Eli’s Emergency
Chapter 09 - Eli’s Emergency
Three weeks later Eli collapsed during soccer practice.
It was dehydration and exhaustion, nothing life-threatening, but Claire’s panic ignored logic.
She reached the hospital first.
Adrian arrived minutes later.
Eli was awake and embarrassed.
“I’m fine.”
Claire hugged him anyway.
Adrian stood awkwardly beside the bed.
Then Eli held out his hand.
Adrian took it.
“Stay.”
One word.
Adrian sat down.
Hours later, after Eli was discharged, Claire realized Adrian had canceled an important board meeting without mentioning it.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did.”
She looked at him.
He continued.
“I missed every fever before this. I’m not missing another one because someone scheduled a meeting.”
Claire felt something shift.
Not romance.
Not yet.
Trust.
Later, Noah fell asleep against Adrian’s shoulder in the waiting room.
Claire took a photograph.
Adrian saw her.
“Send me that.”
She did.
It became his phone background.
When Victor’s attorney later asked Adrian to approve a portrait for the company headquarters, Adrian declined.
He chose another photograph instead.
Noah and Eli laughing at breakfast.
The company board objected.
May you like
Adrian didn’t care.
For the first time in his life, he was building a future his father had not designed.
