"This is acute gastritis," the doctor said to Lucien, flipping through the medical chart. "Her epigastric pain was triggered by prolonged fasting. The lining of her stomach is irritated due to lack of food."
They had arrived at the hospital, and Elowen had been examined immediately.
"So it wasn't something else?" Lucien asked. His brows drew together slightly as he stared at Elowen lying on the bed, asleep.
"No," the doctor replied. "Her blood pressure dropped mildly, and she was dehydrated. We administered IV fluids, antispasmodics, and a proton pump inhibitor to reduce gastric acid secretion. She's stable now."
Lucien nodded once. "Will she be okay?"
"Yes," the doctor said softly. "But she needs regular meals, proper nutrition, and rest."
"Alright," Lucien replied, inhaling lightly.
The doctor gave a brief nod and left the room. The door closed softly behind him.
Lucien remained standing beside the hospital bed.
The room was dim and quiet, filled only with the low hum of medical equipment. Elowen lay motionless beneath the thin white sheets, her skin pale. The cannula in her hand was secured carefully, clear fluid flowing steadily into her veins.
Lucien studied her face in silence.
So she hadn't eaten.
His jaw tightened slightly.
Elowen suddenly shifted in her sleep. Her brows knitted together as if something painful had found her even there. Her lips parted.
"Adrian… please…" she murmured faintly.
Her fingers curled weakly into the bedsheet, gripping it as her breathing turned uneven and shallow. She looked like she was trapped in a nightmare.
Who is Adrian? Lucien wondered as he stepped closer to the bed.
What kind of burden did she carry to look this distressed even while sedated?
A tear slid from the corner of her eye and disappeared into the pillow.
Lucien's chest tightened.
He had seen hardened criminals break under interrogation. He had watched victims crumble in courtrooms. But this was different.
This was quiet suffering.
The kind that didn't scream.
The kind that didn't fight back.
The kind that learned to endure.
Moments passed in silence before the door opened again.
"Sir," a voice greeted respectfully, kept very low as if afraid to wake the sleeping woman.
Lucien didn't turn. He already knew who it was.
"Get me every piece of information you can about her," he instructed calmly, his eyes still fixed on Elowen.
"Yes, sir," the man replied.
The man glanced briefly at Elowen, curiosity flickering in his eyes. In his mind, he wondered who the young woman was for his boss to request a background check. Lucien had never done this before.
The man was Samuel—Lucien's right-hand man.
"Her name is Elowen Whitemere," Lucien added softly.
He had learned her name when they arrived at the hospital.
"Alright, sir," Samuel said with a slight bow before walking out of the room.
Lucien remained by the bed, staring down at Elowen. Her quiet desperation had somehow broken through his walls.
He leaned down slowly and gently wiped the tears from the corners of her closed eyes.
He didn't know what burden she carried. He didn't know the full story behind her pain. But whatever it was, it had drawn his attention completely.
"Sleep well," he said softly, his blue eyes sharp and focused. "Your life will become brighter from now on."
It wasn't just a statement.
It was a promise.
Since she had crossed paths with him, she would never know this kind of pain again. Whatever suffering she had endured until now would become part of her past.
Elowen's tightly closed eyes trembled slightly, as if she had heard him in her sleep. More tears slipped out, and Lucien wiped them away gently.
He stepped back and went to sit on the chair across the room. Pulling out his phone, he dialed his mother's number. She had been calling him repeatedly.
"What happened, Lucien?" his mother's voice rang through as soon as she picked up. "You said you'd have dinner with us."
Lucien closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
He was supposed to have dinner with his family tonight. He had planned to go home early. But somehow, Elowen had made him forget everything else.
"I'm sorry, Mom," he said calmly. "Something came up today."
"Oh," his mother replied, relief evident in her voice. "As long as you're fine. I was worried."
"I'm fine, Mom," Lucien said, his eyes drifting back to Elowen. "It's late. Please go to sleep."
"Alright," she said gently. "Take care of yourself."
He ended the call after a few more words.
Lucien leaned back in the chair, exhaustion settling into his bones. It had been a long, stressful day. He had hoped to be home by now, resting in his own bed.
Instead, he would be sleeping in a hospital.
His gaze returned to Elowen one last time.
Slowly, he closed his eyes.