Chapter 5 Bittersweet Pride

"Rest now, Elena. You cannot even hold your head up," he said, his voice cool and calm as he strode down the hallway.

I closed my eyes, bracing against the throbbing pain, and let my head rest against his chest. Every time I tried to lift it upright, the pressure inside my skull grew worse.

"Doctor. Open an examination room right away," Adrian called out firmly to an attending physician and two nurses passing by.

The doctor, a man with a thin beard, looked startled to see the Chairman of the National Boxing Commission carrying a woman covered in sweat, her knuckles bruised and bleeding.

"Right away, Mr. Blackwood. Bring her to Room Three."

Adrian pushed the door open with his shoulder and laid me gently onto the examination table. His movements were slow and careful, as if I were something precious to him.

"She feels cold. Her blood pressure has likely dropped," Adrian said quickly as the doctor placed his stethoscope and monitoring leads on me.

"My head hurts... it feels like something heavy hit me," I whispered weakly, touching my left temple where Marcus’s punch had landed earlier.

The doctor shone a small light into my eyes. "Extreme physical exhaustion, dehydration, mild blunt trauma to the temple, and a sudden drop in blood pressure. She needs pain relief, vitamins, and intravenous fluids immediately."

A nurse prepared the IV line. I winced as the needle went into the back of my hand. Unexpectedly, a large, warm hand wrapped gently around my free hand.

I turned my head slowly. Adrian stood close beside the bed. His suit jacket was draped over a nearby chair, leaving him in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His gray eyes looked at me with a complicated mix of guilt, frustration, and deep concern.

"You have not changed one bit, Elena," Adrian said quietly, leaning his head a little lower so only I could hear. "Always rushing in without a single thought for yourself. Climbing into a boxing ring in business clothes and facing a man twice your size. What were you thinking?"

I looked back at him through heavy, dazed eyes as the medication began to flow slowly through my veins, dulling the sharp ache in my head.

"He is my brother," I said, my voice rough and quiet. "I would do anything for my family. But that is none of your business. Go away. The very sight of you disgusts me."

"Say whatever you need to say, Elena," Adrian replied calmly, his hand still holding mine.

I forced my weak fingers to curl and pulled my hand away sharply, though the motion sent another wave of dizziness crashing through my head.

"Do not touch me," I said coldly. My dazed gaze hardened, locking onto his face with open hostility. "Your touch makes my skin crawl, Adrian."

Adrian did not pull back in surprise. He simply let his hand hover in the air for a moment before resting it gently on the edge of the bed. His face remained like carved marble, betraying nothing, though I knew every word had struck home.

"You are still the same, always playing the hero," I continued, my voice sharp and hollow with bitter laughter. "Appearing out of nowhere like some savior, flaunting your position as Commission Chairman, and acting like you actually care? Have you forgotten exactly who you are?"

I turned my face toward the sterile white ceiling, refusing to meet those gray eyes that had once been my whole world.

"You are nothing but a traitor, Adrian," I said flatly, emphasizing each word with a bitterness I had carried for years. "A man who chose his own ambition over me. And now you pretend to be worried after everything you did? It is honestly sickening."

The room fell completely silent. The doctor and nurse paused what they were doing, clearly feeling the heavy tension between us, before busying themselves with the IV drip chart.

Adrian did not defend himself. He offered no excuses, no anger, and no explanation. He simply stood by the bed, letting every harsh word I threw at him land without a single reply.

His attention shifted entirely to the monitors above my head. He glanced between the heart rate display and the doctor.

"Doctor, how is her blood pressure doing?" Adrian asked, breaking the silence. His voice was steady and authoritative, completely ignoring my outburst.

The doctor wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. "It is stabilizing, Mr. Blackwood. The medication is helping with the head injury. But she must have complete rest. Her body has been pushed far beyond its limits today."

"Make sure the IV finishes before she is moved to her brother’s room," Adrian instructed clearly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I turned my head back toward him, swallowing a wave of nausea. His quiet patience, treating me like an angry child, only made my anger burn hotter.

"Did you even hear what I said?" I asked, my voice cracking slightly. "Leave now, Adrian. I do not need your help or your fake concern. Go before I pull this IV out and throw it at you."

Adrian shifted his stance and stepped closer, leaning down until his face was level with mine. His familiar scent filled the space around us, bringing back memories that felt beautiful and painful all at once.

"Pour all of that anger on me, Elena," he whispered softly. "Shout at me. Call me a traitor. Let out every bit of everything you have held inside all these years."

He leaned in a little closer. His hand lifted as if to brush a strand of hair from my forehead, but he stopped himself and curled his fingers into a fist instead.

"But tonight, you are not going anywhere until you are well enough," he said firmly. "And I am not leaving this room until I know you are safe."

"You selfish, arrogant—"

"Call me whatever you like," Adrian cut in calmly. He straightened up, turned his back to the bed, folded his arms, and stood facing the door.

"Elena... Doctor, how is my daughter?" Mother asked as she stepped quickly into the room.

"Mother, I am fine. How is Ethan?" I asked, cutting in before the doctor could answer her.

"Your brother is receiving treatment. Doctor?" Mother turned toward him, waiting for an answer.

"Quite well, Mrs. Rose. There is nothing to worry about. Just extreme exhaustion. She will feel much better after a few hours of rest and medication. Mr. Blackwood... everything is under control. We will step out now," the doctor said before leaving the room.

"Mr. Blackwood... thank you for your concern. But please, you may leave now. I will look after Elena," Mother said gently but firmly, showing him to the door.

"Mother, but—"

"No, Adrian. I can take care of my own daughter. Please excuse us," she said more clearly.

"Very well. I will wait outside. Elena, please rest and recover. Goodnight," Adrian said as he walked out the door.

"My dear... it still feels like a dream. But here you are, and you did all of this for your brother. You truly are a wonderful sister," Mother said softly, brushing my hair back.

"Mother... would you mind if I accepted that invitation to the championship tournament?" I asked. Mother fell quiet, looking down and squeezing my hand gently.