Chapter 46 Stay by My Side
"I told Dr. Brown."
Quinley turned to see Alicia approaching with a silver thermos, wearing high heels and a flowing pink dress that swayed gracefully.
"Your brother's condition was critical, and the hospital couldn't reach you. I happened to be there that day, so I used my connections to get your parents' phone number from your brother's school. Ms. Elikin, you don't mind, do you?"
Alicia blinked her bright, innocent eyes, looking so well-intentioned. With one move, she'd thrown the entire Elikin family into chaos.
"Ms. Davis, thank you!" Quinley expressed gratitude, though her eyes were cold as ice.
Alicia's eyes sparkled with triumph and audacity. "Ms. Elikin, why so formal? We're friends—I'm happy to help you."
Quinley was smart enough to know Alicia had done this deliberately. Faced with someone so two-faced, she had to play along.
"I'll remember your kindness forever." The chill in Quinley's eyes flickered again.
"You really should thank Ms. Davis properly. She covered your father and brother's medical expenses, spent these past days at the hospital caring for your parents, and even hired a caregiver for your brother. Quinley, having a friend like Ms. Davis is truly your blessing!"
David leaned against the wall, hands in his white coat pockets, singing Alicia's praises.
Quinley genuinely admired Alicia—clearly despising her yet pretending to be close friends. Wasn't she tired of saying things she didn't mean and doing things against her nature?
"I should be thanking Ms. Elikin. These past years while I was abroad, she's been taking care of Zach for me. Friends should step up when needed—being able to do something for Ms. Elikin is my honor."
Her honor, but Quinley's disaster.
"Being Ms. Davis's friend is also my honor." Quinley met Alicia's gaze. Her own eyes were clear as water, calm and peaceful, while Alicia's concealed turbulent storms.
"Oh my, I got so caught up talking—the chicken soup I brought Dennis will get cold."
Alicia looked away, brushed past Quinley, and entered the room. Dennis's face immediately lit up when she walked in.
"Sister Alicia, you don't need to keep making soup for me. It's too much trouble."
Alicia placed the thermos on the nightstand, signaling the caregiver to open it and feed Dennis. "No trouble at all. The maids at home made it—I just brought it on my way. Drink slowly, I'll come again tomorrow."
She swayed out of the room, her figure wrapped in darkness against the light, her face shadowed.
"Dr. Brown, you must take good care of Ms. Elikin's father and brother." She smiled charmingly, patting David's arm intimately.
"Roger that!" David winked with a wicked grin.
As Alicia was leaving, Quinley walked her to the elevator. "Ms. Davis, thank you for all your trouble."
Alicia paused, seeming to have something to say but ultimately deciding against it. "It was indeed some trouble, but as long as you know that."
Her words carried hidden meaning. She pressed the down button and entered the elevator. Just as the doors were closing, she smiled.
"Ms. Elikin, I forgot to mention—your father's condition doesn't look too good."
The elevator doors closed, taking her smile with them. Quinley's heart clenched instantly.
Without another thought, she rushed to Colin's room. He lay in bed looking haggard while Marlee hunched over him, dabbing at the corner of his mouth with a towel.
As Quinley approached, she realized half of Colin's face had drooped.
"Quinny, what took you so long?" Marlee's eyes were red and swollen as she began crying again.
Seeing her mother cry made Quinley's own eyes well up. One of Colin's eyelids drooped while the other eye was cloudy. He tried to speak but the words were garbled, drool constantly flowing from his mouth.
Marlee wiped her tears while cleaning Colin's face. "The doctor said your father had a stroke. Half his body is paralyzed—he might never fully recover."
Colin made confused, mumbled sounds that Quinley couldn't understand. She reached out and gripped his hand.
"Dad, don't worry. I'll make sure you get better." Colin nodded with difficulty, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Thank goodness for your friend Ms. Davis. If she hadn't stayed with me, Quinny, I couldn't have managed. When your father gets better, we must thank her properly."
The Ms. Davis Marlee spoke of was Alicia. In the two days Quinley was absent, she'd quickly won the Elikin family's trust.
Quinley smiled bitterly—Alicia was truly "dedicated."
In front of Marlee, she said nothing, only responding, "Okay."
At ten that night, when Marlee felt hungry, Quinley went downstairs to buy late-night snacks. The alley outside the hospital was full of food vendors.
She ordered two sandwiches and a coffee to go. Just as she reached the alley entrance, she unexpectedly spotted Zachary's car. The window was half-open, revealing only half his grim face.
"Ms. Elikin, Mr. Jennings wants to see you." Lucas approached her.
"I'm very busy right now. I don't have time." Quinley refused, trying to walk away quickly, but Lucas stepped in front of her.
"Ms. Elikin, don't make this difficult for me."
When he wanted to see her, she couldn't really refuse. But how could Quinley dare to see him? Every time she encountered him, disaster followed. She and her family couldn't withstand such turmoil.
"I'm sorry." She apologized, sidestepped Lucas, and quickened her pace.
She practically jogged into the hospital lobby. The inpatient elevator was busy—she pressed the up button but no elevator came.
Head hanging low, her heart felt unbearably heavy. Whether because of her situation or because she'd just seen Zachary, or perhaps because she didn't want him to see her in such a sorry state.
After a long wait, an elevator finally arrived. Quinley hurried inside, but just as the doors were closing, Zachary suddenly entered.
He brought a chill with him, and the elevator's temperature plummeted. Quinley pressed herself against the wall, backing away as Zachary advanced.
"Why are you avoiding me?" he asked coldly.
Quinley turned sideways, refusing to face him directly. "Mr. Jennings, I've already said everything that needed to be said."
Zachary's face was ashen, his thin lips pressed into a cold, harsh line.
"Have you really said everything clearly?" he demanded.
Quinley lowered her eyes. She indeed couldn't explain everything clearly—but what would constitute a clear explanation?
"Mr. Jennings should know that your mother and your fiancée don't want us to be close. So please, Mr. Jennings, stop pursuing this."
She'd made her position very clear. Whether for love or money, she would never be with him again.
She was just a small person whose fate was beyond her control. Years ago, she'd been forced to be with him and had already paid the price. She couldn't afford to play this game anymore.
"You think leaving me will make them leave you alone?" Zachary's eyes narrowed further.
"Mr. Jennings, it's not just about me—I have family. Unlike you, I have to survive first before I can consider anything else."
No matter how he put it, she was determined to leave him. Zachary's anger flared.
"As long as you stay by my side, you don't need to worry about these things."
It was a tempting offer. Under a big tree, one could find good shelter. With Zachary's protection, Quinley could indeed avoid the storms.
But she wasn't foolish. Wasn't all the turmoil she was experiencing because of him?
Quinley looked up at Zachary and smiled. The next second, she doused him with cold reality.