Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
“This is not the place to talk. Come with me.””I’m not your servant or friend, Miss Walker. I don’t do as you please.”
Damn it. Just listen to me for once, will you? Ginna gritted her teeth and begged,
“Please, let’s take it outside.”Elspeth stopped mocking her. She was pregnant with Gilbert’s son, after all. If the child died because its mother got mad, Gilbert might kill her. What a drag.
“Fine. Let’s take this outside.”
Then, she followed Ginna out of the hall.Ginna led her to a quiet corner and blocked her view before proceeding to shoot her a nasty glare.
“Tell me, how did you know? Who told you?”Elspeth shrugged.
“Who else? The kid’s father.”Gilbert? Ginna’s brows furrowed at once. Carefully, she asked,
“How did you know him? And who is he to you?”
She was worried they might be flirting. Gilbert couldn’t have told anyone something this private otherwise.”Business partners. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Elspeth noticed the flames of envy in Ginna’s eyes, and she understood why Ginna hated her so much. You and your relationship problems, Gilbert. I really didn’t have to deal with this. She cursed him in silence, yet she kept her smile on her face.Oh, good. So, they’re just business partners. Ginna smiled again.
“One last thing. Please don’t tell Gilbert I am engaged. Keep that secret for me, and I’ll do anything you ask.”She’s working really hard so her kid will have a father. That, or she really likes Gilbert.
“I see. So, you ran away from Gilbert because you wanted to cancel the marriage before he found out. If you did that, then the marriage wouldn’t get in the way of your dating him.”Elspeth’s guess was mostly correct. One look at Ginna’s eyes and she knew she hit the bullseye, but what she didn’t know was that Gilbert didn’t care about Ginna or her baby as much as she thought. Ginna knew that as well, so to firmly get her hands on Gilbert, she must erase all obstacles. Her baby was her ticket to get Gilbert.”Gilbert wants to be with me, so I need to get rid of all obstacles for him.”
Ginna took a few steps back and pushed her hair back. Calmly, she said,
“If you are his friend, you’ll keep this a secret and help us out.”Ugh. Guilt-tripping me again. Elspeth knew what Ginna was up to, but she would play along for Gilbert’s child. She nodded.
“Fine. I won’t tell him for now, nor do I need any reward, but don’t try anything funny. If you hurt Gilbert, I’ll hurt you badly.”Ginna tensed up right after she relaxed. I thought she wasn’t interested in Gilbert, so why would she care what I might do to him? She was then reminded of the photo she saw in Gilbert’s wallet. That was Elspeth. Ginna was hatching another plan again. I see I have to work with Emma if I want to get rid of Elspeth.
Elspeth was going to tell Gilbert that Ginna was engaged, but after that conversation, she gave up on that idea.Once the party was over, Irving settled all matters for Elspeth as soon as he could, including getting her flight ticket. The next day, Irving, Elias, and Elspeth returned to Damoria. The moment they disembarked, Elspeth made her way to the hospital Callum was in. Elias went along as he wanted to see who Callum was.They got a ride to the hospital, and once they arrived, Elspeth ran around asking where Callum was. The moment she got to Callum’s ward, she heard sounds of cries coming from within. Worried, she entered and was met with a pale Callum lying on the bed. Even his lips were pale. Beside him were Margot, who was crying and looking despondent, and Max.”I-I’m back, Margot,”
Elspeth said.The moment Margot met Elspeth’s eyes, Margot pounced on her and cried in her embrace.
“Elspeth, he’s been out for ten days. I’ve gotten him the best doctors, but none of them could wake him up! What if he’s gone? What should I do?”Elspeth’s heart went out to Margot.
“It’s alright, Margot. I’ll save him no matter what. He’s my fianc?. I will not abandon him.”
Elspeth closed her eyes, hiding her pain and tears, then she took a deep breath.
“Let me see him. I need to check on him to see what I can do.”Elspeth put on a set of sterile clothes and gloves, then she checked Callum inch by inch. Every wound and injury she found only hurt her heart more. His back was fractured, his body was covered in minute wounds, and he choked on seawater. It was a miracle he was still alive.
“He’s heavily injured both internally and externally. His heart is affected as well, but don’t worry. I’m calling Sonny over to help. I will save him.”Margot felt more at ease after that guarantee. She stopped crying and realized there was a man in a mask and cap standing around.
“Who is this?””Elias. He saved me.”Elias took his mask off and grinned toothily.
“Hi, I’m Elias.”Margot froze.
“Edmund?”I expected this reaction. Elias shook his head.
“I’m not Edmund, Mrs. Winthrop. I’m Elias.”But they look the same. Still in disbelief, Margot held Elias and took a closer look. Then she sighed.
“Gosh. I would have thought you were Edmund if you hadn’t told me you were someone else. He has a mole at the corner of his eye. Yeah, you’re not him.””A question, if I may. When was your son, Edmund, born?””Eighteenth of March, nineteen ninety-nine.”That’s my birthday. We were born on the same day of the same month of the same year. This settles it. Edmund is my twin. Something glinted in Elias’ eyes.
“We even share the same birthday. My mother was pregnant with twins, but one didn’t make it. Why, now I am starting to think Edmund might just be my twin brother.”
