Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
But the doctor just told me that the knife went just a centimetre past his heart,’ she said, her voice breaking as she began to sob softly.
Edgar was taken aback, clearly not expecting the situation to develop in this way.
He looked stunned, muttering to himself, ‘Within an inch of his heart?’
Edgar thought that, if this was true, that meant Clayton hadn’t orchestrated the whole thing, despite the odd timing.
If Clayton had been planning this elaborate act, he wouldn’t have had to risk his own life.
Leila sighed, her thoughts a jumbled mess that caused her a pounding headache and overwhelming fatigue.
‘Not that I trust Clayton completely.
However, given the circumstances, I owe him this favour, and I have no idea how to repay it.
Edgar, I need you to continue the investigation.
This danger to our security must be resolved..
This time it was me.
Next time, it could be my children.’
Edgar nodded, understanding, his gaze reflecting complex feelings.
‘All right.
Take good care of yourself.
While it may not be the right thing for me to say, I feel the need to remind you that Clayton saved you willingly.
Perhaps, when he protected you, he had already weighed the possibility of losing his life.
You shouldn’t blame yourself too much.’
Leila nodded in understanding, but deep down, she couldn’t shake those overwhelming feelings.
This favour weighed heavily on her heart, and she didn’t know how to repay it.
After saying goodbye to Edgar, Leila spent another long night in the hospital.
Finally, exhaustion got the better of her, and she succumbed to sleep in the next room.
At that moment, Clayton, who was supposedly fighting between life and death, at least that’s what the doctors had told Leila and the others, opened his eyes.
A vigilant team of medical staff was standing by his bedside.
When the staff saw Clayton wake up, a collective sigh of relief swept through the room.
This hospital was owned by the Morgan family.
The pain from Clayton’s chest wound was excruciating, draining the colour from his face.
He sat up slowly, leaning against the headboard as he took in his surroundings.
An orderly stepped forward, speaking with careful respect.
‘Mr Morgan, everything has been resolved.
No one will be able to trace this back to us.’
After a pause, the attendant let out a sigh.
‘Mr. Morgan, with all due respect, I must say that this plan was too risky.
Even if you wanted to allay Leila’s suspicions, there should have been a less dangerous way to do it.’
Clayton’s gaze strayed to the bandage on his chest, a shadow crossing his expression.
‘You don’t understand.
Only this way was I able to allay their suspicions.
Gaining their trust is like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands.’
With indignation flickering in his eyes, the assistant said, ‘That’s the most frustrating thing.
Haven’t you treated her well enough? Despite that, she often doubts you.’
Clayton’s gaze hardened, his voice cold.
‘It’s not your place to judge her.’
The assistant recoiled under Clayton’s piercing gaze, covering himself in a cold sweat.
His legs almost gave out, and he stammered, ‘I’m….
I’m sorry, Mr. Morgan.’
Clayton took a deep breath and said, ‘Beat it.’
The orderly hurried out, drenched in sweat.
Nearby, the doctor, who had been watching silently, reminded him:
‘Mr. Morgan, although your heart is not wounded, you must still take care of yourself.
Avoid becoming enraged.’
Clayton nodded, the tension in his face relaxing.
‘I understand.’
He pondered for a moment before ordering:
‘Make sure Leila doesn’t come to see me for a while.
Make my condition look serious, like I have several critical illness alerts.
Do you understand what I mean?’
The doctor nodded and walked out.
Clayton reached up and touched his chest.
It still hurt.
Not that he was risking his life just for his plans to conquer Leila’s heart, but he knew his heart was slightly displaced toward the centre, instead of being on the normal left side.
By doing this, he alleviated some of Leila’s suspicions about him, which was worth it.
Clayton looked at the wall as if he could see Leila resting in the next room.
He muttered, ‘Leila, I’ve made countless sacrifices for you.