SIX MONTHS LATER:

AUTHOR'S POV

City hospital,
08:43 pm

Six months passed but there was no sign of Xaden. Sadness engulfed the whole mansion as well as William's heart. The loss of a cheerful soul was missed terribly by everyone but he was nowhere to be found.

The only clue they got was his car parked at New York airport and Sen with him in a CCTV who also disappeared afterwards.

Reed was outside the hospital, purchasing medicines for Anna who is having a low blood pressure problem since Xaden's disappearance and it getting worsen with time.

She has got eye bags and has become skinny and silent. The only name she has on her lips is Xaden's.

It was the fourth time she has taken to the hospital and given IVs.

Reed had a day off so he decided to go with his parents. He brought everything needed, and as soon as he turned he heard he heard a familiar feminine voice.

He lifted his gaze to see Jane walking outside the hospital with a file in her hands. " Jane?" He stopped.

She faced him. " Good evening, sir." She bowed.

Reed gave her a nod. His eyes caught how her grip around the file got tightened.

" Everything alright?" He asked.

Jane hesitated before speaking. " Alice got an eye donor."

Reed grinned. " That's good news." He wasn't able to hide his excitement but Jane was looking dull. It took him a few moments then he understood the reason behind it. " The cost- Have you planned something?" He asked.

" I'm applying for a job on the night shift-" She began only to get cut off.

" Do you think you'll manage the amount this way till the date?" He asked.

She didn't know why she was sharing yet she felt like doing that. " I'll take a loan from the bank-"

" Listen to me. I won't repeat this advice." He cut her off once again." I'll pay for her surgery-"

"I don't need your help-"

" Do. Not. Interrupt." He said in a stern voice.

She lowered her gaze.

" I'm not doing it for free. I'll make a contract even though I know you can't run away, I'll take each penny back because I know this is the only way your pride won't be hurt."

Jane looked up at him as he emphasized the word pride.

Reed sighed thinking why he always ends up sounding rude to her but it's her attitude that makes him show his bossy side.

He's the kind of person who never interferes in anyone's business. The kind who barely advises or not at all but this time it involves Alice.

" Why do you want to help us?" Jane questioned not expecting the reply he gave.

" I'm being straightforward. I like Alice." Her head snapped up at his words." She doesn't know about it yet. Even I got to know about my feelings recently. I'm-" Reed paused as he saw his parents coming out of the hospital. " Just know that I'm not favoring you, I'm favoring her. Think about it." Reed added and went towards Anna to support her.

Jane had her eyes on them until they drove off. She doesn't trust anyone but after spending months in EXR she has concluded that Reed is a responsible person and a man of words.

She went back to her house and found Alice sleeping in her room peacefully. She sat on the edge of her bed looking at Alice with the crowd of thoughts in her head.

She covered Alice with her blanket and went to her room.

She spent a sleepless night in her bed deciding whether she should accept his offer or not.

She groaned as she glanced at the wall watch only to realize it was almost sunrise.

Without a blink of sleep, she took a long shower and got ready for the office. She picked up Edwin from the mansion who hardly exchange words with her now.

His behavior has turned quite cold since the engagement night. She has tried to talk multiple times but he ignored her each time.

Jane wondered why he didn't kick her out of his company but her job is in Tan's hands. Edwin has no authority over his secretary.

Now, the project is ending and EXR had a pretty tight schedule as Xaden's work's responsibility is also on his brothers' shoulders.

Following Edwin, she reached upstairs, who took off his coat and hung that on the coat stand beside his rolling chair. He went towards his shelf and grabbed a bunch of files from it.

" Finish them all by tonight." He said putting them on his table before taking a seat on his chair and starting to work on his laptop.

Jane silently took all the files and went to work on them in her cabin. She knew he was taking revenge but she also knew she was wrong.

It took her all day but she managed to finish her work and went back to her boss." All done." She breathed out placing the files back on his table.

" We gotta catch up on Xaden's works too." He said tossing two more files toward her.

" But, Sir-"

Edwin lifted his head having blank look on his face. " I want the file ready in an hour. Got it?" He asked in a dead voice.

Jane nodded and strolled out of his cabin holding the files against her chest. She pulled out her mobile from her pocket and started to dial a number.

She called her aunt and Alice multiple times but the call wasn't connecting because of the bad network in their area.

She glanced up to see Reed leaving his cabin along with a man by his side. " He's in New York." Jane got to hear the man talking as she quickly approached Reed and waited for him to end the conversation with the man so she could talk to him.

" Inform me if you'll get to know anything." Reed dismissed the man as he noticed Jane waiting for him.

" Alright, Sir." The man left and Reed turned his attention towards Jane with his hands in his pockets.

'' Do you have anything to say?" Reed asked looking at Jane and then at Edwin through the glass wall as he was still working.

" Could you please inform at my home that I'll be late? I'm unable to call them." She hesitantly requested.

Reed turned his gaze at Jane again then nodded. " Sure." He said hearing Jane thanking him lowly before heading to work on the given files.

Within a few minutes, Reed neared Alice's house. He asked his driver to stop his car a bit away and without making any noise he walked towards the girl with pressed feet who was standing outside her house with arms crossed on her chest. The cold breeze was blowing her long brown hair she seemed to wait for her sister.

Approaching her, her admirer covered her eyes from behind. Her shoulders moved up as she flinched at his sudden act but soon her shoulders relaxed. A wide smile spread on her lips as she knew who is it. Because only in his world, she's not blind.

