Chapter 84: Theron’s unusual attention

Elowen’s eyes widened. "What are you doing? Put me down."

She tried to push herself out of his hold, but his arms tightened around her.

He ignored her words and started walking toward the exit.

Elowen’s face burned in embarrassment as she sensed several pairs of eyes on them.

"People are staring."

"Let them." His response was immediate and unapologetic. "You almost fainted. I’m not letting you walk. So stop struggling."

His expression left little room for argument.

As he carried her out of the café, Theron felt a strange mixture of fear and satisfaction.

Elowen was in his arms. Her head rested against his chest, and her fingers had caught the front of his suit jacket.

He could feel her warmth through the fabric and could hear her breathing close to his neck.

At that moment, he forgot the reality of their relationship.

This was how he wanted her always—close enough to hold, close enough to protect, close enough that he didn’t have to watch her walk away from him.

A dark, possessive thought crept into his mind.

’Why do I have to pretend that I’m merely her boss? Why can’t I hold her whenever I want? Why can’t I take care of her without having to explain myself?’

He wanted to be the person she turned to whenever she felt weak, the person whose arms she sought whenever she needed comfort. He wanted her to rely on him.

And the thought of Soren enjoying that place in her life made something bitter twist inside his chest.

His hold tightened further.

"Theron, you are holding me too tight."

Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Sorry." He immediately loosened his arms. But he didn’t put her down.

He carried her toward the car. Once he reached it, he carefully opened the passenger door and lowered her onto the seat.

He adjusted the seatbelt before closing the door. A moment later, he settled behind the wheel and started the engine.

"There is no need to go to the hospital," she said, dropping her head against the seat. "I just need to lie down for a while."

His focus was firm on the road. There was only one singular purpose—taking her to the hospital as quickly as possible.

"You are not a doctor, Elowen. Neither am I. Let’s leave it to the professionals to decide whether you are fine.

Theron pulled out of the parking area.

Daphne emerged from the shadows, her phone still raised as she recorded the car driving away. Her lips curled into a satisfied smirk.

"This is priceless." Her gaze returned to the phone, replaying the moment Theron had carried Elowen out of the cafe. "Elowen, your reputation, your pride—everything will be ruined. You will lose your job. And I will make sure of it."

Unaware of what had happened, Soren arrived outside Elowen’s office building. He parked the car by the roadside and reached into the front pocket of his suit jacket for his phone.

An easy smile tugged at his lips.

He scrolled down the screen until he found her number. He glanced at the office building as he dialed her number.

The call was connected after a few rings.

"Hello."

His smile widened at the sound of her voice. "I’m outside the building. Come down."

Elowen pursed her lips on the other side of the phone, knowing Soren had been waiting for her outside the office.

"I’m at the hospital."

The smile vanished straight away from his face. His earlier relaxed posture stiffened.

"What? At the hospital?" he exclaimed, worry creeping into his voice. "What’s wrong? Tell me you are okay. Tell me our baby is fine. Don’t stay silent. Say something."

The questions came tumbling out before he could stop them.

"Relax. Baby is fine. I’m just a bit dizzy."

"Dizzy?" Soren’s fingers tightened around the phone. "I’m coming. Don’t move. Stay where you are. I’ll be right there before you know it."

Slipping the phone back into his pocket, he drove away.

The journey to the hospital became a blur of motion. His focus was firm on the road, and his foot pressed harder on the accelerator. Whenever the traffic forced him to slow down, he impatiently honked the horn.

He wanted to reach her as soon as possible. If only he had wings, he would have flown straight to her.

At the hospital...

Theron returned to the room after talking to the doctor. His gaze fell on her.

Elowen tried to sit up.

"Don’t move." He crossed the room in three long strides and pressed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her. The contact sent ripples of sensations through him.

He could feel her warmth beneath his palm. For an instant, he wanted to lean closer and hug her.

Elowen lay back against the pillow. "What did the doctor say?"

Theron stared at her before slowly withdrawing his hand. The sudden loss of contact left him with an odd sense of emptiness. His palm felt unusually cold, with only a faint trace of her warmth lingering in the tip of his fingers.

"The baby is stable," he said, his tone grim. "The doctor suggested you need proper rest. No more stress. No more unnecessary pressure."

He paused, letting the words sink in. "I’ll restructure your schedule. You won’t have to handle everything yourself anymore. I’ll arrange a more comfortable workplace for you, reduce your workload, and make sure you have enough breaks between tasks."

He wanted to create an environment where she could remain close to him without having to push herself. He wanted to keep an eye on her, make sure she ate on time, and know immediately if something was wrong.

"You can work at your own pace," he continued. "If you feel tired, you can rest without worrying about deadlines. I’ll personally make sure no one bothers you."

He would make her so comfortable around him that she wouldn’t feel the need for Soren.

"Theron, please don’t do that. I don’t need special treatment. I’m fine."

’Don’t act as if you are stronger than you are," he chimed in sharply. "There is nothing wrong with being vulnerable. You should let other people take care of you." He turned and walked to the sofa across the bed. "Now sleep. I’m here. I’m not leaving."