The Billionaire's Temptation: Love, Family and Revenge-Chapter 61: A little rest

Ford didn’t waste a second before dashing back into Elena’s hospital room. His heart pounded as he rushed to her bedside, his breath uneven from both fear and anticipation. She was awake—her eyes were open, though they seemed clouded with dizziness. Beside her, Lily sat, holding her hand tightly, whispering soft words of comfort.

"Elena? It’s me, Lily. Can you hear me?" Lily asked, her voice trembling with emotion.

Elena blinked slowly, struggling to focus. Her body felt heavy, her mind foggy, but the voice beside her was familiar . She turned her head slightly, eyes searching for the familiar face. "Lily? Is that you?" she murmured weakly. "Where have you been? I was so scared..." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

At that moment, Lily’s face lit up with sheer joy. Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned swiftly to her brother. "Ford! She remembers me! She’s going to be alright! She remembers me!" she cried out, her happiness overflowing.

Ford stood frozen, his emotions colliding—shock, relief, and a deep, unshakable fear. What if she didn’t remember him? What if she looked at him the same way she had before—like a stranger?

Doctor Charles, noticing Ford’s hesitation, stepped forward and gently placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Sir Ford, I think you should go to her. See if she recognizes you," the doctor encouraged him.

Ford inhaled deeply, trying to steady himself. His heart was pounding violently against his chest, his palms slightly sweaty. He had missed Elena more than words could describe. The sight of her lying weak on the hospital bed made his chest tighten with emotion. He had prayed for this moment, hoped for her recovery, but now, standing before her, he was terrified.

Taking slow, cautious steps, he finally reached her bedside. His voice was gentle but filled with raw emotion. "Baby, how are you feeling? Do you know who I am?" His voice wavered, betraying the fear he tried to hide. He held his breath, waiting for her response, dreading the possibility that she might not remember him.

Elena felt the dizziness cloud her mind, her vision still slightly blurred. Her body felt incredibly weak, as though she had no strength left. Even lifting her hand seemed like an impossible task. But as soon as Ford’s face came into view, her heart swelled with emotions she couldn’t even begin to describe.

She wanted to cry, to scream, to reach out to him, but her body wouldn’t cooperate. All she could do was stare at him, eyes filled with unspoken words. "Ford..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.

She wanted to throw herself into his arms, to feel the warmth and comfort she had missed so much. She had been through so much, and for a moment, she had thought she wouldn’t survive. But here she was, alive—and he was right in front of her.

Tears trickled down her cheeks as she looked at him, her heart silently screaming the words her lips were too weak to say: I remember you. I love you.

Elena blinked slowly, struggling to process Ford’s question. Why would he ask that? Of course, she knew who he was. But as her eyes adjusted, she noticed the sadness on his face—the worry etched deep into his expression. He looked exhausted, as if he had been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

She hated seeing him like this. Even in her weak state, she wanted to comfort him. Mustering all the strength she could gather, she forced herself to smile. It was small, barely there, but she hoped it was enough to reassure him.

Ford had been watching her intently, desperate for any sign—anything to show that she was truly back, that she still remembered him. Then, he saw it. A tiny, almost invisible smile. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make his heart tighten with emotion.

She was trying.

He gazed at her with deep affection, his chest rising and falling with unspoken relief. But before he could say anything, he noticed something else—a single tear slipping down Elena’s cheek.

His heart ached at the sight. "Baby, are you alright?" he asked, his voice thick with pain. Seeing her cry made him feel helpless, as if there was nothing he could do to ease whatever pain she was feeling.

Elena swallowed hard, her throat dry, her voice weak. She lifted her trembling fingers slightly and whispered, "Come closer."

Ford didn’t hesitate. He moved in immediately, his face now just inches from hers.

"You look so sad," she murmured, her breath barely above a whisper. "Please, smile." She paused for a moment, gathering her strength before adding, "And why would I not know who you are?"

