chapter528

But today, as he watched her, the weight of her presence in his arms felt more profound than ever before. It was as if, the moment she stepped away, a piece of his own heart had gone with her, leaving an unsettling void behind.

"Hey! Hurry up!"

Elysia called out to him from a few yards away. She had walked ahead before realizing he hadn't even climbed out of the car yet. Since he had carried her out in a rush, she wasn't wearing a proper coat, only a cream-colored hoodie paired with simple black leggings and snow boots.

The chill of the Jindale winter caught her, and she rubbed her hands together, blowing on them to catch a bit of warmth. Her long, waist-length hair was slightly disheveled, and the traces of blood on her forehead coupled with her red-rimmed eyes gave her the appearance of a girl in distress. Yet, even in her disarray, she was strikingly beautiful—a rare, natural grace that drew the eyes of passersby in an era of artificial perfection.

"Tarquin, aren't you going to go in with her?" Lowell prompted from the driver's seat.

Tarquin pulled his gaze away, briefly straightened his attire, and strode toward her. As he approached, Elysia pouted. "What took you so long? The hospital is packed at this hour. We'll be waiting forever, and the kids are still home alone."

Tarquin didn't offer a verbal excuse. Instead, he simply draped his own heavy overcoat over her shoulders.

Elysia blinked in surprise. "?"

"If you catch a cold, Elijah will worry," Tarquin explained with his usual aloofness, "and our New Year celebrations will be ruined."

"But won't you be cold?" she asked, looking at his much thinner layer. "What if you get sick instead?"

"I won't. I’m not as delicate as you are."

"Am I delicate?"

Tarquin’s lips twitched, but he chose not to answer that particular question.

Elysia glanced down at the high-quality fabric of the coat. "This is such a nice piece. It would be a shame to wear it once and then have to get rid of it, right?"

"Why on earth would we get rid of it?"

"Because you don't like me wearing your clothes," she reminded him. "If I wear it, you usually don't want it back. Isn't that basically the same as throwing it away?"

Tarquin frowned, his pace slowing. "When did I ever say I didn't like you wearing my clothes?"

"That time you were... well, under the influence," she said, choosing her words carefully. "I borrowed one of your turtlenecks. You seemed genuinely upset and said if I wore it, you wouldn't want it back. You even used the word 'disgusting'."

Tarquin’s frown deepened. "...Did I really say that?"

"You did! I remember it clearly. That sweater is still at my place. I washed it, but I never dared to give it back to you."

"You misunderstood," Tarquin muttered, his voice dropping an octave. "It wasn't that I found it 'disgusting' because it was you. Just... remember to return it to me."

Elysia, puzzled, pressed him further. "Then what did you mean? If you weren't bothered by me wearing it, what was the problem?"

"I've forgotten!" he snapped, though there was no real heat in his voice.

Elysia pouted but didn't push him further, preparing to head toward the crowded main entrance. However, Tarquin caught her hand and led her in the opposite direction.

"Where are we going?" she asked, confused. "Aren't we here to see a doctor?"

"I’m taking you through the private entrance," Tarquin replied, a hint of irritation at her forgetfulness. "We're going to see Benjamin."

It finally dawned on her. "Oh! I completely forgot about Dr. Benjamin. I’ve been so preoccupied with you lately that it slipped my mind."

That offhand remark struck a sudden chord in Tarquin’s chest. Her words filtered through his mind, simplifying into a single, startling thought: She has been thinking of him. Upon further reflection, his mind condensed it even more: She misses him.

Tarquin looked at Elysia meaningfully, a thousand things he wanted to say rising to his lips. But then his eyes caught the injury on her forehead, and he held back, guiding her gently into the warmth of the clinic.