Chapter 450
After thanking the student for her concern, Eva left the restroom, rejoining the group outside. Unaware, she didn’t see the college girl follow her out, watching from a distance as Eva was engulfed by the crowd of men.
“Ms. Hansen, you’re back; we can head out now,” someone declared, signaling that the time had come to depart. Eva Shen was well escorted by a protective group moving towards their destination, which didn’t go unnoticed by a female
college student trailing behind. The scene struck her as increasingly odd.
While they were leaving, Eva seized an opportunity to slip the tissue she had prepared earlier into David’s pocket. He caught the action with a flicker in his eyes but outwardly kept his composure as if nothing had happened, continuing to walk ahead.
It wasn’t until just before boarding that he excused himself to the restroom. There, he unfolded the tissue and read the words Eva had written.
Her concerns were brief.
One question asked about Adrian Blackwood’s current condition. The other was more personal-whether he, David himself, was under Michael Cooper’s control due to some leverage.
A warmth bloomed in David’s heart; Eva had seen through the facade to his true intentions, holding no misjudgments about his recent behavior.
After reading her note, David flushed the tissue away without showing any emotion and left the restroom.
On the plane, David was the only one seated next to Eva. Their companions were scattered in seats ahead, behind, and to their right. Eva glanced at David twice, each time met with no response, causing her to doubt whether he had even noticed the secret message she had planted.
The doubt crept in. Perhaps she had been too subtle, and it was not out of the question that he had failed to notice. Should she remind him now?
As the flight attendant blocked the aisle with the service cart, Eva turned to David, poised to jog his memory about the napkin, only to notice he had written a single word on the armrest- “Safe p>
Their eyes met and she mouthed the word, to which he simply nodded.
Relieved, Eva settled back. The well-being of Adrian Blackwood had been her pressing concern, fearing his injuries might have long-lasting consequences, hence her urgency. Whether Adrian’s departure was expedited by Michael Cooper or the care arranged sooner, both were welcomed developments.
Yet, David had only addressed the query about Adrian, leaving his own situation unspoken. When Eva tried to catch his eye again, he seemed totally disinterested in further dialogue.
She glanced around at the others each person occupied with snacks, yet their attention was notably fixed on her and David.
Appetite eluding her, Eva requested just a cup of warm water from the flight attendant before leaning back in her seat, closing her eyes to rest and gather her thoughts.
After enduring two consecutive flights, Eva Shen was truly exhausted. She leaned back in her seat, and within moments, slipped into a fitful slumber.
In her dream, she revisited the scene from a photograph she had seen earlier that day.
Eva walked over to where Adrian Blackwood lay unconscious and took a seat beside him. To her surprise, shortly after sitting down, Adrian stirred awake. Upon seeing him awake, she moved forward to ask about his condition.
But as soon as she approached, Adrian recoiled from her presence and stared at her with a cold, challenging gaze. “Who are you? Why are you in my hospital room?” he demanded.
His straightforward question left Eva frozen in place, her eyes wide with bewilderment as she failed to understand how he could not recognize her.
She was about to explain herself when he abruptly removed his IV line and left the room. In a panic, Eva hurried after him, but once she stepped out of the room, he was nowhere to be seen. She searched frantically, panting for breath, but Adrian Blackwood was lost to her.
She checked everywhere until finally spotting a figure from behind that was the spitting image of Adrian. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t catch up and could only watch from behind as he joined another woman, clad in a wedding gown, walking into the hall of matrimony.
Worse still, the bride then turned on her, scolding sharply, “Who is this wild woman? Do you think bringing along these illegitimate children will make you Mrs. Blackwood? It’s a delusion. Leave now while I’m still calm, or don’t blame me for being unkind later p>
The children clung to her, wailing for their father, and Eva’s mind was a whirlwind of confusion and panic. She couldn’t understand how things had escalated so quickly.
Desperate to fix the situation, she found herself immobilized as if bound hand and foot, her anxiety building like a cat on a hot tin roof.
“Ms. Hansen, Ms. Hansen p>
From afar, Eva thought she heard her name being called.
The voice seemed familiar, yet she couldn’t quite place it. With each call, her head throbbed as if it might split.
“Ms. Hansen p>
Abruptly, Eva snapped awake, her eyes opening to a clearing visual field.
The chaotic images and the sounds of crying that had filled her dreams disappeared, replaced by the concerned face of David and two flight attendants. They were evidently relieved to see her awake, their faces brightening with joy. “You’re awake now, Miss. Are you alright?” one of the attendants asked gently, dabbing the cold sweat off Eva’s forehead with a caring gesture.
As the brightness embraced her and the comforting presence of those nearby surrounded her, Eva realized it had all been a dream-a nightmarish escape from reality.
Now, she had awakened.
With the realization that the fear was born of a dream, Eva exhaled in relief. Yet, even as the dread faded, her body remained rigid, her muscles limp with the aftermath of intense terror.
“It’s okay; it was just a nightmare,” she reassured herself, feigning a smile for her companions that quickly collapsed as she leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes in exhaustion.
Witnessing her weakened state, David spoke softly to the flight attendant, “Could we get some sugar water, or maybe some honey water p>
Barely had he finished his request when the attendant hastened to prepare it. In the meantime, David pulled a tissue from his pocket and offered it to Eva, “Ms. Hansen p>
Eva accepted the tissue, but it remained clutched, unused in her hand, too weary to even wipe her sweat.
Seeing this, David tenderly took on the task himself.
Their fellow travelers didn’t utter a word, their silence stemming from the shock of Eva’s prior distress-they had all seen it, and feared for her wellbeing, worried about facing the ire of Mr. Cooper. So, nobody objected to David’s attentiveness.
Feeling the gentle strokes of David’s hand wiping her brow, Eva felt a flush of embarrassment and was about to insist on doing it herself when David spoke, “Ms. Hansen, you seem overly concerned about Mr. Blackwood. Try not to worry; as far as I know, his life isn’t in immediate danger p>