Lost in the Pause

When Eloise opened her eyes again, she was greeted by the white ceiling of the hospital. The sky outside was as dark as ink.

At her bedside was Jonathan, the faint shadow of his stubble covering the lower half of his face. He looked worn out, but his eyes lit up when he saw that Eloise was awake. It was as if life had been poured back into him.

"Ellie, are you thirsty? Would you like some water?" This concerned man was miles apart from the one who had forced Eloise to get on her knees earlier.

Eloise sported a bandage around her head, and her lips were badly chapped. She was too weak to speak, and only managed a soft, "Get out." However, her voice was barely more than a whisper, and Jonathan didn't hear her.

It took her a moment to finally raise her voice, albeit not by much. "Get out. I don't want to see you."

Jonathan's hand shook while holding the glass. He recalled feeling as if a part of his heart had been hollowed out when he went out of the hospital room to go after Eloise earlier, only to see her delicate frame lying on the floor.

When he scooped her into his arms, fresh blood had flowed from the gash on her head down his arm and wrist. He'd nearly lost his footing. "I'm not going anywhere until you recover."

Jonathan brought the chicken noodle soup over to the bed. Taking a spoonful and blowing on it to cool it off, he brought the spoon to Eloise's mouth. "There are too many things for me to explain, but I hope you'll understand that I'm your biggest defender."

Eloise's face was practically ashen. Her thick lashes fluttered as she let out something of a laugh. It sounded weak but sarcastic. "But can I count on you, Jonathan?"

Jonathan wanted to say yes on instinct, but when he saw the subtle, cynical curve to her lips, an inexplicable rush of fear and panic gripped him. He was reminded of the way she told him she didn't want him anymore. His heart tightened, and he suddenly pulled her into his arms.

Resting his chin atop her head, he murmured, "Don't blame me for this, Ellie. Your parents have always played favorites. They were so angry when they found out you hired someone to run Sonia over that they said they wanted to kill you.

"They'd find ways to get back at you if they didn't hear you apologize. I can't always be there to protect you, so I had to force you—"

"So, in short, I still can't count on you to protect me." Eloise gently wiggled out of Jonathan's embrace, though a bitter smile still played on her lips. No one, other than Marie, had loved and cherished Eloise since young. "Get out. I want to rest."

"Okay." Jonathan decided to let her have some time alone to cool off. When he reached the door, he glanced over his shoulder at her. "Ellie, we'll get married after you recover. I don't know how long we'll have as husband and wife, but I won't marry anyone but you."

Eloise curled up under the blanket and said nothing.

She wouldn't be dying. She wasn't marrying him, either. She would hold on to the memories they shared, but forget about ever loving him. He'd just become someone she used to know.

For the next few days, Jonathan guarded Eloise's bedside faithfully. He'd sleep on the chair when he was tired or occasionally doze off on the bench outside the room. He'd show up if Eloise so much as coughed, as if she were the most important person in his life.

The day Eloise was discharged from the hospital finally arrived. It was also her birthday.

Jonathan brought her on a luxury cruise, and only then did she know he was throwing an elaborate cruise party in her honor.

Upon arriving at the party, Eloise and Jonathan were met with envious looks from the scions of the upper-crust society. They sang praises of Eloise and Jonathan, making the former sound like an angel who fell from heaven.

But the moment Jonathan left Eloise's side, the same scions who had lauded Eloise with praise immediately turned against her. Their words took a vicious turn, too.

"Jonathan's probably toying with Eloise. Did she think he'd marry her just because she took care of him for five years? Please. Sonia is his true love."

"Yeah, and he even risked his life to protect Sonia when they got into that accident years ago. It's obvious he's deeply in love with her."

"If Jonathan had to marry someone, he'd pick Sonia without a doubt. The Jensens love her more, too. They even gave her their entire fortune. Shows how much more important she is to them than their biological daughter."

"Hey, you guys know Eloise was only 18 when Jonathan first woke up from his vegetative state, right? She was so pure and naive when she moved in with him. Do you reckon he's slept with her already?"

"I bet he did. Any man would jump at the chance to ride a little slice like Eloise."

The few scions huddled together as they chortled over their crude jokes, but their laughter ground to a halt when Jonathan slowly entered the hall with Sonia.

Sonia's arm was looped through Jonathan's, and she wore a pristine, white gown, clinging to him like a sweet, helpless young lady. A gentle smile played on her lips. She was like a princess who welcomed the people's reverence.

As Sonia stopped before Eloise, she handed Eloise a small box. "Eloise, this is the present I picked out for you."

Eloise opened the box to find a broken crown nestled within. Snorts and sniggers immediately sounded around her.

"I got the gift on short notice. I hope you don't mind." Sonia blushed and quickly closed the box. "It's all Jonathan's fault for overreacting. He said I was too weak to go gift-shopping alone, so he had his assistant do the job for me. The assistant should have been more careful with it."

Jonathan's brows furrowed as he lovingly flicked the tip of Sonia's nose. "I wasn't overreacting. You need to take better care of yourself."

There was no hiding the affection in his tone.

The guests around them began to quip, "Still hung up on Ms. Jensen, huh, Mr. Sheffield?"

"If you care about her so much, why don't you get back together with her? Today's a good day for reconciliation. Come on, give us something to cheer about!"

A smile tugged on Jonathan's lips, but perhaps Eloise's presence beside him prompted him to stop the crowd's jesting. "Ellie, don't take their words personally."

Eloise didn't, and she'd stopped caring about Jonathan, too.

During the cake-cutting ceremony, Eloise had just picked up the knife and was about to make the first cut when Sonia asked sweetly, "Jon, can I have the first slice?"

It was customary for Eloise to make the first cut and eat the first slice, considering it was her birthday.

"If my parents hadn't stopped me all those years ago, I would be the one by your side. But I know there's no chance of us getting back together.

"Eloise is your fiancee now, and it's your job to look after her." Sonia dried her tears as a quiet sob escaped her. "But I really want to have the first slice of cake, and I want you to cut it for me. Think of it as a closure for the years we spent together. Let's get married in the next life, okay?"

No one thought Sonia was wrong for making such remarks. Some of the guests even spoke up for her.

Hope glittered in Jonathan's dark eyes. He glanced at Eloise. "Ellie, this is Sonia's only wish. Let her have this moment, okay?"

Eloise stared at the scene before her. She found this entire birthday party to be a farce, and she was the biggest joke.