Chapter 101: Chapter 101

Since it hasn’t been announced yet that Chadwick and Adira aren’t a married couple anymore, Chadwick still has the rights to play as her husband. And so, he and Falcon took turns watching Adira and waiting for her to wake up.

It’s almost been two days already, yet Adira hasn’t woken up.

As Chadwick watched her sleep, a faint of sad smile drew on his lips.

“You are sleeping for too long,” he whispered. “I wanted to tell you a lot about your father.”

How Falcon almost collapsed, when he watched over her daughter without sleeping and when he was caught crying while praying for her fast recovery, Chadwick wanted to tell all of this to Adira once she woke up.

All past years, Adira believed that her father did not have any affection for her. On which, Chadwick will testify as lies. Falcon loves her daughter, more than anyone in the world.

Staring at Adira, Chadwick remembered yesterday night when he and Falcon had a conversation while looking over Adira.

“My world collapsed,” Falcon said while gawking at his daughter.

Gradually, Chadwick looked at the old man sitting beside him.

“When I heard that my daughter got into an accident, I thought I was gonna die. The helplessness and the fear I had when her mother died, they came back to me at once.”

Chadwick watched Falcon clenched his fists on his lap while he treasured every moment he spent staring at Adira.

“I regretted everything,” Falcon added. “I should have told her the truth. That I don’t despise her, and I don’t want to avoid her. It was all because she suffered from PTSD that I had no choice but to stay away. Because seeing me will make her blame herself.”

These are the answers that Adira was seeking for long years and decided to stop knowing at one time at a point.

‘But even though she stopped looking at the answer, I am sure she will gladly accept it,’ Chadwick thought before he tapped the back of Falcon.

Surprised to get a comfort from the young man, Falcon looked at Chadwick.

“You will have a chance, father.”

Once Adira woke up, Chadwick was convinced that there would be a chance for them to fix their relationship. All they need is to be honest, just how he did before.

“So, please wake up,” Chadwick said, sighing.

Promptly, his head throbbed in pain. He needs rest and sleep. He hasn’t been sleeping for almost two days, and he has no plan of sleeping, not until he can see her open her eyes.

But fatigue is something that is hard to beat. Thus, he thought of washing his face in the comfort room. So, he did. But that did not help him.

‘A coffee will aid.’

He was about to call Neil to bring him a cup of ice Americano, but he left his phone in his car. Therefore, Chadwick went back to his car to get his phone. But instead of calling Neil, he thought it would be faster to buy the coffee himself.

Chadwick started the engine and buckled his seat belt. He promised to come back as soon as possible. Before driving, he leaned his back on the seat and took a deep breath. He cannot drive while he still feels dizzy. So, he shut his eyes.

Blank.

Squealing of the tires.

His eyelids shook and his eyes opened again. All of a sudden, all his fatigue and dizziness washed away.

‘What happened?’ he asked himself as his eyes went to the time clock of his car.

Seeing the numbers which changed drastically, he realized that he had fallen asleep.

“Sh*t. How many hours did I sleep?”

Groaning, he roughly washed his face with his palms. He promised to come back as soon as possible but instead of driving away and buying coffee, he fell asleep instead.

Thinking that it was not necessary to buy coffee anymore, Chadwick unbuckled his seat-belt. When he was about to get out of the car, his phone rang.

His ringtone echoed loudly, as he set the volume to the fullest.

He checked the screen of the phone and saw an unregistered number on it. Not hesitating, he answered the call.

“Hello?”

[“Mr. McElroy. This is the nurse looking over Mrs. McElroy. Just now, Sir, your wife has regained consciousness.”]

All fatigue left him, and the adrenaline pumped into his blood. It kicked in, he was energized. Hastily, Chadwick got out of the car.

The fast pace turned into a desperate run.

He’s excited to see her as his heart beats so fast every stride he takes. Taking all his strength, he arrived in front of the hospital. But it wasn’t only him who stood before the door.

Catching his breath, he looked at Geoffrey who also came after the long run.

“I heard that Adira…” Geoffrey murmured, he gulped first before continuing, “I heard that she regained her consciousness.”

“I also came here because the nurse called me,” Chadwick said.

While catching breath, they exchanged gazes. Then all of a sudden, they fought over who would enter first.

Chadwick pushed Geoffrey away, and Geoffrey did the same.

“Ahhh, let go! I came first!” Chadwick complained.

“You’re lying in front of my face. I came first!” Geoffrey protested, pushing Chadwick.

Chadwick held the doorknob and pushed the door open. But Geoffrey slapped his hand and so he let the knob go.

“Ahhh!” Chadwick winced.

As Chadwick stepped back, Geoffrey took the chance to enter.

“Hey!” Chadwick shouted before he followed him inside.

What’s the point of fighting whoever enters the place first?

They are both entered at the same time.

