In front of The Northern Kitchen, Elizabeth navigated her way to the passenger side while Oliver had already exited and graciously opened the rear door for her.
Propped against the car, one hand resting on its polished surface and the other gripping his phone, Oliver gave a firm directive to someone on the other end of the line. “Grab the doctors and come straight to Bayview Villa.”
A trace of bewilderment shimmered in Elizabeth’s gaze—was Elijah really insistent on calling in a family doctor?
It was hardly more than a minor abrasion. Certainly, a dab of ointment and a little downtime would be enough.
Her indifference to where she received care was overshadowed by a more pressing worry that Elijah would vent his anger on Asher. To her, adhering to his demands was nothing more than a mere courtesy.
Without raising any questions, Elizabeth silently slid into the backseat. Next to her, Elijah was engrossed in a virtual meeting on his laptop.
The usual serenity he embodied was now overtaken by a deep concentration, the light from the screen throwing sharp contrasts over his well-defined features.
He emanated the presence of a natural-born leader, effortlessly commanding respect.
This was a man who inevitably captivated attention wherever he went.
Elizabeth diverted her gaze and sank further into her seat, just as Elijah snapped his laptop shut and unexpectedly reached out to straighten her clothing.
Startled, she drew back sharply.
Her loose, off-shoulder sweater, caught between his pull and her withdrawal, slid down, revealing her chest to him.
His fingers clenched the sweater, his eyes lingering on her exposed chest before moving to the warm blush coloring her shoulder.
Her eyes, rimmed with a faint red, echoed the fragility of a deer caught in headlights, seemingly wanting to escape yet too afraid to do so.
It almost seemed as if he was a villain.
He gently released his grip, and she quickly adjusted her sweater and straightened up. “I’m fine,” she asserted, her voice barely a whisper.
“In the future, choose your attire more carefully,” he advised sharply, returning his attention to the laptop before him.
