Chapter 99

"Cananybodyreally understandhowloveworks?"Wilbur asked, unbothered by the tension.

Elias shot him a warning glare that made Wilbur immediately look away. That was when Wilbur noticed Edwin stepping outside.

"Look at that," said Wilbur, focusing on Edwin's cheerful stride. "He's leaving, and he looks over the moon.Something must've gone right for him.You think Ms. Harris finally told him how she feels?"

Those words barely hung in the air before a chill settled over the van, turning the inside colder than before.

Wilbur pulled his jacket tighter, sneaking a glance at Elias, whose stare could have cut glass.

"I ŝwear, that's just a guess," Wilbur stammered."It's not like Ms. Harris would actually do that."

His thoughts raced as he realized he might have just signed his own death warrant. If possible,

Elias's expression grew even icier.

Before Wilbur could dig himself any deeper,

Elias spoke up. "Drive. We're leaving."

Wilbur blinked, thrown off. "Wait,what?"

Elias's unyielding gaze left Wilbur no choice. He started the car without another word.

"We're just heading back? You're not even the least bit tempted to corner that guy and get some answers?" Wilbur asked, unable to keep his curiosity in check. "Maybe I should go and find out what made him so happy."

Elias kept his eyes closed, barely moving. "Stop talking."

That was all it took for Wilbur to button his lips.He wondered how Elias could stay so collected,especially after how agitated he used to get whenever Emilia was around.

Not long after, they left the van behind. Elias made his way to the study, rolled inside, and quietly turned the lock, shutting out the world.

"This is wild," Wilbur whispered under his breath as he watched the closed door, shaking his head. "How does he manage to act like nothing bothers him? Where did all that nervous energy go?"

He hung around for a bit, hoping Elias would come out, but the study remained silent and the door stayed shut. With nothing else to do,Wilbur headed back to his own room.

...

Sometime in the middle of the night, Wilbur,barely awake, became dimly aware of a shadowy figure standing next to his bed.

At first, Wilbur thought his imagination was playing tricks on him. After blinking a few times,he realized someone really was standing by his bed.

Panic shot through him as he shot upright and fumbled for the lamp, flooding the room with light.

When he saw it was Elias, his shoulders slumped,though his irritation was plain. "You can't be serious right now. What are you doing here in the middle of night? Watching me sleep is not normal,you know."

If Wilbur didn't know Elias so well, he might have bought into the gossip swirling around about Elias. Who stayed up in the middle of the night just to stand and stare at someone sleeping? If he hadn't spent so much time with Elias, he would have suspected something strange.

Elias, unable to rest, had only one thing on his mind-he needed answers about what had left Edwin looking so pleased.

"Go find out what Emilia and Edwin discussed,"Elias instructed, his voice sharp and cold.

Still groggy from sleep, Wilbur tried to keep his annoyance in check. Lashing out at Elias would get him nowhere.

Wilbur could not keep the frustration out of his voice. "What did I ever do to deserve this? Why not just send a text? Did you have to wake me up like this?" He sounded ready to break down.

"I want answers. Get to it now." Without another word, Elias turned his chair toward the door.

As the wheels rolled out, Wilbur muttered a vow under his breath. From now on, he would never go to bed without locking that door. Defeated, he grabbed his phone and began making calls, following Elias's orders. Deep down, he knew he owed too much to Elias to ever refuse.

.·.

The following morning.

Inside the bright, glass-walled office of the Edwards GGroup, Oliver's gaze was unreadable.

"Jeffry, bring me a coffee," Oliver said, his voice flat.

"Right away, sir." Jeffry turned and left at once.

Oliver leaned back in his chair, pressing his fingers to his aching forehead.

Pulling out his phone, he caught a headline about Emilia that made him pause.

His mood soured as he scanned the stories, his expression tightening with every line.

A chill settled behind his glasses, and the cold glint in his eyes grew sharper.