Chapter 5

Chloe POV

At the medical center, the results came back quickly:

A superficial abrasion on my arm, a minor fracture in my tailbone. Not a serious injury, just bed rest and recovery.

Adrian stayed by the bed, his brow never relaxing.

"Will there be any lasting damage? How long will recovery take? Will she be in pain at night and unable to sleep?"

The private doctor answered each question one by one.

Anyone who saw that scene would think he loved me to the core.

After confirming all the injury precautions, Adrian arranged for a car to take me back to the estate.

By evening, the estate had become lively again.

Countless cars drove into the front courtyard of the main house.

Important members of the major families arrived one after another for Leo's christening party.

The whole estate was brightly lit, and faint music from the band and the sound of guests talking drifted up from downstairs.

Because I was injured, I stayed alone on the second floor to rest.

Before leaving, Adrian pulled the blanket up around me.

"Rest well. I'll come back to keep you company after the banquet."

The door closed softly, and the large bedroom fell quiet again.

Half an hour later, a maid walked in carrying a silver tray.

"Mrs. Chloe." She lowered her head respectfully.

"The old lady was worried you'd feel upset about not being able to attend the banquet, so she specially asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite dessert and send it up."

I glanced at it and didn't think much.

Sophia didn't like me, but she cared a great deal about the family's image. She always made sure the surface work was done perfectly.

I casually picked up a pastry and took a bite.

The maid stood where she was, as if she had been watching my reaction the whole time.

After seeing me eat it, a trace of barely noticeable relief flashed in her eyes, and then she quickly left.

Not long after she was gone, I suddenly felt that something was off.

At first, it was just a tightness in my chest.

Very quickly, breathing became difficult, my heart started beating faster and faster, and it felt like something was blocking my throat.

I froze hard.

There were hazelnuts in that pastry, and I had been severely allergic to hazelnuts since I was a child.

I braced myself against the bed and struggled to stand, then staggered toward the door.

The hallway was empty. The servants had all been sent downstairs to the banquet hall.

I held onto the wall and moved forward step by step, my breathing becoming more and more labored.

At last, I reached the circular corridor on the second floor.

Holding the railing, I looked down. The guests below were laughing and talking with glasses of champagne in hand.

Elena was sitting on a sofa, and the wound on her hand seemed to have split open again.

Doctors, bodyguards, and servants stood around her. Almost everyone was gathered by her side.

And Adrian was crouched in front of her, bending his head to adjust the bandage on her hand.

He looked focused, his movements gentle, and the sight made my eyes sting painfully.

I tremblingly took out my phone and called Adrian's number.

The ringtone sounded downstairs. I could see it clearly. After he took the phone from his suit pocket, he only glanced at it indifferently and put it back.

Then he went right back to lowering his head and fixing Elena's bandage.

My hand slowly dropped, and my breathing became harder and harder.

The lights in front of me started to blur.