Chapter 38

At the hospital parking lot.

"Ms.Harris."

Just as Emilia reached for the car door, a voice she recognized called from behind.

Turning, she spotted Wilbur, who was pushing Elias's wheelchair across the lot.

With an easy grin, Wilbur said, "Imagine bumping into you here at the hospital. What are the odds?"

Their visit wasn't by chance. They had come searching for Landon, hoping he might give them a lead on Asclepius. Every question was met with a dead end. No offer seemed to sway Landon. He simply said Asclepius couldn't be found, even if he wanted to help.

"Yes, what are the odds? Are you checking in foryourself or visiting someone?" Emilia asked, letting her eyes linger on Elias's legs.

On most days, that kind of stare would have ticked Elias off. For some reason, though, he showed no sign of irritation-not with her.

Wilbur picked up on the silent exchange, noticing that Elias hardly seemed to mind Emilia's boldness.

"Just visiting," lied Elias, his voice quiet, lips barely parting:

His gaze swept over Emilia's neck for a fleeting moment, completely unreadable.

"Is that so?" Emilia nodded, her voice calm though her words carried a lie. "I'm here visiting a friend as well."

What she said wasn't completely false-Landon was indeed an old acquaintance,though not a patient.

"Did something happen to your neck, Ms. Harris? How'd you get that mark?" Wilbur suddenly asked,catching sight of the red mark against her skin.

Almost at onoe, Emilia's hand flew up to her neck. She rubbed the spot with a stiff smile.′′|scratched myself earlier while trying on a scarf."

"Trying on a scarf?" Wilbur's brow furrowed, suspicion tugging at his face.

The story didn't add up. Who would try a scarf in weather like this? Even with the air conditioning blasting,Emilia's excuse felt flimsy, and the redness on her neck didn't look like it came from a scratch. If anything, it looked more like...

Wilbur's eyes widened as the thought struck him. The mark mirrored the shape of fingers pressing hard against her skin. Considering Emilia's abilities, the only man she'd allow that close was her husband.

If she'd crossed someone dangerous, there would be more to see than a mark on her neck. Anyone out for vengeance would have done much worse.

"Anyway, I'm meeting a friend, so I'll be going now." Emilia offered a quick farewell before slipping into her car and pulling away.

Wilbur watched her taillights fade into the city, then murmured to himself, "No scratch could make those marks. Someone grabbed her, I'm sure of it."

Leaning down, excitement flickered in his eyes as he whispered, "It had to be Rodger. Nobody else could leave a mark on her like that unless she let them. Even after everything, she still covers for him. She's got it bad for Rodger-getting tossed out, signing divorce papers, and still, she finds a way to protect him. That's the kind of loyalty you don't see every day. Rodger's not worth half of what she gives. Honestly, I think-"

A single cold glare from Elias froze the rest of the words in Wilbur's throat. Without it, he might have gone on endlessly.

"Alright, alright, I'll shut up. No need to glare at me like that," Wilbur said in surrender as he helped Elias into the back seat and folded away the wheelchair.

Sliding behind the wheel, he leaned back dramatically."Oh, the tragedy of being such a loyal attendant. No one knows my suffering."

Silence stretched from the back. When Wilbur glanced over, Elias already had his eyes closed,resting. "Not even a comment? You're no fun," Wilbur muttered, chuckling as he started the engine.

He didn't really mind the trouble. Truth be told, if Elias hadn't put himself in harm's way to protect him back then, he would never have made it out alive. Looking after Elias for the rest of his days felt like a small price to pay.

The hum of the road carried them along for a while. Suddenly, Elias's eyes snapped open, cold and distant,and he broke the silence with a few measured words.