The weight that had been suffocating Ford suddenly lifted, replaced by overwhelming relief. He exhaled deeply, a shaky breath that carried all the fear and pain he had been holding inside. Without thinking, he reached for her hands, cradling them between his own. He kissed her palms softly, as if trying to transfer his warmth and love into her weak body.

Then, he gently pressed a kiss to her forehead, lingering for a moment, savoring the fact that she was still here—with him.

But by the time he pulled away and looked at her again, her eyes had already closed. She had drifted back to sleep.

Ford swallowed the lump in his throat, his voice breaking as he whispered, "She remembers me." It was a statement filled with both joy and pain.

Doctor Charles, who had been observing the interaction, sighed before speaking. "Sir Ford, it seems like her treatment is working. But I must warn you, the drug is still in her system. Her memory may not always be stable. There will be times she might forget who you are. The best thing you can do is ensure she takes her medication regularly."

Ford clenched his jaw, his heart sinking at the doctor’s words.

"So... are you saying she might not always remember us?" Kelvin asked, his voice filled with frustration. The idea of losing Elena over and over again was unbearable. He had hoped everything would be alright, but it was only getting more complicated.

Doctor Charles let out a small sigh, his voice calm yet firm. "Yes, Sir Ford, she is still in the process of recovering. Right now, her memory is unstable. She may remember some things from her past and forget others. But we should be grateful that she recognizes you all."

Ford nodded slowly, digesting the doctor’s words. The relief of Elena remembering him was overshadowed by the fear of what she might forget next. Would she always remember him? Or would there come a time when she looked at him with unfamiliar eyes again? The thought made his chest tighten.

Lily, who had been listening intently, couldn’t stay quiet any longer. "Wait, Doctor, are you saying she won’t be able to remember who did this to her?" she asked anxiously, her eyes wide with concern.

Doctor Charles gave her a sympathetic look. "Miss Lily, that’s something we don’t know yet. We have to wait until she wakes up again. Right now, what she needs most is proper rest." Then, turning his gaze toward Ford, he added, "And you, Sir Ford, you need to sleep and eat as well. I doubt you even remember that you fainted earlier."

Ford barely reacted to the statement. His exhaustion was evident, his eyes heavy, his body stiff with stress, but none of that mattered to him.

"Yes, please, Ford," Lily chimed in, her voice gentle but firm. "I’ll stay here and take care of Elena. Just go, have a bath, eat something, and rest for a while."

But Ford shook his head stubbornly. "No, let me wait a little longer," he insisted, his voice thick with worry. "I want to see if she wakes up again."

Kelvin sighed, stepping forward. "Ford, don’t worry. Lily is here. She’ll watch over Elena. You need to take care of yourself too. At least have a change of clothes, take a bath, and get some rest," he urged.

Ford remained silent for a moment, his gaze lingering on Elena’s sleeping form. He hated the thought of leaving her, even for a second. But deep down, he knew they were right. He was exhausted, and his body was begging for a break.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he turned to Kelvin. "Speaking of clothes, didn’t you say you were going to get some for me and Elena?" His tone was commanding now, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "Bring them. I’ll take a bath and sleep here with Elena. And stop trying to convince me to leave. I’m not going anywhere."

Kelvin exchanged a glance with Lily, who sighed in defeat. There was no arguing with Ford when he had made up his mind.

"It’s in the cupboard," Lily responded quietly, not wanting to upset him further.

Ford gave a small nod, then turned back to Elena. His exhaustion could wait—being close to her was all that mattered now.

Ford took slow, steady steps toward the cupboard, but as soon as he moved, a wave of dizziness washed over him. His body trembled slightly, his vision blurring for a moment. He paused, gripping the edge of the cupboard to steady himself. He refused to let his exhaustion take over—he had already fainted once, and he wouldn’t let it happen again. Taking a deep breath, he reached inside and pulled out the clothes Kelvin had brought.

When he turned back around, he was met with the concerned gazes of Lily and Kelvin. The sadness in their eyes was evident, and he knew they were worried about him.

"I’m going home," he said calmly, his voice quiet but firm.