The Billionaire's Temptation: Love, Family and Revenge-Chapter 73: Hiding Elena

Doctor Charles sat explaining Elena’s condition to a visibly frustrated Ford Lugard. Ford’s jaw was clenched, and his fists were tight at his sides.

"I’m sorry, Sir Ford," Doctor Charles said gently. "But this is Elena’s condition for now. Her memory loss is temporary, but it’s real. With time, she should remember everything—that’s a guarantee."

Ford paced the room. His eyes kept darting between Elena, who was lying quietly on the hospital bed, and the doctor. "After watching the video beside her, I know she remembers something," he said, his voice rising. "She’s holding back. She refuses to talk about it, and it’s driving me crazy. How can I catch the person who did this to her if she keeps silent and begs me not to take any action?"

Doctor Charles remained calm. "I understand your frustration, sir. But please, take it easy. Don’t pressure her too much. Forcing her to remember or talk about something she’s not ready for could do more harm than good."

Ford turned sharply, his eyes now filled with concern instead of just anger.

"It can put her under mental stress," the doctor continued. "And in the worst case, it could wipe out all her memories completely."

That last line hit Ford hard. He thoughts drifted back to Elena, who looked so peaceful yet so far away from the woman he once knew.

He needed to be patient. But deep down, the fire of revenge still burned—he just needed the truth.

Ford was sitted opposite Doctor Charles, his eyes full of frustration and quiet resolve. He had just listened to Doctor Charles warn him not to pressure Elena, not to push her too hard to remember what had happened to her. The doctor had made it clear that forcing her could damage her mental state further—maybe even wipe out her memory completely.

Ford took a deep breath and replied firmly, "No. I won’t pressure her. I’ll let her be. But I won’t back down. We still have a trail to follow, and I’m going to pursue it. I owe her that much."

Doctor Charles gave him a nod of approval. "That’s the best thing to do right now, Sir," he said calmly.

Just then, Ford’s phone began to ring sharply, cutting through the tense silence in the room. He looked at the screen and saw that the caller was Kelvin, his closest friend.

Ford raised a hand toward the doctor, signaling him to wait, and answered the call.

"Ford... Ford!" Kelvin’s voice was breathless and filled with panic. "Check the news right now! I’m heading to the hospital. Get Elena ready—she has to leave immediately!"

"What? What do you mean?" Ford asked, his voice rising. "Kelvin, what’s going on?" But before he could get any more answers, the connection went bad. Kelvin’s voice broke into static, and the line went dead.

"Hello? Hello? Kelvin!" Ford shouted, but it was no use.

Turning to Doctor Charles, his face now tight with alarm, Ford said urgently, "Turn on the television. Now."

Doctor Charles didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the remote and flipped on the flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. Within seconds, the news filled the room—and Ford’s heart dropped.

There on the screen were flashing headlines in bold letters: "Elena Johnson Exposed—Private Life Revealed!" Accompanying the report were pictures and videos edited to paint Elena in a terrible light. Blurry images of her at the hospital and manipulated clips of her with other men were shown, all arranged to make her look like a loose and dishonorable woman.

Ford’s eyes widened in shock and anger. The media had twisted everything. Within hours, they had dragged Elena’s name through the mud, turning her into a public scandal.

"Discharge her. Now!" he barked.

"What?" Doctor Charles asked, startled by the sudden command.

"Discharge her immediately!" Ford repeated as he rushed out of the room. His only thought was to reach Elena before she woke up—or worse, saw the news for herself.

He ran through the hallway, heart pounding, desperate to protect her. The last thing she needed right now was to see her face on a screen, mocked and judged by the entire world while she was still recovering. He couldn’t allow that.

Ford quietly reached Elena’s hospital room and gently pushed the door open. His heart was pounding as he stepped inside, careful not to make any noise. He was relieved to see Elena still asleep, her face calm and peaceful. He took a deep breath, thankful that she hadn’t woken up yet.

As his eyes scanned the room, he noticed the television was on, though the volume was very low. The images flashing across the screen made his stomach tighten. Worried, he quickly rushed over and turned it off. He couldn’t bear the thought of Elena waking up and seeing what was being broadcast. He knew the news about her had already started to spread. If she saw it now, it could cause her unnecessary stress and confusion.

