, her insides were already in chaos. She moved her lips to say something– anything– but the composure she had trained herself to keep completely disappeared the moment she looked into Mrs. Vale’s eyes.

Not wanting to keep acting like an idiot, she walked back to the chair and sat down, staring at her shoes.

Mrs. Vale turned back to the bag she had brought and placed the things on the table. They were mostly fruits.

Elara moved her gaze to Adrian. He was already sitting up on the bed. Before he could notice her looking, she quickly turned her eyes back to Mrs. Vale’s back.

Mrs. Vale turned around again and opened her mouth.

"You came to check on him," she said with a small smile that made Elara wonder if the question was really sincere or it carried a deeper meaning.

Elara’s lips pursed. She only nodded and looked away.

Mrs Vale turned to Adrian and seemed to hesitate for a second. Then she cleared her throat. "I’m sorry," she said in a calm voice. "I’ll knock next time."

The words made Elara look at Mrs Vale in surprise.

Why was she talking that way?

And what did she mean by "next time"?

Adrian only gave a soft snort which made Mrs Vale purse her lips. Then she walked up to the table, picked up her bag, and muttered, "Please eat."

She turned to Elara with something close to a pleading gaze.

Elara was dumbstruck. She couldn’t believe the respected Mrs Vale everyone looked up was the one acting like this here.

Mrs Vale walked over to the door in elegant strides, then stopped and looked at Elara once more before she turned and walked out.

Elara’s eyes stayed on the door for a long time. She hadn’t recovered from the shock. After some minutes, she slowly turned her head forward. Her eyes met Adrian’s instantly.

She didn’t know if she should leave now. Everything already felt strange to her, especially after the way Adrian had pulled her earlier. She really felt like a loose woman.

Elara looked up at him again. He was still staring at her.

When did things even become like this?

"That night," he suddenly muttered.

"It’s alright," she also muttered just as quickly and looked away. "It’s normal for me to help you."

Yeah, it was true. After all, he had helped her before, especially on the night of her concert. Thinking about it now, she no longer felt indebted to him.

Adrian didn’t say anything after that. He just kept staring at her with an expression that made her uncomfortable.

Then, as an afterthought, she added, "If it was anyone else, I’d have done–"

She hadn’t finished her words before Adrian’s hand suddenly moved forward.

The chair she was sitting on was right beside the bed, so when he stretched out his arm he caught her by the shoulder easily and pulled her forward a little. He also leaned closer. His face dangerously close.

Though Elara didn’t want what happened earlier to happen again, she couldn’t move away from him.

His fingers moved from her shoulder to her chin. Then he pinched it lightly. He stared at her for a long time– Longer than normal.

"Would you?" he said quietly.

Before Elara could look up to reply, he opened his mouth again.

"Do this with anyone else?"

Elara’s expression changed immediately. But it was only for a few seconds before the darkness faded from her face and was replaced by a small mocking smile.

"What do you think?" she asked softly. "It’s just kissing, right?"

Something in his expression shifted, though she didn’t understand why. But she continued anyway.

"Just because I’m allowing you to do all this doesn’t mean I–"

She didn’t get to finish her words this time either. His lips cut her off.

Elara’s hands flew up and gripped his shoulders instinctively. For a second , she thought of pushing him away.

She should. She knew she should.

This is a hospital. Anyone could walk in again. A doctor. A nurse. Anyone.

But that thought only stayed in her mind, never quite reaching her hands. Instead, her fingers tightened in his cloth, and even pulled him closer at a stage.

That was the problem... She wasn’t stopping him. And if she didn’t act now–

That thought flickered sharply in her head.

Wouldn’t what happened the night of her concert repeat itself?

Meanwhile... Adrian’s mouth was already moving against hers with a hunger that left no room for hesitation; she found herself wondering if this was the same man who, only three days ago, had narrowly escaped death.

He shifted again, his knee pressing against the bed as he moved between her legs, not giving her space to avoid it. Their legs tangled together and the heat between them grew unbearable.

This was going too far. She knew it clearly. She didn’t even know what he took her for... In his heart.

Adrian did not seem to be aware of her thoughts. His hand moved lower, gripping her thigh and pulling her leg around his hip. Elara let out a shaky breath, her head tilting back against the pillow as his mouth left hers and found the side of her neck. She closed her eyes, lost in the feeling.

Just a little more. She thought, her mind hazy. Just this once...

She was so close to losing herself completely, so close to letting everything happen right there on that hospital bed.

Then—

A knock sounded on the door again.

Elara’s eyes flew wide open. She shove hard against Adrian’s chest and slipped out from beneath him without hesitation. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she smoothed her cloth and hair with trembling hands...