Chapter 37
Cressida stopped rubbing Alaric's hand as the car pulled into the compound and parked in front of the entrance. His hand still rested on her thighs, and she lifted her hand to tap him on the shoulder, thinking he was asleep. But before her hand could reach him, his eyes fluttered open, and he gazed at her.
“You don’t have to worry about waking me up,” he said, lifting his head from the backrest. “I’m awake the moment you stop.”
She lowered her hand. “Okay.” She said softly.
She gently removed his hand from her lap and shifted on the seat, turning toward the door to exit. As she reached for the lever, his voice halted her.
“What if we spent a few moments in the car?” He asked, but she ignored his question and quickly got out of the car.
Easton, who had been waiting patiently, took off his seatbelt and rushed to the boot to get the wheelchair. He positioned it in front of the door beside Alaric and stepped forward, expecting Cressida to take charge. However, she remained still, not making a move.
Easton stepped forward. He opened the door and assisted Alaric into his wheelchair while Cressida watched as they drew closer before she moved forward.
“I’ll take care of him,” she said, and Easton promptly released his hold.
She stood behind Alaric, grasping the wheelchair handles and steering him forward with her eyes fixed on the door ahead, determined to ignore whatever question he might ask.
As they approached the entrance, Cressida’s phone rang, and she halted. She pulled out her phone, and catching a glimpse of the caller, she shot a brief glance at Alaric before silencing the call and tucking the phone back into her pocket.
“Why don’t you pick it?” He asked, waiting a moment for her response. When she remained silent, he quipped, “First time your phone rings, and you still won’t answer? Is it a friend you don’t want me to know about?”
Before he could continue, she cut him off.
“It’s my phone, isn't it?” She sneered. “I can answer the calls I want and ignore the ones I don’t. Have I ever questioned how you use your devices?”
Despite Cressida’s attempt to sound cool, her tone had come across as harsh to him, and he wondered if she was simply not in the mood for conversation.
His expression softened as he slightly bowed his head. “I’m sorry.” He apologized, his tone gentle.
Cressida half-closed her eyes, exhaling deeply. Not wanting Alaric to feel uncomfortable, she tried to make amends. “I—” she began, but another call interrupted her.
“I'm sorry. It's hard to ignore. Maybe you should take that call,” he suggested, his voice low and cautious, as if he was afraid of her reaction. He glanced over his shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse of her eyes. “Some calls are better not ignored.”
Without a word, Cressida pulled out her phone and accepted the call. As she raised it to her ear, the caller spoke, and her eyes widened in shock. “What?!” She exclaimed, her tone laced with surprise.
The call ended abruptly, and her hand dropped weakly to her side, her gaze still stunned.
Alaric turned around, his voice and expression etched with concern. “What’s wrong?” He asked, but she remained silent.
He grasped her hand and shook it gently. “What happened? Talk to me, please.” He persuaded, his tone soft and encouraging.
Her mouth still agape, she stared at his face, struggling to find her words. The shock seemed to have rendered her speechless.
“Please, talk to me…” Alaric continued to plead, his worry palpable.
“It’s George…” she finally managed to utter, her voice barely above a whisper.
His gaze locked onto hers, expectant and patient, allowing her the space to gather her thoughts.
After a moment of struggle, she revealed, “The hospital executive committee summoned him, and it has to do with your treatment.”
Alaric’s face furrowed in confusion. “What? How’s that possible?”
Cressida scoffed, a faint smile spreading across her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Why wasn’t I expecting this?” she murmured, almost to herself.
He raised his head, his eyes searching hers. “What are you talking about?”
Her smile grew slightly, and she snickered softly. “I know where this is coming from,” she said, and before Alaric could ask another question, she grasped his wheelchair and turned him around.
“Can you do me a favor?” She asked, not waiting for a response before continuing, “As we go in there now, no matter what happens, no matter how chaotic it gets… don’t interfere. If you can’t handle it, find your way to the room and wait for me. Got it?”
Alaric nodded, his movements slight. “Yes.”
“Let Easton help you in,” Cressida said, turning on her heel without waiting for a response. Her teeth were clenched, and her fists were tight as she stormed toward the entrance.
She fixed her narrowed eyes on the door for a moment before bursting through it, the sound of her entrance startling Amabel, who was on a call.
Amabel’s gaze snapped up, her eyes widening in shock as she stared at Cressida. She pulled the phone away from her ear, her expression a mix of surprise and wariness.
Seeing Cressida’s intense gaze, Amabel hissed softly and averted her eyes, her chin dipping slightly. She switched the phone to her right hand, tucking her left hand into her right armpit as she returned the phone to her ear.
“Can we talk later?” Amabel said, a discreet smile on her face. “Something's about to happen.” She ended the call and lowered the phone, clearing her throat as she stood up calmly.
Cressida’s gaze intensified, her mind seething with rage. She clenched her fists, her gaze fixed intently on Amabel, but managed to keep her cool. She took a soft breath and stepped closer. “What do you think you're doing?” She asked, her tone neutral, betraying the turmoil beneath.
Amabel shrugged, her nose slightly raised. “What are you talking about? You met me on a call, so why ask what I'm doing?”
Cressida’s eyes narrowed. “You know exactly what I’m talking about, don’t you?” She asked and took another slow step closer, her hands crossed over her chest as she leaned slightly to one side. “Your cat is out of the bag already.”
Amabel’s forehead furrowed, her head tilting back slightly in confusion. She mirrored Cressida’s stance, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’ve got many cats in the different bags,” she said, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Be specific. Which one are you referring to? The big one or the small one?”
Cressida’s gaze dropped, and she scoffed softly. She nodded slowly, her eyes meeting Amabel’s once more. A faint smile spread across her lips. “You know exactly where we’re coming from and what you’ve done, don't you?”
“How am I supposed to know? Did you inform me before going out?” Amabel questioned, her tone neutral. “Cressida, I'm not in the mood for an argument. I don't know what you're getting at, and your outings aren't my concern. Okay? I've got enough on my plate without monitoring your movements.”
Cressida’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Isn’t watching my movements one of your most important tasks?” She asked, her voice laced with sarcasm. “I’m in the mood for an argument, but not with someone like you... at least not today,”
She dropped her hands from her chest and slowly raised her right hand, pointing a finger at Amabel. “Woman, you better walk on eggshells.”
Amabel’s eyes locked onto Cressida’s finger. “Is that a warning or a threat?” She challenged, her voice firm.
Cressida’s expression remained calm. “Classify it however you want. That’s all I’ve got to say. And let me make one thing clear- you may have stopped the doctor from treating him, but you’ll never stop him from standing on his feet again.”
Amabel exhaled softly, her shoulders rising slightly as she tightened her lips. “Okay,” she said, her voice measured. “But Cressida, think before you act. It’s not too late to back out of this,”
Her eyes blazed with a fierce intensity as she spat the words. “This battle started long before your birth, and I've never lost. You’re just an ant, like every other insignificant soul who's dared to challenge me, while I've always been the elephant – unstoppable and unyielding. Stay completely out of this, or you'll regret it.”
A slow, confident smile spread across Cressida’s face as she met the threat head-on. “You think you’re the elephant, and I’m just an ant?” She said, her voice dripping with amusement. “That’s cute. But let me tell you something—I’ve been walking through storms while you were still hiding in the shadows. Bring your best game—I’m not intimidated,”
Her eyes sparkled with a fierce light, and her voice was laced with a daredevil tone, as if she was inviting Amabel to step up her challenge.
The air in the room seemed to vibrate with her confidence, and her words hung in the air like a challenge. “Don't think the elephant’s size will save it from the ant's bite.”