She touched the back of his hands with her tiny palms before uncovering her eyes by grabbing and moving his long cylindrical fingers away from her face.

" Reed ". She said making him smile for the first time in the entire day.

" How did you recognise me?" Reed asked uncovering her eyes. He took a step backward, making room for her to turn around.

" I randomly guessed." She smiled shrugging her shoulders.

" What if I'll stand in a crowd and you'd have got your eyesight back till then? How'd you know it is me?" Reed began to play, forgetting all his tiredness and problems.

" Ummm... By your voice for sure." She answered smartly.

" What if I'll stay silent?" He thought this will be hard to answer.

" Then...by your scent." She said as she recognises his cologne very well. "Or maybe by-" She raised her hand and brought it to his forehead. Her fingers brushed his broad forehead then the soft and slim fingers of her's tailed down from his round nose and soon they came in contact with Reed's lips that parted with a simple touch.

Memorizing each features her hand was approximately to move to assist down to recollections his chin but Reed had gotten her wrist ceasing her on her track.

Alice's eyeballs somewhat moved left to right. Her gaze was on his shoulders without her knowing.

Her fingers curled when she felt him kissing her fingertips. A shy smile rose to her lips and her face turned red.

Reed leaned to her ear. " I won't let you go that close to anyone." He whispered looking down at the innocent fairy.

She slowly wiggled her hand in an attempt to release that. " I'm-" She tried to speak but was too timid to continue.

" You?" He prodded, her face turned even rudder.

" Jane." She lied that made Reed move back quickly. He looked around to see no one around.

Alice giggled.

" You got me." Reed sighed adoring her. " Wait..." Something hit him." Jane's the reason I'm here. She wanted me to inform you that she'll be late tonight." Reed gave her the massage.

" Why?" Alice's smile vanished and frowns formed on her forehead in no time.

Reed sensed her worries. " She's absolutely fine. It's just she has some extra office work left today." Reed said remembering the reason, he remembered slapping him.

Everyone is blaming themselves. Considering themselves as his sinner.

" Reed?" She called as he suddenly went silent and before she could ask why Reed spoke.

" Xaden left the house on the engagement night."

" What? Why?" Alice frowned." I didn't get to thank him properly." Reed came out of his thoughts when Alice mumbled.

" For what?" He inquired.

" Remember my dream I told you about." Alice asked.

" That singing one?" Reed queried.

" Xaden fulfilled that just before I slipped into the pool." She said with mixed emotions of happiness and sadness.

" I'm not getting it-"

" We sang together at the hotel owner's anniversary that night," Alice explained.

Reed palmed his face. So this is why he was requesting Dad to contact the owner in the police station. He thought to himself.

" He sings so well." Alice added.

Reed regretted more now.

He spent some more time as it was relaxing to be with Alice. He never used to share the family issues or his feelings with anyone but with Alice, he feels secured. That's the reason he's so open with her. Also, Jane isn't allowing her to go anywhere alone after the incident and he didn't meet her in the garden.

Alice was getting treated so politely by one of the triplets while in the other hand, Edwin wasn't showing any mercy, to her sister.

Jane was still working in her cabin. Her writing speed moderated down and she began to feel woozy.

Abruptly a drop of blood fell on the paper she was working on. She set her finger on her nostrils and moved her head up attempting to avoid it.

She flickered numerous times and shook her head as dark dabs began to block her vision.

She tried to stand up to get some water but stumbled on her feet and fell to the ground along with the chair which made an uproarious thud and brought Edwin's attention towards it as the office was dangerously quiet.

" What is she doing now?" He clenched his jaw and called on the telephone of her cabin. The ringtone was echoing on the floor but she wasn't picking up.

Edwin sighed making his way toward her. " Can't you-" As soon as he entered he found the almost unconscious girl lying on the floor.

" Jane?" He rushed towards her and sat on the floor next to her. " Jane, what's wrong? Open your eyes." He tapped his hand on her face and pushed her hair away from her face.

Her eyes were closed, and thick blood was coming out of her nose.

Edwin quickly stood up and brought a water bottle. He opened the cap and splashed some water on her face.

Jane opened her eyes. Edwin helped her sit up and rested her back against the wall behind her. She hissed and started to rub the side of her head. " Are you good?" Edwin asked.

She gave him a nod but her painful expression didn't convince him.

She touched her nose feeling wetness. She glanced at her fingers and saw blood.

Edwin brought a tissue box and sat on his ankle in front of her.

She expected him to hand her the tissue but instead, he held her chin with one hand and started to wipe the blood from her upper lips himself with the other one.

" You know a normal person would say they are having nose bleeding but no... you have to keep your ego and faint first." He kept on mumbling and scolding her. " Hold it here." He said making her hold a tissue under her nose and pulling out clean tissues from the box. " I didn't expect you to be careless." He took her hand in his and started wiping her fingers.

Jane was silently watching him all the time as he looked so tense. For the first time in years, she saw concern in someone's eyes for her. He felt like family for caring and scolding at the same time.

" I wasn't in my senses that night."

Edwin moved his head up to see her face only inches away from his. Her gray orbs were reflecting the city light causing them to look like two universes.

Her hands slowly moved up and she joined her palms together. " Forgive me." She Apologized.

• It's hard to be found when you never let anyone around.

Chapter Published On: 26 March 2023.