The Royal Contract

But what else could she do? It would seem that the only person she knew who could help her was a bigger asshole than she thought.

Maybe it might be better to take Eida home and allow her to rest. They could always come back in the morning. But she wanted to know Lance’s condition.

“I can call Dad.” She mumbled to Eida, who was still past out on the black leather cushion.

She could do that but looking at Eida’s face, remembering how brave she was, living her life the way she always wanted it. She realized she also wanted that.

She had to get away fromher father’s shadow for good because he would never learn to love her. But he would not have a second thought about using her for his benefit.

“I think we should better...” She was about to tell the driver to drive them home when her phone suddenly rang.

.....

Suddenly, she was surprised to see the caller, not expecting him to call after she had hung up on him. Anyway, why was he calling?

To add more insult? No way, she would not allow it.

She let the phone ring, not answering it, just staring at his name until it went silent again.

But it went on again, then again.

She guessed he was not giving up. But what if it had something to do with Angela. She could not forgive herself if she ignored his call and later found out that Angela needed her.

Without a choice, she finally answered it on the fourth ring. “Yes, Evan,” Amelia answered without saying anything more. She would wait for him to state his reason for calling before responding. She was already humiliated, and she did not want to add anything to that experience, not from him.

“I am sorry if I am a bit rude when you called. I was under a lot of pressure and not thinking clearly.” The man on the other line spoke on the phone, but she could sense the insincerity in his voice. Like he was forced to say those words.

“Is Angela by your side?” She could tell that Angela might have learned about his behavior and now forced him to retract it.

She waited for him to respond, wondering if he would lie about it. Or something. But she was surprised again when he finally answered. “Yes.”

She guessed at least he was honest about that. Now, she knew that he did not call because he was genuinely sorry for his action, but at least he was doing it for his grandmother.

“So, why did you call? Was it only to say you are sorry?” If that was the case, she could hang up now and be through with him. She did not want to waste another single breath talking to him.

“No, I wish to hear what you asked me earlier.” He exasperatedly answered her. It was as if the words were going through his teeth with much difficulty.

Should she tell him? She suddenly found herself questioning. She still needed his help if she would see Lance with Eida. Could he help her? Could he trust him?

She would never know if she would never try.

Besides, what would she lose if she tried to seek his help? The worse thing that could happen was he would say no. Then, that was it.

“Are you still there?” Evan asked when she failed to respond to him right away.

“Yes, I am here.” She answered, finally deciding. “Can you help me sneak a friend inside the hospital?” Then, she explained her friend’s condition and why the press could not see her.

But, she did not give the full details why she and her friend needed to get inside. She just allowed to speculate that her friend needed medical attention and they were avoiding the press.

“Oohhmm!” He only mumbled on the other line as if he was thinking about it.

She waited for a response for a minute before demanding an answer. “Well?” She questioned, growing impatient with every tick of the clock. She was afraid that a reporter might suddenly notice their car and the occupant.

It was not likely a fancy car would be waiting on the pavement outside the hospital premises without anyone noticing, especially the nosy paparazzi who always loved a scoop.

“Fine.” He finally replied with a sigh. “That seems to be a good distraction for tonight.” He added before standing up from his chair. “Give me a few minutes. I will call you back.”

Then, he hung up the phone and looked at his grandmother, beaming with happiness at what she had witnessed. In her view, it seemed that they had made up. But she did not need to know the full details.

He was only doing this because it sounded like it was exciting. He had not done something like this since college. Anyway, it was something to do to pass the time.

“Grandmama, go rest. I need to help a friend.” He spoke to her softly before kissing her goodnight, leaving the room immediately.

But first, he needed to check on Lance. He had to know his condition. So he could report back to his friends. He only wished that he was better than what the reports were implying.

“Hey, Edward.” He walked up to the man he never thought he would speak to ever again. But he was in the waiting room and was Lance’s family. He might know something. “How is he?”

However, he would still never trust a man like him. Despite what he heard about changing his ways, he would never lower his guard around this man.

“Not good. The last time the doctor came here, he was still unstable.” Edward answered him with a solemn look.

He did look like he was concerned, but many could fake such emotion. Even he could do it in front of a grand jury if necessary to win a case. So, such an act would not fool him easily.

Edward supplied a few more information, but nothing looked promising, but he was not ready to give up. As long as a man was breathing, he could never give up hope, and not even when his feet were almost on the grave, he would still hope for a miracle.

“Can you update me if anything changes?” Evan asked him, thinking of his friend, who was worried about his cousin.

Alex could not lose two significant people in his life almost simultaneously. Not his father-in-law, who believed and mentored him into his position and loved him like he was a true son.

Not his cousin, who was also his best friend. The person that he grew up with and had treated like a brother just like the rest of them.

“Nurse Jane, right?” He called to the woman who took care of his grandmother, blocking her path when he bumped into her in the hallway, effectively stopping her from wherever she was about to go.

“Yes, does Angela need something?” She immediately asked, raising her brow slightly at him.

He guessed this nurse was in cahoots with his grandmother, but it was not relevant at the moment. He would need her help with the plan he had in his mind.

“No, but I do.” Evan talked to her in private in an empty hallway, making her cooperate with his plan.

Now, he dialed her number. Again, he was only helping her because he needed a distraction, not because he wanted to see her. But admittedly, seeing her would be a bonus.