With one last glance at the shut door, Kelvin walked through the corridor, heading for the staircase.
The faint scent of antiseptic and polished wood lingered in the air, but it did nothing to soften the hardness carved into his features.
His reflection stared back at him in the mirrored wall of the corridor.
His eyes were emotionless and cold, a proof that he doesn't give a damn about whatever might go wrong with Cyndi.
As long as the one having an accident wasn't Sonia Walker, Kelvin felt it wasn't necessary to waste his breath or pray for the world to be put on hold.
Sonia was the only name that could stir anything close to concern in him. The rest of the world could burn quietly.
Stepping into the wide lobby, he pressed his car's remote, and the vehicle beeped in acknowledgment.
The security guard at the entrance nodded respectfully, but Kelvin did not spare him a glance. He pulled the door open and slid into the driver's seat calmly.
He turned on the ignition, then he checked the address Alex had sent earlier for confirmation and scoffed.
A mistress living in such a high-end residential area where each penthouse is worth several millions.
Quiet ironic.
After a twenty-minute drive, taking a detour from the main traffic, Kelvin pulled up in front of Cyndi's apartment complex.
His gaze swept through the streets. The building towered into the evening sky, its glass exterior reflecting city lights.
Couples strolled along the sidewalk, laughter drifting faintly through the air. A group of friends posed for pictures near a fountain.
It was both lively and fun.
He turned off the ignition; his gaze swept through the streets once more before he stepped out.
Adjusting his cufflinks, he opened the backseat and grabbed his emergency bag and then strode toward the entrance and took the elevator to the fourth floor.
The corridor upstairs was quiet, carpeted in thick gray fabric that muffled his footsteps.
He walked through it unhurriedly and stopped at the room number Alex had sent over.
Kelvin's gaze narrowed.
He lifted his hand and tapped softly on the door, but there wasn't any response.
He pressed the doorbell a few times, but there still wasn't any response.
His jaw tightened slightly. He sighed and, just as he wanted to leave, he paused to examine the doorknob. It wasn't locked.
After a moment of consideration, he pushed the door, and it swung open.
His gaze swept across the living room: brown soft leather upholstery arranged neatly, a glass center table polished to a shine, and a few matching side tables adorned with decorative vases. The space smelled faintly of lemon.
The television was on, displaying the news of the accident earlier. The reporter's solemn voice filled the room. A simple shelf was attached to the wall, holding framed photographs and a few awards.
Yet there wasn't any sign of anyone in the living room.
"Cyndi… are you there?" he called out, his voice carrying no urgency.
He was met with silence.
Kelvin's brow furrowed slightly as he carefully looked around the living room again.
His eyes narrowed on the glass of unfinished juice sitting on the table. The condensation had not fully dried. His lips curled up.
If his guess is right, it seems she had been here in the living room before his arrival.
"If you aren't coming out… I might as well leave," he sneered with detached emotion.
His purpose was clear; he was here to have her treated… either she makes herself available, or he might as well leave.
He grabbed his phone and texted Alex. "I couldn't find her in the living room, and I am sure you wouldn't want me to go into her bedroom."
Kelvin waited for a response, but there was none. He sighed, his patience wearing thin.
Just as he turned to leave, the door was pushed open and Alex stood there, panting, his forehead beaded with sweat.
It seems he had jogged his way to this spot.
Kelvin shot him a brief glance, then tilted his chin toward the bedroom door.
"I will check on her," Alex said without preamble and hurried past Kelvin into the room.
Alex's steps faltered as soon as he entered. His breath caught when he saw the figure curled up on the bed, motionless.
"Cyndi!"
He rushed forward.
"Cyndi!"
He called her name several times, but there was no response. Panic crept into his voice. He reached the bedside and carefully turned her over.
His breath caught at the sight of bloodstains spreading across her clothes.
The world seemed to tilt.
Alex's hand trembled as he felt her cheek. "Cyndi, wake up." But he was met with silence.
Without a second thought, he lifted her into his arms and headed to the living room.
Kelvin slowly turned around when he noticed his presence behind him.
"She is bleeding," Alex announced, his voice tight with fear.
Kelvin's eyes flickered briefly to the juice on the table and then to the woman in Alex's arms.
"Bleeding?" he probed as he closed the distance, carefully placing his hand on her wrist to feel her pulse while his gaze was locked on her face.
Her eyelids twitched faintly, almost imperceptibly, but it never escaped his eyes. His lips curled up slightly.
"You should send her to the hospital," he snickered. "She might have to go through D&C."
"What?" Alex gasped, horrified.
Cyndi's body trembled slightly; her breath grew heavier while Kelvin looked on with a cynical smirk playing on his lips.
"I suggest we move now," Kelvin continued evenly. "She has been unconscious, and you aren't sure when she lost consciousness."
Alex shook his head lightly. "I can't lose the child…" he muttered painfully.
"But she is already bleeding this heavily, and to keep her life, there is a need to do that?" he pressed. "Let's go."
Alex glanced down at the woman and nodded. "You hang on. We will soon be at the hospital."
Kelvin's gaze trailed her face. "The surgery wouldn't be painful since she would be anesthetized and the remains of the baby taken out of her womb."
Cyndi stiffened in Alex's arms. She silently fought the urge to open her eyes and curse Kelvin for such a suggestion.
Inside, she was screaming.
Whose baby is he planning to remove?
Definitely not hers; otherwise, she would fight him till the end, but wait…
"How the hell did Alex let him come?" she fumed. But she is already playing dead, and it is best to play till the end.
"But will she be okay?" Alex asked worriedly.
Kelvin sighed. "The diagnosis of the situation will decide that." He smirked as they both left the apartment.
Alex held her tightly as they stepped into the elevator. His gaze locked on her face.
"I will have the hospital arrange for an emergency immediately," Kelvin said and pulled out his phone to dial.
"Alright. Thank you." Alex was grateful. Though their last meeting had ended terribly, Kelvin helping him at this moment soothed his heart.
Maybe there is still a chance to rebuild their strained relationship, but then he couldn't have much hope. Kelvin sometimes can be unpredictable.
Cyndi screamed in her head. "Foolish Alex, are you trying to have me killed… and let the baby be taken out?"
She really wanted to open Alex's brain and see what stock it was made of.
Shouldn't he have some sense rather than let Kelvin lead him by the nose?
Shouldn't he think?
Shouldn't he question Kelvin's eagerness?
But recalling the blood, the carefully staged blood that had triggered Alex's panic she felt her plot was spiraling beyond her control.
"I really have to think of a solution faster… but I can't open my eyes now. I will mess the effort up.
If she suddenly "woke up," Kelvin would know she had been pretending.
And from the way his fingers had lingered on her pulse, she had the uncomfortable feeling he already suspected something.
But if she allowed herself to be wheeled into the emergency room, what then?
He would let them operate.
He would stand by and watch them extract the baby from her womb besides he had never liked her.
What then would be my bargaining chip?
Her breathing grew uneven again, though she forced herself to remain limp.
God! It is really the wrong timing."
The elevator dinged, announcing their arrival at the ground floor.
What to do?
Should she "wake up" at the last minute and claim dizziness?
Should she fake a seizure?
Should she suddenly confess pain elsewhere?
Her mind raced through possibilities, each more desperate than the last.
What to do?
What to do?