Celine's steps halted in front of the door to her mother's hospital room. Her hand tightened around the bag of fresh fruit she carried.
"Wait here," Celine commanded. Her voice was low but firm as she addressed the two men in dark suits shadowing her.
"But, Ma'am, Mr. Leo's orders—"
"I'm not going anywhere," Celine cut him off sharply. "My mother is ill. She needs peace. Your presence inside will only make her condition worse. Stay by the door."
Without waiting for a rebuttal, Celine pushed the door open and slipped inside. Her heart nearly stopped, however, when she saw the man standing beside her mother's bed.
Kevin.
Panic flared. Celine slammed the door shut, ensuring the guards outside didn't catch a glimpse of who was inside.
"Celine?" Kevin turned, his brows knitting together at her fugitive-like behavior.
"Shh!" Celine pressed a finger to her lips. Her eyes pleaded with him to remain silent.
Her mother, propped up against a stack of pillows, narrowed her eyes. "Celine? What's wrong?"
Celine forced a sweet smile onto her face. "Nothing, Mom. I just didn't want to startle you."
As she approached the bed, Celine reached into her pocket. With a rapid, practiced motion, she typed a text without even looking at the screen. Seconds later, the phone in Kevin's pocket vibrated.
Kevin pulled out his phone, read it for a moment, and then looked at Celine with a newfound seriousness.
Celine's Message: Kevin, please don't leave yet. Leo's guards are at the door. I don't want there to be trouble if they see you.
Celine wasn't finished. She typed again with slightly trembling fingers, making sure the message sent before her mother could ask any more questions.
Celine's Message: One more thing. Please don't tell Mom that I married Leo. I told her you were the one who moved her to this VIP suite and covered the costs. She can't know about my relationship with Leo.
After seeing Kevin give a subtle nod of understanding, Celine took a long breath. She tucked her phone away, sat in the chair beside the bed, and took her mother's hand.
"Mama, I'm sorry I left yesterday without saying goodbye," she whispered sincerely, squeezing her mother's cold fingers.
Her mother offered a weak smile and patted the back of her daughter's hand. "It's alright. Kevin told me you had very urgent business to attend to. I understand, sweetheart."
Celine shot a quick glance at Kevin, her eyes filled with gratitude for protecting her with that lie.
"Have you eaten?" Celine asked softly, smoothing out her mother's lopsided blanket.
"I have. Kevin fed me earlier," her mother answered, her voice growing faint. She yawned, her eyelids heavy. "Celine, I'm so sleepy. I was worried about you all night, so I couldn't sleep."
Celine's heart sank. She kissed her mother's warm forehead. "I'm sorry for making you worry. Go to sleep now. Kevin and I will stay right here and watch over you."
It didn't take long for her mother's breathing to steady, a sign she had fallen into a deep slumber. Celine stood and moved to the leather sofa in the corner of the room. Kevin followed, sitting beside her at a respectful distance, yet close enough to whisper.
"Celine," Kevin began, his voice nearly lost beneath the hum of the air conditioner. "Are you really going through with the investigation into Leo's father?"
Celine stared straight ahead at the city skyline visible through the window. "Yes. I'll never have peace until I know the truth. That is the primary reason I agreed to marry him. I don't know where to start yet, but being close to that man gives me a much better chance of finding something."
Kevin let out a long sigh, the lines of anxiety etched clearly on his brow. "I'm worried about you, Celine. I never expected Leo could turn so cruel. He truly inherited his father's nature."
Celine gave a faint smile, one that was bitter yet full of appreciation. "Thank you, Kevin. You've supported me from the very beginning."
"Do you still have your late father's belongings?" Kevin asked.
"My father kept them in a safe deposit box at the bank. As his heir, I have the right to claim them. I just haven't had the time to handle the legal documents because I've been focused on Mom's treatment," Celine explained.
"I'll help you take care of it," Kevin said quickly. "The sooner, the better. We need to secure all of your father's records before anyone else catches wind of them."
Celine's face went pale. "But Kevin, your safety could be at risk. Richard, Leo's father, he would surely—" She couldn't finish the sentence. The mere thought of Richard's ruthlessness made her shudder.
"I'll be careful, Celine. You know your father saved my family from ruin. This is my way of paying him back."
Celine looked at him, moved by his loyalty. "Thank you so much, Kevin."
"If I call you, will it be a problem?" Kevin asked, changing the subject to lighten the mood.
"Likely. Leo is possessive and very observant. It's better if we stick to texting." Celine smiled playfully, as if remembering something. She reached into her bag and showed Kevin her phone screen. "I already changed your name in my contacts. Want to see?"
Kevin's eyes widened as he read the name on the screen. "Betty?"
"Yes. Betty the Gossip," Celine said, stifling a laugh.
They both giggled softly, their laughter hushed against the silence of the VIP hospital room.
"Okay, Betty understands," Kevin said with a wink. "I'll text you if there are any developments."
They chuckled again, holding back the sound so it wouldn't carry.
Their suppressed laughter vanished instantly. The silence of the room was shattered by a harsh vibration.
Buzz. Buzz.
Celine froze. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she saw Leo's name flash across the screen, blinking like a danger signal.
"Shh!" Celine pressed a finger to her lips, her eyes wide with panic as she stared at Kevin.
"Leo," she breathed, her voice barely a ghost of a sound.
The atmosphere in the room shifted drastically. Kevin fell silent, holding his breath so not even the slightest noise would be picked up by the phone's microphone.
With trembling fingers, Celine swiped the green icon. "H-hello?"
Her voice cracked. There was a nervous edge to it she couldn't hide.
"Who are you with?" Leo's deep voice on the other end was cold and sharp.
Celine flinched. The hair on her neck stood up. Her eyes reflexively darted toward the closed door.
Did the guards outside see Kevin? Or could they hear us laughing through the door? she wondered, a wave of paranoia beginning to take hold.