Just then, the door opened and Doctor Charles walked in, looking tense. "Sir Ford, she’s been officially discharged under your command," the doctor announced. "If you plan to leave, I suggest you do it immediately. There’s a large crowd of reporters and fans waiting outside the main entrance. They’re here for you—and especially for Elena."

Ford’s eyes widened in surprise. "So fast?" he muttered in disbelief. He quickly turned to the guards standing near the door and gave his instructions firmly. "Get the back doors secured. I want security guards stationed there immediately."

The guards nodded and moved out to carry out his orders without delay.

He walked slowly to Elena’s bedside and gently stroked her cheek. She didn’t stir. Her breathing remained calm. "Everything’s going to be fine," he whispered softly, as if trying to reassure both her and himself.

Pulling out his phone, he dialed Kelvin’s number. He needed to inform him about the situation—they were going to leave soon. Just as the phone started ringing, the door burst open again. Ford turned quickly, alarmed. It was Kelvin, panting, his shirt slightly soaked in sweat. His face was filled with concern and urgency.

"Thank God you’re here," Ford said, lowering the phone. "I was just about to call you."

"I had to drop Lily quickly and rush back," Kelvin replied, catching his breath. "The news is spreading like wildfire. Everyone knows. You need to take her home—now—and you need to prepare for a serious press conference. This is much bigger than we thought."

Ford nodded in agreement. "Oh yes, definitely."

He moved back to Elena and gently pulled the covers off her, being extra careful not to wake her. Everything had to go smoothly. She had already been through so much, and the last thing he wanted was to startle her awake into a sea of flashing cameras and loud questions.

"Sir Ford, don’t worry too much," Doctor Charles said gently, noticing the worried look on Ford’s face. "The drug we gave her is very strong. She won’t wake up until morning. You still have time."

Ford nodded slowly, trying to calm the storm of worry in his chest. At least for now, Elena would remain asleep and unaware of the chaos outside. Carefully, he leaned over and lifted her into his arms. She felt light, fragile even, as if she might break. He held her close, one hand behind her back and the other under her knees, making sure not to disturb her peaceful rest. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Doctor Charles watched him with a reassuring smile. "I’ll stop by later to check on her condition. I’ll also bring her medications. She needs to start them as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Doctor Charles," Ford said sincerely. "I’ll be expecting you."

With that, Ford followed behind Kelvin, who led the way down the quiet hospital hallway. The lights flickered slightly overhead, and every step echoed against the tiles. Ford held Elena tightly, hoping she doesn’t wake yet.

As they reached the back exit, the head of security rushed toward them with urgency. "Sir, it’s clear for now, but you need to move fast. It’s getting late, and the crowd is getting restless. We’re doing our best to hold them back."

Ford gave a quick nod. "Let’s move."

As they stepped outside, the cool night air hit their faces. The back of the hospital was dimly lit, but dozens of security men were already in position. They quickly formed a tight shield around Ford, Elena, and Kelvin.

But it didn’t take long for the reporters to notice. "They’re moving through the back gate!" one of them shouted from the distance.

Instantly, the crowd that had gathered in the front began to surge toward the back. Reporters, fans, and camera crews ran with phones and microphones in hand, trying to get a glimpse or shout a question.

"They’re coming!" someone warned.

"Shield the boss!" Kelvin yelled, his voice sharp and commanding.

More guards poured in from nearby posts, forming a wall around them. It was a chaotic scene. People were shouting, cameras were flashing, and hands were reaching forward trying to touch or ask something—anything. But the security team held strong, not letting anyone through.

The guards directed them quickly toward a black SUV parked just a few meters away. Ford tightened his grip on Elena, shielding her with his body as they moved. Finally, they reached the vehicle, and Ford gently placed Elena inside before climbing in himself.

"Take care. I’ll come around later," Kelvin said, stepping back.

Ford gave him a tight hug, filled with gratitude. "Thanks for everything," he said before the car doors were shut.

With a quick signal, James, the driver, hit the gas. The vehicle sped off, leaving behind the noise and flashing lights. Ford took a look ack to see the crowd finally turning front. He leaned back in his seat, holding Elena’s hand gently. "We are safe" he kissed her hands.

Immediately, a call came in—his dad’s name flashed on the screen. He ignored it. Deep down, it wasn’t his father he feared or what he might say—it was the thought of Elena leaving him that truly scared him."