Chapter 98 Leaving Harmony City
Alvin's fingers tightened inch by inch around the medicine box.
He looked at the spark of will to live bursting from Amelia's eyes on the bed, then thought of Rufus outside the door and his overwhelming power in Harmony City.
Alvin's tiny bit of compassion couldn't possibly match the weight of his entire family's lives.
Fear finally swallowed Alvin's reason.
Alvin lowered his head, completely avoiding Cecilia's eyes that burned with their last hope.
His voice was dry and cold: "Ms. Martinez, you're delirious from the fever. Get some rest."
Without another word, he packed up his things and quickly left the bedroom.
The door was considerately closed behind him, shutting out the last bit of light.
Outside the door, Rufus finished giving orders about business matters. His cold gaze swept over the closed door as he commanded Owen: "Without my permission, no one goes in there."
"Whatever she wants when she wakes up, give it to her."
"Except leaving."
Her hope was completely shattered.
The light in Cecilia's eyes dimmed bit by bit, finally turning into a dead, frozen pool.
She finally understood.
Counting on anyone else was pointless.
The only one who could save her was herself.
The IV bag dripped silently.
A servant brought warm water and pills, standing by the bed, waiting for her to take them.
Cecilia appeared extremely obedient, taking the pills and putting them in her mouth, drinking a big gulp of water, her throat moving once.
The moment the servant turned around satisfied to collect the water cup, Cecilia turned her head and silently spit the pills she'd been holding under her tongue, mixed with water, into the lush potted plant by the bed.
Not only did she refuse to take the medicine, but when the servant left, she soaked a towel in cold water and wiped her body over and over, making her temperature, which had finally dropped a little, stubbornly climb back up.
The physical pain kept getting worse, but her mind was clearer than ever.
Rufus, you want to lock me up?
Then I'll burn up for you to see.
Burn until even your family doctor Alvin can't do anything, burn until you have no choice but to send me to that hospital full of people and eyes, the only place that can give me a chance to live.
By the early morning of the third day, Cecilia's temperature shot up again.
She fell into a deep coma, burning hot all over, broken painful murmurs constantly spilling from her mouth.
This time, Alvin tried everything, but nothing worked.
His face looked terrible as he spoke to Rufus, his voice shaking: "Mr. Chapman, Ms. Martinez's condition is very dangerous! The high fever won't break, she's showing signs of convulsions. If we don't get her to a hospital, she could, could be in mortal danger at any moment!"
Rufus stared at Cecilia on the bed, barely breathing, her bloodless face making his heart twist with pain.
He finally gave in.
City General Hospital, top floor VIP room.
When Cecilia woke up, it was already noon the next day.
She saw the glaring white ceiling, smelled the strong disinfectant, felt the coolness from the IV needle in her hand—all telling her the plan had worked.
She struggled to move her eyes, taking in this overly spacious hospital room.
There were no guards at the door, just a tall figure slumped asleep on the sofa by the window.
It was Rufus.
He still wore that black shirt, now wrinkled beyond recognition, with gray stubble on his chin and heavy shadows under his eyes.
That usually arrogant face now showed nothing but exhaustion and haggardness.
He'd watched over her all night?
The young nurse Rhea tiptoed in to change her IV, and seeing Cecilia awake, immediately showed a kind smile.
"You're awake? How do you feel? Anything still bothering you?"
While working skillfully, Rhea lowered her voice and looked enviously at Rufus by the window.
"Your boyfriend is so good to you. He's been here since you came in yesterday, hasn't left your side, stayed up all night, his eyes were scary red. Our supervisor told him to go rest, but he refused, insisted on staying here himself until you woke up."
Rhea sighed: "I've been a nurse for so long, seen so many patients with no one by their bedside. Honestly, handsome and this devoted—you're so lucky."
Lucky?
Cecilia's lips curved into an ice-cold arc.
Cecilia didn't answer. The moment Rhea turned around, she yanked the needle out of her hand.
Blood immediately gushed from the needle hole. Cecilia didn't even glance at it.
Cecilia threw off the covers and stepped barefoot onto the cold floor.
"What are you doing!" Rhea was startled by Cecilia's actions and quickly called out, "Your IV isn't finished, you can't get out of bed!"
Cecilia ignored her and walked straight toward the door.
The commotion finally woke Rufus. He jerked his head up, his bloodshot eyes meeting Cecilia's determined back.
"Cecilia!"
He called out hoarsely, his heart suddenly clenching with fear, and jumped up to chase after her.
Cecilia moved faster.
She used all her strength to pull open the door and rushed out without looking back.
Rufus chased out of the room, watching that thin figure disappear at the end of the hallway.
He pulled out his phone, his voice completely distorted by extreme panic: "Lock down all hospital exits! Stop her! Whatever it takes!"
Cecilia knew she couldn't get far.
Rufus's influence spread throughout the city. Wherever she hid, she'd be found.
There was only one place she could go.
Patrick's old house in the countryside.
Remote, no surveillance, an absolute blind spot in this information age, and the only safe haven in her memory.
By the time Rufus's people turned the entire hospital upside down, Cecilia had already used the few hundred dollars cash she had to get on an unlicensed car heading to a neighboring city.
Outside the car window, Harmony City's skyscrapers kept receding, finally disappearing from view.
Cecilia leaned against the window, greedily breathing in every breath of freedom.
She hid in the old country house for a whole week.
Using the last of her money, she got fake documents through special channels that couldn't be traced, and bought a one-way ticket to Marigoldia.
Once she left here, the world would be wide open, and Rufus would never find her again.
Airport terminal, crowds surging.
Cecilia wore a mask and hat, pulling a worn suitcase, merging into the flow of people preparing to board, her heart pounding violently with nervousness and excitement.
"Flight UA887 to Marigoldia is now boarding. Passengers with boarding passes please proceed to gate A32."
The announcement came—it was her flight.
Freedom was right in front of her!
She clutched her ticket tightly, palms sweaty, following the line toward the gate that represented a new life.
The waiting line moved slowly forward.
Cecilia kept her head down, not daring to look at anyone, afraid of any mishap at the last moment.
Three more people ahead of her.
Two.
One.
She lifted her foot, about to take that decisive step.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, Cecilia's heart clenched violently, all the blood in her body freezing instantly.
Stiffly, bit by bit, she raised her head, her gaze traveling over the crowd toward another gate diagonally across.
A figure was slowly walking in.
He wore a sharp black trench coat, tall and upright, standing out from the crowd.
It was Rufus.