Elias thought it was a coincidence, but Margot thought otherwise. There are no coincidences. I was only pregnant with one boy, and the checkup couldn’t be wrong. So… Margot didn’t continue that thought. She didn’t want to imagine that Edmund might not be her son. Arthur’s betrayal had broken her heart while Callum was in danger. She could not lose another son now.Margot had conflicting emotions, but Elspeth thought she was worried about Callum, so she didn’t explain anything.
“I’ll call Sonny and get him here as soon as possible.”
She left the ward, dodged the crowd, and called Sonny.
“Hey.”Sonny didn’t recognize Elspeth’s number at first.
“I’m not going. I’m living peacefully in the mountains, and I’m never going to save anyone ever ag-Hey, no takebacks! And you, stop talking to him. Just watch the game quietly!””You really need to hold back on your chess games, Sonny. I can’t believe you’ve forgotten about me!”
Elspeth gritted her teeth. You’re not living in the mountains, you old git. You’re living in a random neighborhood abroad and playing chess all day with your friends. I can’t believe you’re lying to me.Sonny knew it was Elspeth. He just wanted to joke, and he chuckled.
“Sorry, girl. I’m in the middle of a game. Why don’t we talk la-“”It’s urgent. Come over to Damoria’s town hospital in three hours.”Sonny was upset.
“You can’t do this to me. I’m in the middle of a game. I’m not your servant, g-“”Two hours, fifty-eight minutes, and forty-six seconds.”Elspeth then heard the howls of the winds coming from the other end of the phone. Whoa, talk about running like the wind. Elspeth’s lips twitched. Maybe I shouldn’t be too hard on him.
“I’ll play some chess with you when I have time.”That swept Sonny’s bad mood away.
“I’m holding you to that!”Elspeth was the one he wanted to play chess with. These old guys were bad at it.Elspeth checked the time. Two and a half hours later, Sonny texted,
“I’m at the entrance. Lead the way.”Elspeth texted the ward number to him.
“Come over yourself.”
She returned to Callum’s ward.Callum was dying. It was why she wanted Sonny to come over as soon as possible. She wasn’t skilled enough to treat Callum. Or to be precise, she wasn’t skilled enough to nurse him back to full health and leave no complications behind. She remembered that Sonny had a Soulsaver Pill. I must get it from him no matter what.When Sonny entered the ward, the first thing he saw was Elspeth smiling at him.”Hey, Sonny.”
Elspeth approached Sonny and took his suitcase.
“Sorry for the short notice. You must be tired. Here, have a seat.”
She then handed him a glass of water.However, Sonny knew what she was getting at.
“What do you want this time?””Alright, I’ll cut to the chase then. I want your Soulsaver Pill.”Sonny spewed a mouthful of water out.
She can’t have the Soulsaver Pill. That’s invaluable. Sonny turned away.
“I would’ve said yes to anything else, but not to this one.””Why?”
Elspeth frowned.”Because I only have one Soulsaver Pill left. I used one to save your life three years ago, and this is the only one I have left. I won’t give you that.”
Sonny winced at the thought of giving her the last Soulsaver Pill. I can’t believe she would ask for something priceless without even blinking.”A life is on the line! I checked on Callum, and he’s an inch away from death. At this rate, he won’t survive a month!”Sonny finally looked serious.
“He’s not going to survive a month? Let me see him.”
Sonny checked on Callum as well, and he confirmed that Elspeth was telling the truth.
“But this is my last Soulsaver Pill. If you use it on him, then we won’t have any for you.”Oh yeah. I also need treatment as well. She smiled bitterly.
“It’s alright. We can figure something out as I still have a year to live, but if we don’t save him right now, then he won’t survive the month.”
I can’t let him die.”Very well. If that is your choice, then I won’t stop you.”
Sonny took a deep breath, his eyes filled with sorrow. Then he took out a black pill from his medical kit and stuffed it into Callum’s mouth.However, Callum, as if knowing what would happen, refused to gulp the pill.”He’s not swallowing. Does he know? Well, this is weird.”
Sonny was surprised for a moment, then he said,
“If the pill melts in his mouth, it’ll reduce its efficacy.”Elspeth darted ahead and, before anyone could react, kissed Callum, much to everyone’s surprise. They thought this was inappropriate, but Elspeth ignored them. She pushed the pill with her tongue, trying to force it down Callum’s throat, but he refused to take it.The pill was melting and getting smaller over time. Left with no choice, Elspeth crushed it and shoved it down his throat. The effects weren’t great, but it worked. Callum finally gulped the pill.Everyone waited for him to wake up, but Callum didn’t move. It seemed like he was dead.Even Sonny was starting to question the pill.
“What’s going on? It should’ve worked in three minutes.”A frown furrowed Elspeth’s brow.
“You made the pill, didn’t you? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten how it works.”Sonny blushed.
“Maybe I did forget.”And then they heard the sound of coughs echoing in the air. Elspeth turned around, and Callum was already getting up, though he was coughing.Margot and Elias stopped talking, then they both turned around.
“You’re awake!”
said Margot.”Yes.”
Callum smiled weakly.
Elspeth stared at him, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Callum.”Callum turned around, but his gaze was cold and aloof.Elspeth froze when she saw his gaze.
“What’s wrong?”Why is he so distant? Elspeth was at a loss.
