Chapter 100: Secrets Behind the Curtain
Agatha still sat frozen on the examination bed. The wires attached to her body felt like thorns pricking her skin. She stared at Pierre, who was still holding the phone receiver. The doctor looked hesitant. His eyes occasionally flicked toward the monitor showing unstable graphs.
"Pierre, put the phone down," Agatha commanded. Her voice was low but heavy with authority.
Pierre startled. He looked at Agatha in confusion. "But ma'am, Don Cardios needs to know about these indications. This data shows risks I can't handle alone."
Agatha forcibly ripped the electrodes from her temples. Klik. She slid off the bed with chilling composure. She walked toward Pierre. Her footsteps made no sound on the porcelain floor.
"I said, put it down," Agatha repeated.
Pierre slowly lowered the receiver back into its cradle. "Ma'am, this is for your own good and the baby's."
Agatha stood right in front of Pierre. She was shorter than the doctor, but her aura made Pierre take a step back. Agatha reached out. She straightened the slightly rumpled collar of Pierre's white lab coat.
"Listen to me carefully, Pierre. These test results, whatever they turn out to be, are between the two of us. You will not say a single word to the Grandfather, the Mother, or even Xavier," Agatha said.
"This is a violation of medical protocol, ma'am. I am directly responsible for the health of the entire family," Pierre protested, his voice trembling.
Agatha gave a thin smile. It didn't reach her eyes. "Protocol? We're in the middle of recovering from a family war, Pierre. Here, I am the highest authority after Xavier. You know what happens to people who ignore my requests?"
Pierre swallowed hard. He knew exactly who Agatha was. The woman in front of him had just taken down Marco's base single handedly.
"If you leak even one word about this test, I will make sure you never touch medical equipment again anywhere in the world. Understand?" Agatha threatened in a dangerously smooth tone.
"Then what should I tell Don Cardios? I've already called him," Pierre asked frantically.
Agatha tapped her finger on the lab table. "Tell him you noticed a sudden fluctuation in Xavier's heart rhythm. Say it's just a side effect of the sedative you gave him last night. Say you need his advice on adjusting the dose. It's a plausible excuse for a surgeon like him."
Pierre took a deep breath. He nodded weakly. "Fine, ma'am. I'll do it."
"Good. I'm going back upstairs. Don't disappoint me," Agatha turned and walked out of the lab.
She climbed the stairs with her head spinning. Pierre's words about Marco's neurotoxins kept echoing. She gently rubbed her stomach. Agatha entered the room and found it still silent. Xavier was still out. His sleeping position hadn't changed at all since she left him.
Agatha approached the bed. She picked up a small basin of warm water and a soft towel that a servant had left on the nightstand. She sat on the edge of the bed. With slow movements, she unbuttoned Xavier's patient gown.
"Ugh," Xavier groaned softly in his sleep as the warm, damp cloth touched his chest.
Agatha wiped Xavier's shoulders with extreme care. She avoided the areas still covered in bandages. She saw her husband's muscles still looked tense even while unconscious.
"Wake up soon, Xavier. I need you by my side," Agatha whispered.
She continued wiping Xavier's arms, his fingers, up to the man's neck. Agatha enjoyed this quiet moment. She didn't want to think about blood tests or the threats still lurking out there. Suddenly, a large hand caught her wrist.
Agatha jumped. She saw Xavier's eyes open slightly. They looked glassy, still heavy from the drugs.
"Agatha?" Xavier's voice was incredibly raspy.
"Yes, it's me. I'm just cleaning you up," Agatha answered with a sweet smile.
Xavier didn't let go of Agatha's hand. Instead, he pulled it close to his face. He kissed her palm repeatedly. "Don't go. I just dreamed you disappeared again."
"I'm not going anywhere, Xavier. I'm right here," Agatha wiped Xavier's forehead, which was starting to sweat.
"Hungry," Xavier muttered shortly. He started trying to sit up.
Agatha immediately helped prop up Xavier's back with a few large pillows. "I've prepared some warm porridge for you. Pierre said you need to eat to get your strength back."
Agatha took the bowl from the table. She blew on a spoonful of porridge before offering it to Xavier's mouth. Xavier didn't open up right away. He just looked at Agatha with a needy gaze he only ever showed to her.
"Feed me," Xavier said simply.
Agatha chuckled. "I was planning to, sweetheart. Now open up."
Xavier took the bite obediently. He chewed slowly while staring at his wife's face. "Why did you change clothes? Where did you go?"
Agatha paused. Her heart beat a little faster. "I borrowed clothes from Mom. The old ones were so dirty, Xavier. I showered in her room too."
"Was that it?" Xavier asked suspiciously.
"That's all. Do you want more?" Agatha offered the next spoonful.
Xavier shook his head. He took the bowl from Agatha's hand and set it back on the table. Then he pulled Agatha's body so she was sitting in his lap, still under the blankets.
"Akh, Xavier! Your wound could open!" Agatha protested in a panic.
"Be quiet. I need better nourishment than this bland porridge," Xavier replied. He buried his face in Agatha's chest. He inhaled the scent of soap and the faint floral aroma from his wife's body.
Agatha sighed in resignation. She looped her arms around Xavier's neck. She felt Xavier's hand moving playfully at her waist, trying to tug at the clothes she was wearing.
"Xavier, stop. You're sick," Agatha scolded, though she didn't truly pull away.
"Only my stomach is hurt, Agatha. The rest of me is working just fine," Xavier whispered in her ear. His voice was seductive.
Xavier began placing small kisses on Agatha's neck. His hand started crawling up her back, looking for an opening behind the silk nightgown.
"Ahh, Xavier, slow down," Agatha moaned as Xavier nipped lightly below her ear.
"You smell so good. I'll go crazy if you stay this close," Xavier murmured.
Xavier lifted his head. He stared at Agatha's reddened lips. He was just about to kiss her when a loud knock sounded at the door.
Tok! Tok! Tok!
"Mr. Xavier? Ma'am? Don Cardios and Pierre would like to come in for a routine checkup," a guard's voice sounded from behind the door.
Xavier hissed in annoyance. "Damn it. Why do they always have to interrupt?"
Agatha immediately slipped off Xavier's lap. She straightened her slightly messy clothes. She glanced at the door with a sense of dread. She looked at Xavier, who had now returned to his usual cold mode.
"Let them in, Xavier. It's for your health," Agatha said.
Agatha walked to the door to open it. She saw Pierre standing behind Don Cardios, looking deathly pale. Pierre held a brown envelope in his hand. When Pierre's eyes met Agatha's, the doctor immediately looked down.
Agatha knew that envelope contained her test results. She stared at Pierre with a look that told him to stay silent.
"Please come in, Grandfather," Agatha said in a calm voice.
Don Cardios stepped in with a commanding stride. He looked at Xavier, who was sitting up neatly in bed. Then, he turned to Pierre, who hesitated at the doorway.
"Pierre, give me the data now. I want to see how my granddaughter in law is progressing too," Cardios said, reaching his hand out for the brown envelope.
Agatha held her breath. She clenched her fists at her sides. She saw Pierre begin to hand the envelope over to Cardios.
"Pierre, didn't you say there were fluctuations in Xavier's heart?" Agatha suddenly cut in.
Cardios stopped. He looked at Agatha, then at Pierre. Pierre was sweating buckets. He gripped the envelope tighter until the paper slightly bent.
"Yes, Doctor Pierre. Are Xavier's heart test results in there?" Agatha asked again in a demanding tone.
Pierre swallowed hard. He looked at the envelope in his hand, then at Cardios, who was waiting impatiently.
"Umm, actually Don Cardios, this data..."