Chapter 4 Episode 4

The man also looked surprised. His eyes widened, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“Emeli?” his voice was hesitant. “You’re Emeli, right?”

Emeli tried to stand up straight. She slowly removed her hand from the man’s shoulder, even though her body was still unsteady.

“Yes…” she answered softly.

They looked at each other.

Five years was not a short time. Yet that face… was still the same. Only now it looked more mature.

“Aric…” Emeli whispered, almost inaudible.

Yes, the man was Aric Anderson. He let out a slow breath, still looking as if he couldn’t believe it.

“I thought I was mistaken,” he said softly. “Turns out it’s really you.”

Emeli tried to smile, but her face was too weak for it.

“You… here?” she asked.

“Yes,” Aric replied briefly. “I have some work in this city, that’s why I came back.”

He looked Emeli up and down. His brows immediately furrowed. Emeli’s clothes were very inappropriate to wear.

“What happened to you?” his voice turned serious. “You look really pale.”

Emeli reflexively shook her head. “I’m fine,” she said quickly.

But her voice sounded weak.

Aric didn’t look convinced. “Emeli, you don’t look okay.”

“I said I’m fine…” Emeli tried to stand straighter. She even raised her hand, as if trying to convince him. “I just—”

Her sentence stopped. Her vision began to blur. The sounds around her seemed to fade away.

“Emeli?”

Aric immediately stepped closer. “What’s wrong with you?”

“I…” Emeli tried to hold on. “I’m just a little dizzy—”

Her body suddenly swayed. Her feet lost their balance.

“Emeli!”

Aric immediately caught her before she hit the floor.

“Hey! Emeli! Wake up!”

No answer. Emeli’s head fell limply against his shoulder. Her face was pale. Her lips were cold.

Aric panicked. “Damn…” He didn’t think twice. With one swift movement, he lifted Emeli into his arms.

“I’m sorry…” he muttered softly, even though the woman was already unconscious.

His steps moved quickly down the hallway.

His eyes searched for help. But in the middle of his steps, his gaze changed. His face tensed. He glanced once more at Emeli in his arms. Many questions filled his mind.

Why is she here?

Why is she in this condition?

And the most disturbing one—why does Aric’s heart feel… uneasy seeing her like this?

“Don’t worry… I’ll treat you,” he whispered softly.

His grip tightened slightly, making sure Emeli wouldn’t fall.

Aric’s steps stopped in front of his hotel room door. He swiped the card quickly, then pushed the door open with his shoulder while still carrying Emeli.

The door opened.

He immediately went inside and closed it with his foot.

Aric walked to the bed, then gently laid Emeli down. He made sure her head was properly supported by the pillow.

Emeli’s face was pale. Her breathing was irregular.

Aric exhaled, then immediately opened the medical bag he always carried.

“Dehydration… and it looks like a fever,” he said softly while checking Emeli’s temperature.

His hands moved quickly and skillfully. He carefully set up an IV.

“Good thing I brought this,” he added, half muttering.

A few minutes later, the IV fluid began to flow.

Aric sat beside the bed, staring at Emeli’s face in silence.

Five years. And now… they met again in a situation like this. He smiled faintly, but there was something in his eyes that was hard to explain.

“You… have become even more beautiful,” he whispered softly.

His hand almost lifted, as if he wanted to touch her face. But he held himself back.

He took a deep breath, then stood up.

Aric picked up his phone and immediately called someone.

“Kayla.”

“Yes, Doctor?” the voice on the other end sounded alert.

“Please buy a set of women’s clothes. The size…” Aric glanced at Emeli for a moment, “around M. Just pick something simple.”

“Alright, Doctor. Should I deliver it now?”

“Yes. As soon as possible.”

“Understood.”

The call ended.

Aric sat back down. This time he leaned his back against the chair, still looking at Emeli.

“How did you end up like this, Mel…” he murmured softly.

Meanwhile, in another room, several floors above in the president director’s suite, Ken slowly opened his eyes.

