The Billionaire's Temptation: Love, Family and Revenge-Chapter 46: Suspicions

Just as Ford was about to lean in again, a sudden knock at the door made Elena pull away instantly. She pushed him off in a hurry, quickly straightening herself.

Before ten seconds had passed, the door swung open, and Kelvin rushed inside, with Lily following closely behind.

Kelvin reached the hospital bed, only to find it empty. His face twisted in frustration. "Where did he go? I’m so annoyed that he never tells me when he’s not feeling well! Now he’s disappeared!" he complained bitterly.

"I’m calling the doctor," Kelvin said, turning to leave.

But before he could take a step, Lily grabbed his arm. "No need," she said, her voice laced with surprise. "There they are."

Kelvin followed her gaze and froze. His eyes landed on Ford, who was holding Elena close, his hand resting firmly on her waist.

Elena had tried to push Ford away the moment the knock came, but he had pulled her back just as Kelvin and Lily walked in.

For a few tense seconds, all four of them stood there, staring at one another in silence. Finally, Elena stepped away from Ford, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Ford noticed her shyness and chose not to say anything, letting her go.

Lily smirked, crossing her arms. "Looks like we interrupted something... interesting. Let’s go." With that, she turned and made her way toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Ford asked, his voice calm but firm. "There’s no need to leave. You’ve already interrupted, so you might as well stay."

Elena stiffened, feeling her face heat up even more. She could barely find the courage to look at Lily and Kelvin, let alone stay in the room. Her heart pounded in her chest, embarrassment making it hard to breathe.

"I’ll be leaving now," she finally managed to say, her voice quieter than usual. She needed to get out of there—away from the awkwardness, away from the intense stares, and most of all, away from Ford’s presence, which still lingered around her like an invisible force.

Lily, who had been watching her closely, suddenly smiled. "Nice seeing you again, Elena," she said, her tone lighthearted and warm.

Elena hesitated, slightly taken aback. She hadn’t expected Lily to still be so friendly after what had happened between them at the boutique. Slowly, she lifted her head and forced a small smile. "Same here, Lily," she replied softly.

Without saying anything more, Elena gave a small wave before turning on her heels and leaving the room. The tension in her shoulders only eased once she was out of sight.

As the door closed behind her, Ford turned his attention to Lily, noticing how her eyes lingered on the spot where Elena had just stood. "You seem close to her," he remarked, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

Lily turned back to face him and shrugged. "Something like that," she admitted, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "She’s nice and sweet. I can see why you like her."

Ford smirked slightly but said nothing.

Lily tilted her head, her gaze sharpening with suspicion. "But you never told me you had something serious going on with her," she pointed out, crossing her arms.

Still smiling, Ford leaned back slightly. "I’ll tell you more about it later," he said casually, brushing the topic aside. He wasn’t ready to discuss his relationship with Elena, especially not in front of Kelvin. Right now, the last thing he wanted was to make her feel even more uncomfortable.

Lily narrowed her eyes at him but didn’t push any further. She knew Ford well enough to recognize when he wasn’t in the mood to talk about something he would change topic immediately.

Kelvin, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally spoke up. His voice carried a mixture of frustration and confusion. "Where have you been, Ford?" he demanded. "I expected to wake up and see you by my side, but instead, I woke up to my father and his concubine!"

Ford’s jaw tightened, and a flicker of anger crossed his face. He had no patience for his father or the woman he was with. Just the mention of them made his mood darken. Crossing his arms, he exhaled sharply before responding. "I had things to take care of," he said simply, unwilling to go into details.

But Kelvin wasn’t letting it go that easily. "Things like what?" he pressed, his frustration evident.

Ford remained silent, his expression unreadable. Whatever he had been doing, he clearly wasn’t ready to share it.

Kelvin let out a laugh, shaking his head. "The way you talk about your dad and his wife, Vivian, is honestly hilarious," he said, amused by Ford’s obvious frustration.

Ford, however, didn’t share the humor. His expression remained serious, and Kelvin quickly composed himself. "Anyway, don’t be annoyed," Kelvin continued, his voice softening. "The moment I heard you fainted, I rushed over here. Honestly, I was really worried. But what I don’t understand is—how could you be sick and not tell me?" There was a slight edge in his voice, a mixture of concern and hurt. He felt left out, like Ford had deliberately kept this from him.

Ford sighed, slipping his hands into his pockets as he eyed Kelvin. "And how exactly were you supposed to know?" he countered. "I haven’t even heard from you in a while. And whenever I ask what you’ve been up to, you say it’s nothing." His tone was firm, waiting for a real explanation.

Kelvin shifted uncomfortably. Ford had a point. The truth was, the reason for his absence had been standing right beside him this whole time—Lily. But how was he supposed to admit that? How could he tell Ford that his sister had been occupying his time in ways he never expected?

Forcing a smile to cover his unease, Kelvin shrugged. "It’s nothing serious, just work," he said smoothly, hoping Ford wouldn’t push further.

Ford raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Work?" he repeated, his tone skeptical. "A CEO like you? I know exactly how many employees you have working under you. You barely have to lift a finger unless it’s for signing deals or making major decisions. So tell me, what kind of ’work’ are you talking about?" His sharp gaze stayed locked on Kelvin, waiting for him to crack.

But before Kelvin could respond, Ford’s attention shifted. Something wasn’t right. His eyes narrowed as he studied Lily, who had been oddly quiet throughout their conversation. She stood stiffly beside Kelvin, her hands slightly trembling at her sides. Her usual confident aura seemed to have disappeared, replaced by an unsettling nervousness.

Ford frowned. "Lily," he said, his voice filled with concern, "are you alright?"

Kelvin instinctively responded, but his words weren’t the ones Ford was waiting for. "Of course, I’m fine," Kelvin said quickly.

Ford barely acknowledged him. His focus remained solely on his sister. "No, not you, Kelvin," he said, his voice firmer now. "I was asking Lily." He took a step closer, his concern growing. "Are you feeling sick? You’re shaking. We’re in a hospital, so if something’s wrong, just tell me."

Lily’s lips parted as if to respond, but she hesitated. Her eyes darted briefly toward Kelvin before she looked down, avoiding Ford’s intense gaze.

Something was definitely off. And Ford wasn’t about to let it go unnoticed.

Lily looked up quickly, meeting Ford’s gaze. Her expression was neutral, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—something she was trying to hide.

"Sick?" she repeated, forcing a small laugh. "I’m not the one who refuses to speak up when I’m unwell. I’m fine." She flashed a quick smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Ford studied her closely. Something felt off. He could sense it, but he couldn’t quite figure out what it was. The way she spoke, the way she smiled—it didn’t seem genuine. Still, he decided not to push her just yet. He would find out what was going on sooner or later.

His eyes shifted when he noticed the bag in Kelvin’s hand. "Are those my clothes?" he asked.

Kelvin nodded. "Oh, yeah. The butler asked me to bring them to you while he takes care of signing you out."

Ford glanced at the bag and then at the hospital bed. A neatly folded outfit sat on top of it. His eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Well, that’s better," he muttered. "I just realized the butler left the clothes I was wearing when I got here. Was he expecting me to put them back on?" He shook his head, amused, before reaching for the bag in Kelvin’s hand.

"Thanks," he said as he took the clothes. He ran his fingers over the fabric, then looked back at the other two.

"I need to get dressed," he said casually. His gaze landed on Kelvin. "I don’t mind you staying." Then he turned to Lily. "What about you?"

Lily had been unusually quiet, staring off into the distance as if lost in thought. Ford’s eyes narrowed slightly. She seemed completely disconnected from the conversation, her mind elsewhere.