Chapter 42 Unseen Fragility
“ROMAN!” Evelyn cried out, her voice cracking with fear.
Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Hartwell rushed into the kitchen the moment they heard her scream.
“Oh my God!”
Mrs. Chen’s face drained of color as she saw Roman on the floor. She spun to Mrs. Hartwell immediately.
“Quickly—call an ambulance!”
Then she dropped beside Evelyn and helped her lift Roman up. His body felt heavy in Evelyn’s arms, like all the strength had been drained from him in a single second. His skin was cold in a way that made Evelyn’s stomach twist.
Evelyn’s hands shook. “Roman… wake up… please…”
He didn’t.
\---
They couldn’t wait for an ambulance.
Evelyn’s hands shook as she grabbed her phone and called the chauffeur. Minutes later, they were speeding toward the hospital, running red lights, her heart hammering against her ribs.
In the backseat, Evelyn kept calling Roman’s name.
“Roman… Roman… please… talk to me…”
He didn’t answer.
Fear clawed at her chest so tightly it felt like something was squeezing her heart until it bled. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this terrified and helpless.
It felt like losing something she didn’t know she’d already started to hold.
—-
Because the hospital had been alerted—and because Roman Sinclair was Roman Sinclair—a full team was waiting at the entrance.
The moment the car stopped, they rushed him onto a stretcher and rolled him out.
“Emergency—clear the way!”
Evelyn ran after them, but the emergency doors shut in her face.
She stood there for a second, staring at the closed doors like she could force them open with her eyes.
Then she started pacing.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Mrs. Chen stayed close, and said gently. “Young mistress, calm down. The young master will be fine.”
But Evelyn barely heard her.
“How… why did he suddenly faint?” she muttered, voice shaking. “He was fine when he walked in… wait—where’s Father? Where’s the old master?”
She turned sharply to Mrs. Chen. “Call him. Contact him right now. Where’s my phone? I don’t even have anyone to call.”
Her hands patted her pockets like her phone had vanished into thin air.
When she looked up, Mrs. Chen was still just standing there.
Evelyn immediately snapped, her panic turning into frustration.
“Why are you still standing there? Why aren’t you calling anyone? I said I can’t find my phone. We need to inform his father!”
Mrs. Chen exhaled slowly. “Young mistress… calm down. I’m sorry… I can’t contact the old master.”
Evelyn’s brows pulled together. “What do you mean you can’t contact him?” she said irritatedly.
Mrs. Chen twisted her fingers nervously. “It’s the young master’s order.”
Evelyn stared at her like she’d just spoken another language.
“What order?” Evelyn’s voice rose sharply. “He’s lying unconscious in there! What order are you talking about?!”
Mrs Chen hesitated for a while, before finally making up her mind to speak.
“This… is not the first time.”
Evelyn’s breath caught. “What… what do you mean it’s not the first time?”
Mrs. Chen tried to keep her voice low. “Madam, please—”
“No.” Evelyn’s voice trembled. “As far as I know, I live in the same house with him. We see each other every day. So what do you mean he’s fainted before? When? How? Why didn’t I know?”
Her voice had gotten loud. A few people in the hallway turned to look.
Mrs. Chen panicked, realizing she’d said too much.
“I— I was assigned to the young master by the old master years ago when he returned to the country,” she explained quickly. “Then he left again, and I was dismissed. When you married him, I was reassigned.”
Evelyn went still.
Roman had never mentioned that to her.
Not even when Mrs Chen first introduced herself.
She suddenly felt stupid for thinking she knew him just because they sleep in the same bed.
She didn’t know him.
Although they were both married, and appeared to have a really good relationship, she knew nothing about him, and he had not tried to push past her boundaries also.
Evelyn grabbed Mrs. Chen’s arm.
“Then tell me. What’s wrong with him? Why does he faint?”
Mrs. Chen opened her mouth—
—and at that exact moment, the emergency ward doors swung open.
Evelyn quickly rushed forward before the doctor even fully stepped out. “Doctor! How is he? What happened? Is he awake?”
The doctor removed his mask and gave her a small, professional smile. “Miss, please calm down. His condition has been stabilized. You brought him in quickly—that helped.”
Evelyn let out a shaky breath. “Is he awake? Is he going to be okay?”
“He’s still unconscious,” the doctor said, “but he may regain consciousness soon. Just stay close.”
Evelyn’s chest tightened again. “What is it? What’s wrong with him?”
The doctor hesitated. “We can’t give a stable diagnosis yet. We need his personal doctor to arrive first.”
Evelyn wanted to ask about the ‘personal doctor?’ but the moment she saw Roman being wheeled out, pale and still, hooked to IV lines.
All her questions died in her throat.
She immediately followed after them.
—-
In the ward, Evelyn sat close to Roman’s bed, staring at his face as if it might disappear if she blinked.
The IV dripped steadily. His chest rose and fell. His lashes lay still against his cheek.
Evelyn felt… confused. Her emotions felt tangled and unfamiliar.
Nathan had been her habit. Her obligation. Something she’d gotten used to. She likes him, but… he hadn't been able to feel the hollow space in her heart. That was the sole reason she didn't hesitate to break off her engagement with him, following his betrayal. Because that deep feeling of love wasn't there.
But this man…
This man right here had somehow planted something inside her without forcing it—without demanding it. A seedling she hadn’t even noticed growing until now, until it had taken up space in her heart where nothing had lived for years.
And that scared her.
He was close. He was her husband. And yet, he still felt like a familiar stranger.
She had carefully drawn boundaries around herself, walls she never meant to let anyone cross. She had promised she wouldn’t be weak again.
Yet sitting here, watching him unconscious, she realized something she couldn’t deny
She wanted him to wake up.
She is willing to try. Willing to reach out, to trust, to see what might grow.
Her throat tightened.
Slowly, Evelyn reached for his hand.
The moment her fingers touched his—
Roman jerked awake.
His eyes snapped open violently. His chest rose sharply. He looked around confused, breathing hard. When he saw the white atmosphere of the room, he immediately panicked. Trembling slightly.
Evelyn stared at him wide eyed, surprised. She could feel his tension, and that reminded her of something. Because this feeling was familiar to her.
Due to the unexpected situation, she has almost forgotten how much she hated the hospitals with passion.
The white walls, the small confines of a room, the fears of needles and fluids, the antiseptic smell, the smell of drugs. Everything related or about hospitals.
She has been so focused staring at him that she forgot. Now seeing him panic slightly. She felt her panic creeping up slowly, and it left her frozen, temporarily paralyzed.
Her chest tightened.
Roman’s breathing got harsher. He tried to sit up, then his hand flew to the IV line as if his first instinct was to rip it out.
Evelyn grabbed his wrist quickly. “Roman—stop—”
He turned sharply toward her.
His pupils dilated.
For one second, his face softened like a man seeing a ghost.
Then his voice came out hoarse, and choked, thick with emotions.
“Avery…”