She Was Never Just the Wife novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Bang- The lounge door was kicked open, crashing violently into the wall.

Elliott stood in the doorway, backlit, radiating cold danger. His gaze swept the room. Louis was scrambling in the corner, a bloody knife on the carpet, and Celia slumped against the wall, her dress soaked red, unconscious.

“Mr. Perry, it’s not my fault. She did it herself. I didn’t touch her.” Louis was scared stiff, stammering in panic.

Elliott didn’t even glance at him. Two of his subordinates behind him moved in, grabbed Louis, covered his mouth, and pinned him in the corner, all in silence.

Elliott knelt beside Celia. He checked on her and found her pulse fast, erratic. Her skin burned, and her cheeks were flushed red. Blood still seeped from her leg, staining her ivory white dress.

He frowned, shrugged off his jacket, and wrapped it around her. When he lifted her, she felt so light in his arms, which just made his heart heavier.

“Mr. Perry, what about him?” Chad asked quietly, glancing at Louis in the corner.

Elliott’s voice was ice. “e him. Keep an eye on him. And find out who ordered it, and what kind of drugs we’re dealing with.” After a pause, he said, “Keep him alive. We may need him.”

“Yes, Mr. Perry,” Chad replied.

********

Elliott carried Celia out. He took a private corridor to the exclusive rooms. The elevator took them to his suite on the top floor.

He laid Celia on the bed and checked her wound. It wasn’t deep, but ragged and bloody. He grabbed the first aid kit and, with steady hands, cleaned, disinfected, and bandaged it. His every move was efficient, as if he’d done that before.

Celia’s condition didn’t improve. She kept trembling, her brows tight, her breath hot and ragged, her skin burning, and she wouldn’t stop murmuring in distress.

“Get a doctor, now.” Elliott’s voice was tight. He didn’t even look at Chad, who followed him inside.

Chad grabbed his phone. Then Celia’s lashes fluttered. She forced her eyes open as pain and willpower pulled her back. Her vision was hazy, but she could make out the tall figure by the bed.

“Elliott?” Her voice came out hoarse, barely a whisper.

“It’s me.” Elliott took her cold hand. “Don’t be scared. The doctor’s coming.”

Celia shook her head weakly, cold sweat on her forehead. She forced her blurry gaze on him, her voice still calm. “Too late… The hospital won’t help…”

19:28 Mon, May 11

Chapter 34

Ellion’s heart sank. “What do you mean? What did they give you?”

4

Celia squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the drugs. “Testosterone propionate derivatives, plus hallucinogens and nerve stimulants… It’s from the black market, hitting hard and slow to break down…”

She dug her nails into her palm, gasping, “Antidotes are too slow. The hospital won’t make it in time. My nervous system could be wrecked. Even if I survive, I might never fully recover.”

Elliott’s face darkened. “There has to be another way. You’re the doctor”

Celia smiled bitterly, but her gaze was chillingly calm. “There is only one way now.” She looked at Elliott. “Sleep with a man. It’ll speed up my metabolism, flush the drugs out. It’s the only antidote that works before the nerve damage sets in.”

The room fell into a heavy silence. Chad stood frozen, phone in hand, unsure whether to keep dialing or not.

Elliott’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Celia’s pale, unnervingly calm face. It was like she was just talking about some medical procedure, not about herself at all.

“You…” His voice was dry and rough. “Do you know what you’re asking for?”

“I know what I’m saying,” Celia gasped, trembling, but her eyes stayed sharp. “Look, it’s only a way to deal with the drugs, no different from surgery or medication.

“Just get me a clean guy. I’ll pay.” She even added, “Afterwards, no string attached.”

Elliott’s heart felt like it was in a vise. He looked at Celia, the woman who’d cut herself rather than pass out. Her composure unnerved him and broke his heart.

“Can’t your medical skills fix this?” he asked.

Celia shook her head, sweat-soaked. “A counteragent takes two hours. I can’t last tl. long.” Her body spasmed, and she gritted her teeth. “Be quick. Find me a man before I can’t choose for myself.”

Those last words came at a cost. Her mind and the drugs were at war, fighting for control.

Elliott stared at her face, which was flushed, pained, but full of resolve. In her agonized eyes, he saw himself.

At a moment, he was not sure if she was trusting him, or maybe just resigned.

Then he leaned down, careful not to hurt her wound, and lifted her into his arms, blanket and all.

“Mr. Perry?” Chad was shocked.

“Get me another suite on the top floor, completely private with no cameras,” Elliott said, his voice calm but absolute. “Have our team lock down the whole floor. No one gets near. And tell the doctor to hold off.”

Her mind foggy, Celia barely caught his words. She struggled to lift her head and look at him, a flicker of doubt finally crossing her eyes. “You…”

Elliott carried her to the door, eyes forward. “There’s no one else,” he said, his voice low and steady.

19:28 Mon, May 11

Chapter 31

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He paused, then added, as if convincing himself, “I can’t let you go with some stranger. At least, I’m clean,”

The door of another top-floor suite closed behind them. Elliott laid Celia on the plush bed. A single warm lamp bathed the room in a soft, hazy glow.

The drugs had Celia now. She curled up, trembling, muffled moans slipping out. Her eyes blurred and refocused as she kept fighting to stay lucid.

Elliott stood by the bed. awkwardly loosening his tie and pulling off his vest. He’d weathered storms, but nothing like this.

“Celia.” He leaned over Celia, hands on the bed. “Look at me. It’s Elliott. You have the last chance to say no. I’ll find another way, whatever the risk.”

Celia struggled to focus, sweat on her chin. She found no hint of taking advantage from his face, only heavy seriousness and subtle nervousness.

“Elliott,” she whispered his name. “Thank you.” With her last bit of clarity, she pulled him closer by his collar. Like a silent consent, she closed her eyes and let go of reason.

Elliott’s gaze darkened. He stopped holding back. He kissed her, soft at first. Then Celia responded. With drugs ing over, her kiss turned deep and urgent.

Layer by layer, their clothes came off. The second Elliott’s hands touched her burning skin, they both shuddered.

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