Anyway, it must be their will to be the first one who will see Addira.

And as they went inside after having a little childish fight, which doesn’t match their age, they saw Adira sitting on the bed.

With a bandage wrapped around her head, Adira was looking outside through the window.

“Adira,” Geoffrey called, followed by Chadwick.

“You’re awake.”

Slowly, the lady turned her head to the two. As soon as she laid her eyes on their side, bright beams appeared on their lips.

Adira blinked and her lashes flattered as she gawked at the two handsome men who’s looking at her with teary eyes. She was the one who got hurt, but they looked as if they were the one who was hospitalized for a long time.

“Are you okay now?” Geoffrey asked.

“Can you really sit like that?” Chadwick worried, staring at her sitting posture on bed.

Inside the silent room, Adira breathed sharply and the sound resonated. Next, she tilted her head and opened her lips.

“Who are you?”

The question echoed; it rang inside their ears.

Did they hear her right?

Adira does not know who they are?

“A-Adira, why are you asking things like that?” Chadwick asked, stuttering, while Geoffrey was rooted in his spot.

“Adira? That is my name?” she asked, rubbing her chin.

A sudden dread hit their cores. They heard sounds like bird flapping its wings in panic, and those were they heart.

A heavy feeling settled in Geoffrey’s stomach and his muscles turned rigid.

If Adira is asking about their identity, then there’s only one reason for that.

‘She lost her memories,’ Chadwick thought. Promptly, he felt lightheaded, and his skin was cold and sweaty.

Standing there with stiffened posture, the two stared at Adira, who seemed lost her memories of them.

They were just petrified and were taken aback.

What will happen now that Adira cannot remember a thing?

How about their memories together? Their past conversations? And the feelings that she is starting to learn?

Will all that go to vain?

“I heard from the nurse that she called my husband,” Adira continued, staring at Chadwick and Geoffrey whose faces lost their colors. “But two handsome men came at the same time.”

“...”

“...”

“So, who is my husband among you?”

No one answered. They were too stunned to speak the truth.

“Why are you two aren’t answering?” Adira added, before he pointed the two. “Anyway, coming here as soon as I woke up, can I guess something?”

She smiled at them and continued.

“You two both have feelings for me. Right?”

At the same time, the two men frowned.

Something is weird.

Before they could process their guess, a loud crackle of laugh burst from Adira.

“Pffft…!”

They watched her laugh so hard, holding her intense tummy.

When she finished laughing, she wiped away her tears and looked at them again.

“I really wanted to try pretending to lose my memories. I’ve seen this so much in melodrama. Trying it, I can say that it is a cool experience.”

The truth hits them.

‘ADIRA WAS JUST PRETENDING!’

Chadwick and Geoffrey had their eyes and mouth open, both dumbfounded.

“Hey! THAT IS NOT A GOOD JOKE!” Chadwick shouted.

It followed by Geoffrey’s nagging, “Adira. You shouldn’t tease something like that.”

Adira stretched her lips for a faint smile while staring at the angry men. “Then, I will apologize.” She raised her hand and nodded her head. “Anyway, no one among you denied the fact that you both have feelings for me.”

They fell into another silence.

“It means that even if I lost memories, the two of you don’t plan of giving up. My life will be as hectic as before although I forgot everything.”

She is right.

Even at the short time when they thought she lost her memories, they did not think of backing out. Although, that gave them a full blast of shock.

“The power of love is indeed amazing~” she teased.

Seeing her teasing them, they were relieved.

‘This is the real Adira,’ they both thought inside their minds.

It made them believe that she was awake alive and healthy.

As they watch her on the bed, the door opens. Hansel and Neil came inside upon hearing the news that the madam was awake. They were both busy handling the issue and the incident but once they heard that Adira is up, they came here as fast as possible.

“Ma’am!” Hansel exclaimed.

“M-Madam,” Neil called.

Hansel ran towards Adira, and even shoved Geoffrey and Chadwick away. Out of impulse, Hansel didn’t notice that she just pushed the two men on her way to her boss.

As soon as she arrived at Adira, she opened her arms wide and gave her a warm hug.

Adira blinked swiftly.

She can understand that Hansel worried a lot, but she did not anticipate to see her panic like this; or even hug her, THE CEO.

“I am sorry,” Hansel sobbed. “This is my fault. I should have stayed by your side. If only I was there, ma’am wouldn’t hurt herself.”

Hearing Hansel’s sob, Adira realized right then that right now, Hansel did not come here as her secretary but as her closest friend. A real friend.

Knowing that she really has a real friend who truly cares for her, Adira’s heart softened. She loves the feeling which she denied having for a long time.

Adira raised her hands. She placed them on the top of Hansel’s shoulders and pushed her gently so that she could see her face.

