Chapter 147:
Zandra peered out the window, noticing the first light of day. She stood and said, "You're going to spend a few days here in the hospital. The doctor says you might have a concussion. Just rest and forget about work for now."
Theo gave a grateful nod. "Thanks, Mom."
Zandra squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. You're young, and life has much more to offer. You'll learn that things like this won't bother you after a while."
Theo started to speak, hesitated, then agreed. "Alright."
Once Zandra left, Theo settled back against his pillow. Sleep eluded him; her words echoed in his mind. Was it love he felt for Elyse?
He placed a hand over his heart; a pang hit him as Elyse's image surfaced. Love was relatively new territory for him. Before Elyse, there was Kaelyn.
Falling for Kaelyn had been a simple decision; she was the campus darling, and he believed only someone of her caliber matched his status.
Their romance was initially sweet. But when he discovered Kaelyn was selling his gifts and seeing other wealthy men, he couldn't stand it. He broke up with her.
Several months later, he bumped into Elyse in the school's secluded garden. She was practicing her violin in the shade of a tree. The school was preparing for a gala, so Elyse practiced there daily.
Later, Theo saw her performance at the gala. After she left the stage, he confessed his feelings, and she didn't reject him. The surprised blush on Elyse's face when he declared his feelings stayed with him.
Yet, neither girl's affection seemed to stir genuine feelings in him. He clasped his chest and furrowed his brow. But if he didn't truly care for Elyse, why did the thought of her cause such a pang in his heart?
The next morning, Mabel woke, rolled over, and reached for her phone. Scanning her messages, she saw one from the private investigator she'd hired: "Theo had a car accident last night and is in the hospital. He's resting in VIP Ward, Room 006."
The news jolted Mabel awake. She quickly texted back, asking for details about the crash. Learning he'd been driving under the influence, a wave of worry washed over her.
"Please, Theo, hang in there. If anything were to happen to you, I'd be devastated," Mabel murmured.
The sorrow in Mabel's eyes quickly gave way to hope. She saw a chance to grow closer to Theo. She thought that if she cared for him in the hospital, he might see her differently. And if that happened, maybe she could become his wife.
Lost in thought, Mabel got up, changed into clean clothes, and went downstairs to the kitchen to request food for a sick friend. Seeing Mabel dressed up, Glenda asked, "Going somewhere special? You're all dolled up."
Finishing her makeup, Mabel glanced over confidently. "No need to fuss. I'll tell you all about it when I get back, and you'll be proud."
Glenda assumed Mabel was planning to record a song at the studio. Following a previous accident, Mabel had stayed home for a while. Glenda believed this was the right time for Mabel's return to the entertainment scene.
Chewing on a piece of fruit, Glenda replied, "Well, I can't wait to hear all about it."
Mabel, her determination evident, seemed poised to succeed. She was beautiful, and believed that once Theo saw her true charm, he'd inevitably fall for her.
Mabel accepted a lunchbox from a servant, smiled, and drove off. She then called Elyse to boast.
"Why did you call me?" Elyse asked groggily, sounding as if she'd just woken.
Mabel said complacently, "I'm about to make a big move, Elyse. I'll go after what you don't value in Theo. You'll regret it."
Elyse didn't understand and asked, "What do you mean?"
Unwilling to explain, Mabel hung up decisively and went to the hospital, full of expectation. She searched the inpatient department and found Theo's ward. Finding no guard outside, she knocked.
Theo's voice came from inside, "Come in."
With a flushed face, Mabel opened the door and entered. She said shyly, "Theo, I heard you were hospitalized, so I came to visit."
(The "...noveldrama..." at the end seems extraneous and has been omitted.)