Kira kept replaying the scene this morning in her mind.
Austyn's words were still ringing in her ears.
Stay Oft of My Life
Not exactly those three little words, but an unmistakable declaration of love nonetheless.
Kira hadn't been able to sit still since.
She got through the morning by burying herself in a book.
She had lunch with Elsie but tasted nothing.
She kept a watchful eye on the cuckoo clock in the living room and willed the hour hand to move faster.
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There's Something You Should Know
Kira wanted to see Austyn right now, to tell him that she loved him too.
But the waiting seemed to stretch on forever.
The morning had been drawn out.
The afternoon was interminable.
When dusk was finally here, Austyn was still nowhere to be found.
Kira kept her cars pricked up for the familiar roar of the Hummer's engine.
Normally, she would have welcomed the quietness outside, but now she found it suffocating.
It was now way past dinnertime.
Austyn didn't return.
Nor did he call.
Kira checked the time again.
It was four minutes, twenty seconds past seven.
Elise came out of the kitchen and sighed when she saw Kira on the sofa.
'Young Madam, you should eat. The food's getting cold."
'I'm not hungry."
'It's been more than six hours since you had lunch, and you barely touched your food back then.' Elsie sat down next to her. Kira was telling the truth.
She wasn't hungry.
Usually, she snacked when she got nervous.
But not this time.
She had too many butterflies in her stomach to keep down any food..
'Why don't you give Young Master a call?' Elsie suggested.
'There's no need. He said he would be back, and he will."
"But-
'I believe him. He would come back for dinner.'
There? Something You Shunda Know
Elsie bit back anoller sigh and said nothing.
All she could do was wait with Kira.
The red light over the door of the operating room went off one and a half hours later.
Austyn shot to his feet.
Deborah was wheeled out of the room.
The cuts were too deep.
She'd lost about ten per cent of her blood.
Luckily, officers got there in time.
A blood transfusion was required, followed by sutures and surgery, since the nerves in her forearms were damaged.
Deborah lay on the gurney with her eyes closed.
Her face was white as the sheet underneath her.
She looked lifeless.
'The surgery went well,' a doctor briefed Austyn. 'She'll need to stay under observation for another two days, and be kept in psychiatric hold if necessary."
Kai took notes of the doctor's words on a tablet.
He'd called Austyn an hour earlier to brief him on work.
Austyn asked him to come down here.
Deborah was transferred to a ward with a single bed.
Austyn followed the doctor inside. 'I'll stay here.
'Boss, you haven't had dinner yet. Shall I order some food?' Kai came into the room.
'No need.' Austyn sat down in a chair, leaned back and closed his eyes. 'I'm not hungry."
Kai knew there was no point trying to change Austyn's mind.
So he took his seat in another chair and went to work on his emails.
Austyn flipped through the files Kai brought with him.
Work was piling up.
***
Thered something) du Should Know.
35
The anaesthetic wore off eventually.
Deborah slowly came to an hour later.
Austyn snapped the file shut and stood up.
Deborah took in the surroundings.
Her eyes came to rest on Austyn's face.
She gave him a wan smile. 'I knew you would find me.'
'How are you feeling?""
"I'm fine."