Chapter 16 Get In

• “It's Dr. Truman from General Hospital.”
• Levon recognized Elena, for he had seen her at the hospital. He inquired, “Shall we give her a lift, Mr. Gardner?”
• In the back seat, Raphael pursed his thin lips. The instant the lights turned green, he hardened his heart and retracted his gaze. “No.”
• Shuddering, Levon didn't dare speak further. He promptly floored the gas pedal and sped away from the intersection.
• The rain grew increasingly heavier, the rumbling thunder smothering the hustle and bustle of the entire city. The heavens poured as though God wanted to wash everything away.
• Raphael's frown deepened.
• It was eerily quiet in the car. The only sound audible was the rain outside the window. Just when the car was about to take a turn at another intersection, thunder boomed. Something or other occurred to Raphael, upon which his temples throbbed violently. He abruptly ordered, “Turn back, Levon.”
• At the bus stop, Elena sighed as she stared at the interminable queue on the e-hailing app. She silently rummaged for a piece of tissue from her bag and wiped the rainwater off her neck.
• Her clothes were soaking wet, chillingly plastered against her body. Ugh! What horrible weather! I'll probably be down with a cold when I make it home.
• While she was shivering in the cold, a black car cut through the rain and came to a stop before her.
• In her puzzlement, the car window slowly rolled down, revealing a countenance she was all too familiar with.
• Raphael gazed at her from the other side of the window with a frosty look in his eyes. He succinctly uttered, “Get in.”
• Elena was stunned for a moment. Perhaps it was because of the man's tone that left no room for argument, or she was simply so cold that she couldn't resist the temptation of shelter from the wind and rain, but she actually got into the car as told.
• As soon as she had done so, Raphael demanded, “Where do you live?”
• “Huh?” Only then did Elena realize that problem.
• The two kids are at home. It would be bad if he were to catch a glimpse of them.
• “I live quite far away, so I'd better not trouble you.” While saying that, she hastily pulled at the door handle.
• Alas, the door lock had been engaged no sooner had she gotten into the car. Thus, she couldn't budge the car door in the slightest. “The car—”
• Before she had finished speaking, Raphael instructed Levon, “Head back to the Gardner residence.”
• The Gardner residence was the place where he usually lived.
• After giving that order, he shot Elena a sidelong glance, his expression calm and unruffled. “I don't mind taking you back to my place.”
• Words eluded Elena for a second, and her expression changed. “No, it's okay. Just drop me off anywhere here. I'll take a taxi home myself.”
• The car was already in motion, so Levon naturally wouldn't listen to her without Raphael's orders.
• At the sight of the man's icy expression, Elena could only resign herself to her fate.
• Never mind, then. I'll just get out at the gates of the Gardner residence and hail a taxi there.
• It escaped her notice that Levon, who was driving, surreptitiously studied her through the rearview mirror. Whoa! He has never brought any woman back to the Gardner residence, not even Ms. Collins, whom he's about to marry.
• The entire drive passed in silence. Half an hour later, the car arrived at the Gardner residence.
• Instead of stopping at the gates as Elena expected, the car drove right into the gates of the Gardner residence. The sycamore trees lining both sides of the road stood firm in the rain, as imposing as the historic mansion that loomed ahead.
• Having alighted from the car, Elena stood at the door, hesitant to take a step further.
• Contrarily, Raphael didn't even bother sparing her a glance, strolling into the house nonchalantly.
• It's pouring behind her, so she can't leave even if she wants to.
• “Have some coffee, Ms. Truman.”
• Mere moments after Elena entered the house, the housekeeper poured her a cup of coffee.
• “Thank you.” She inclined her head a fraction.
• Raphael went upstairs right after returning and didn't come down even when a long while had passed. Elena was left in the living room all alone, at a loss.
• The housekeeper then brought her a set of clean clothes. “Do go and change your clothes, Ms. Truman.”
• “No, it's okay. I'll be leaving as soon as the rain stops.”
• “It'll be a while before that happens. If you get changed, I can dry your clothes for you in no time. Otherwise, you'll surely catch a cold if you stay in your wet clothes.”
• Gazing out at the rain that showed no signs of subsiding, Elena wavered.
• It was indeed exceedingly uncomfortable to be wearing wet clothes, for it made her very much ill at ease. Ultimately, she was defeated by the housekeeper's persuasion and went upstairs to change.
• The housekeeper merely directed her to the second last room on the second floor without specifying whether it was the room facing north or south. Elena felt that it made no difference, so after knocking and receiving no response, she opened the door of the room facing south and went in with the clothes in hand.
• The bedroom was spacious, but the décor was decidedly simple. It wasn't so much a place of dwelling but a showroom at a real estate agency. There was no life to the room, nor were there any personal belongings. Even the bedsheets were pure white, as in hotels.
• Lowering her head, Elena unbuttoned her shirt.
• She had just unfastened two buttons when the sound of a door opening sounded behind her.