A cute crying face appeared before her. She wanted to laugh at Hansel’s cuteness but she suppressed it to herself. Many people called Hansel as cold woman serving the CEO. But they did not know how vulnerable Hansel is when it comes to Elena.

“Oh my~” Elena said before she cupped Hansel’s cheeks and wiped her tears with her thumbs. “You are really a cry baby.”

Joshua and Jun looked at the two women with jealousy. They did not expect that they will get jealous to Elena’s secretary. But they aren’t alone. Even Neil is getting jealous at they way Elena held Hansel.

Quickly, Neil pulled Hansel away Elena, before he would convince that the two girls are dating.

“H-Hey. Madam is still injured. You shouldn’t hug her carelessly,” Neil said to Hansel while pulling her away.

“Ahhh, right,” Hansel agreed. She wiped her cheeks and bowed to Elena. “I am so sorry, ma’am.”

“It’s okay,” Elena replied then put a stern look in her face. “I heard I’ve been sleeping for two days. Now I am wondering what happened outside?”

“We succeeded of making this discreet. It did not reach the reporters ears,” Hansel reported.

“That’s great,” Elena said before her eyes went to Jun.

Jun browsed her face, then had his gaze downcast.

Elena can guess what he’s thinking right now.

‘He’s probably blaming himself,’ Elena thought confidentially.

“The next thing is to find who had to take the responsibility.”

When Elena said that, Joshua also looked at Jun.

“I am aware that our part has to take responsibility,” Jun responded before staring back to her. “It is our fault. And actually, I’ve already look into it. You can take an action through legal process. However, I suggested for you to rest more.”

Elena’s raised her eyes and smirked secretly.

When she read the offer that the mall gave to her company, she wondered so much who is this intelligent man who made the presentation. Turned out that Jun has really a talent in this industry, which he wasted running here and there by working as part timer.

So, what Elena wanted is for Jun to realize that he did not take the position just for her, but because it is his right place.

“You are right. I need rest,” Elena said while heaving a sigh. “And for me to rest, dealing with too many people will be hard.”

One by one, Elena looked at the people inside the room. Even though she regained her consciousness, that does not mean that she is 100% fine.

“You all,” Joshua said, after reading what Elena is thinking. “Leave. Elena needs rest.”

“Then what about you?” Elena asked Joshua.

Joshua smiled at her and said, “Of course. I will stay by your side to take care of you.”

“No,” Jun disagreed. “I don’t see any reason for the ex-husband to stay by her side.”

Jun and Joshua looked at each other, and there’s a spark between their gazes.

Hansel and Neil watched the two. They understand that if they keep the two in the room, Elena might lost her consciousness again.

“I am so sorry, Sirs,” Hansel said to the two men. “But in order for ma’am Elena’s recovery, please leave.” She walked towards Jun and started pushing his back towards the exit.

“W-Wait,” Jun said, then sending a last look to Elena before he was kicked out.

Neil was in charge with his boss.

“Sir, we should go too,” Neil said to Joshua.

“B-But…” Joshua complained, pouting. He looked at Elena and at the bandage on her head. Then, he realized that it will be better to leave her. “Okay. I’ll go. Tsk.”

Neil smiled at his boss obedience. When it really comes to Elena, Joshua is turning like a kid.

Neil walked to the exit and before Joshua could leave, he felt something caught the hem of his shirt.

He looked back and saw Elena.

She’s holding the tip of his shirt.

His eyes went to hers, which are staring intently at him.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

He was stunned to hear her suddenly showing her gratitude. Thus, he froze there, waiting for the reason why she’s thanking him when she was the one who saved his life.

“I heard from my father that you stayed here,” she added.

Joshua gaped then subsided. If Elena heard it from her father, then that means they had a talk already.

Without knowing, he laid a smile as bright as sunshine.

Then, he suddenly held her shoulder and tapped her gently.

“Good kid.”

‘Why is he suddenly treating me like a kid?’ Elena asked herself, not noticing how her cheeks painted red as she looked away. She does not want him to see her acting awkward just because of his touch and his words, so she teased him.

“I also heard that you cried so hard.”

She thought that she can use this to make him feel shy, just like her. However…

“I did,” Joshua did not shy away as he confessed the truth. “I cried so hard because I thought you will die.”

“...”

“I almost killed myself, blaming that it was my fault.”

“...”

“So thank you. Thank you for being here, Elena.”

Her hands above her lap clenched. She was holding her breath for too long while listening and when she was about to answer him…

“I…”

“Sir!” Neil came back.

Neil held Joshua’s arm and pulled him.

“Let’s leave madam now. Okay?”

As Neil pulled him, Elena let go of his shirt. They gave each other one last look.

And when Joshua left the space, Elena felt a sense of regret.

She was sure that she was about to tell him something important. And that is…

“Something I realized when I thought that you’ll die in front of me,” she whispered to herself.