In his mind, she would soon recognize the benefits of being Mrs. Norris and the shelter his influence offered. He was prepared to wait for her return, certain that she would ultimately yield.
Just then, Elijah’s phone buzzed insistently.
He glanced warily at the screen before reluctantly pressing the answer button.
The moment the call connected, his grandmother, Melany Norris, spoke urgently. Her tone was thick with concern.
“Elijah, where are you right now? Oliver told me Elizabeth got hurt. How is she recovering from the injury? You know how vital appearances are for a young woman. What if it leaves a scar? How will she feel confident wearing skirts again? Make sure you take excellent care of her!”
The mention of an injury widened Elijah’s eyes in surprise, a flash of confusion crossing his features. Yet, he managed to keep his voice steady. “I’m still at the office, Grandma. Her recovery is progressing well.”
As he spoke, flashes of Elizabeth’s bandaged leg and the hospital visit flooded his mind, piecing together the details. Elizabeth had indeed been at the scene of the recent fire—possibly injured in the chaos.
A twinge of something—concern mixed with guilt—pulled at his heartstrings, briefly casting a shadow over his mood.
On the other end of the line, Melany’s voice softened, filled with gentle advice. “Elijah, remember, she’s the one you chose to marry. It’s your responsibility to protect and cherish her. Don’t let your aloof nature push her away, especially now. She’s likely still shaken from the fire. Don’t forget to offer her comfort and support.”
She paused, her voice turning reflective. “Your grandfather and I will be back at the Norris Mansion in a few days. We’d love for you both to visit. Bring Elizabeth along, won’t you?”
“Understood,” Elijah replied, dismissing Melany curtly before hanging up. He immediately dialed an internal number.
“Mr. Norris, how can I assist you?” Oliver, who had been called back without notice, appeared confused until he met Elijah’s intense gaze.
“What’s the latest on the fire investigation? And how did my grandmother know about Elizabeth’s injury before I did?”
Oliver immediately realized what had happened. He quickly explained, “Your grandmother called earlier to inquire about Mrs. Norris’s condition. I had no choice but to share the details of her injury. As for—”
Oliver hesitated, recalling how their conversation had abruptly ended when he mentioned Elizabeth’s name, and Elijah had cut the call short.
Carefully, he continued, “I was about to inform you of Mrs. Norris’s accident, but at that moment, Ms. Nash had just collapsed from a heart issue during her audition, and you rushed her to the hospital…”
Hospital.
The memory struck Elijah suddenly. He remembered crossing paths with Elizabeth as he hurried Sandra to emergency care, and their later encounter at the hospital.
At that moment, he had assumed Elizabeth’s fall was a ploy for his attention.