Morning light entered through the gap in the curtains. He blinked slowly, trying to adjust his vision.

But within seconds, his brows immediately furrowed.

The space beside him was empty. Ken immediately sat up. The sheets were messy. No one was there.

“Damn it…” he muttered softly, but with pressure.

He rubbed his face roughly, then got out of bed. His eyes swept across the entire room.

The woman was truly gone.

“How dare she run away…” his jaw tightened.

Ken took a few steps, then stopped when his gaze fell on the sheets.

The red stain was still clearly visible. He fell silent for a moment. His expression changed.

“So…” he whispered softly. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips. “She was still a virgin.”

His tone was low, almost like a meaningful murmur.

Ken touched his chin, thinking. “I don’t even know your name yet…”

He let out a short breath, then turned around.

“Juna!” His voice echoed in the room.

Not long after, the door opened and Juna entered quickly.

“Yes, Sir.”

Ken looked at him sharply. “Find out who that woman is.”

Juna paused for a split second. “The woman… from last night, Sir?”

Ken snorted softly. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“All the hotel data. CCTV. Whoever she is, I want to know her name, her background, everything.”

Juna nodded firmly. “Understood, Sir. I’ll take care of it now.”

Ken stepped closer to the window, staring outside with a cold expression.

“Be quick.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Juna immediately left.

The door closed again.

Ken stood still. His gaze was sharp, but there was something different. He smiled faintly.

“I won’t let you go…” he whispered softly.

A few hours later, Emeli began to move. Her brows furrowed slightly. Her eyes slowly opened. The ceiling looked unfamiliar.

“Where… am I…” her voice was hoarse. She tried to get up, but her body felt weak.

“Slowly.”

That voice startled her. Emeli turned her head.

Aric was standing near the table, holding a tray with bread and milk.

“You’re in my hotel room,” Aric said casually.

Emeli blinked, still trying to process the situation. “I… in a hotel?” she asked softly.

“Yes. You fainted in the hallway earlier.”

Aric walked closer, then placed the tray on the bedside table.

“Here, drink first.”

He picked up the glass of milk and handed it to her.

Emeli hesitated. Her hands trembled slightly as she took it.

“Thank you…” she said softly. She looked at the glass for a moment, then finally drank it. The warm liquid slightly eased her throat.

Aric watched calmly. “Take it slow. Don’t force yourself.”

Emeli nodded slightly.

A few seconds passed in silence.

Aric pulled a chair and sat beside the bed. “You’re feeling a bit better now,” he said.

Emeli looked at him. “Yes…”

Aric rested his elbows on his knees, looking straight into Emeli’s eyes.

“What actually happened?”

The question came just like that, without preamble. Emeli froze. The hand holding the glass tightened slightly.

“What happened to you last night?” Aric continued, his voice softer, but serious.

Emeli’s breath hitched. Her gaze dropped.

“I…” her voice was almost inaudible. The words felt heavy. She didn’t know where to begin.

Aric didn’t force her. He just waited.

The room fell silent again. Only the sound of uneven breathing could be heard.

Emeli bit her lip softly. “I…” she repeated, but the sentence stopped again. Her hand clenched on top of the blanket. The memory of last night resurfaced uninvited. Her face turned pale.

Aric noticed it.

“Hey,” he said softly. “If you’re not ready to talk, it’s okay.”

Emeli shook her head quickly. “It’s not that…”

“Then?”

Emeli took a deep breath. She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again.

“I… don’t know what to say.”

Aric looked at her intently. “You can start with anything you remember.”

Emeli fell silent. A few seconds passed.

“I… lost control,” she finally said softly. Her voice trembled.

Aric did

n’t interrupt. He just listened.

“I don’t even really understand why…” Emeli continued.

Her eyes began to water. “Suddenly everything just happened.” Her hand clenched tighter.

Aric looked confused. “Emeli, what do you mean? I really don’t understand.”