Chapter 5 Rachel feels sick

Lucian parked the car slowly in the garage. After turning off the engine, he immediately got out and walked to the passenger side. With quick steps, he opened the door for Rachel, but this time, Rachel didn't get out right away. She stood in front of the car, looking at Lucian with an unreadable expression. Normally, Rachel would leave without a word, but this time, she seemed like she wanted to say something.

"Lucian, when we're at home, you don't have to bother opening the door for me anymore," Rachel said quietly, her eyes staring ahead, avoiding Lucian's gaze. "Unless it's at the office, maybe because people might get suspicious of our behavior. But at home, just let me do it myself."

Lucian fell silent, processing Rachel's words. He didn't know why, but there was an unusual tension between them now. Their marriage wasn't something open-it was a secret. No one knew that he, Lucian, was Rachel's husband, who always appeared cold and professional in front of others. Their marriage was only known to David, who had been the witness in the dim hospital room when they exchanged vows under a heavy, pressured circumstance.

Rachel turned to look at him, her eyes catching Lucian's as he stood in front of her, waiting for an answer. "You heard me, right?" she asked, her voice soft but with a firm undertone.

Lucian nodded slowly. "Alright, if that's what you want," he replied, his voice a bit hesitant, as if unsure but understanding.

"And one more thing," Rachel continued in a lighter tone, though still slightly awkward. "You don't have to keep speaking formally to me, unless we're at the office or just the two of us. We live together, so it feels strange if you keep speaking like that."

Lucian remained silent, nodding with his head slightly bowed. Inside, he felt awkward, but of course, he had promised to do what Rachel wanted. There was no reason for him to oppose it, especially if it made Rachel feel more comfortable.

Rachel looked at him for a moment, wanting to pull off the thick glasses that always covered Lucian's face. She was curious about what her husband's expression would look like without that barrier. However, she quickly realized that it was just a fantasy, a desire that couldn't be fulfilled just like that.

Without saying anything further, Rachel turned and walked toward the entrance of the house. Lucian followed behind her, always a step behind, as usual. They were greeted by the butler, who had been waiting inside.

"Good evening, Sir, Ma'am. Will you be having dinner right away?" the butler asked politely.

"In about 15 minutes, I'll freshen up first," Rachel replied with a nod, signaling the staff to prepare everything.

But before Rachel could ascend the stairs, Lucian's voice stopped her steps. "Elsa, please prepare dinner for Rachel only. I might be a little late for dinner, so you don't need to prepare food for me," he said to the butler.

Rachel turned around, her eyebrow raised as curiosity surfaced. "Why? Did you already eat at the office?" she asked.

Lucian shook his head, looking at her for a moment. "No. It's just that there's still some work left unfinished. If you don't mind, I'll eat after I finish the work."

Rachel raised both hands, gazing at Lucian with an unreadable expression. "Lucian, all the staff here will surely be confused if you keep speaking formally like that," she said, her voice full of concern.

Lucian turned toward Elsa and the other staff, who lowered their heads, almost embarrassed. "Sorry, I mean... I'll get used to it," he responded in a softer voice.

Rachel sighed softly, then said, "Eat first before you go back to work. I don't want you to skip a meal just because of work."

With that, Rachel continued up the stairs, leaving Lucian standing below, watching Elsa and the staff, who were awkwardly silent.

"Sorry, but it seems Rachel's words are what you should follow," Lucian said, his voice calm but firm, making Elsa quickly nod respectfully. Without wasting time, Lucian climbed the stairs to follow Rachel, loosening his tie as he went. He felt the exhaustion from a long day's work and glanced at his watch. It was already 8 PM, a time that usually reminded him of his dinner routine.

With the reports piling up in his hand, Lucian stopped in front of his bedroom door. He glanced for a moment at Rachel's door, which was right next to his. His room and Rachel's room were always next to each other, but Lucian had anticipated from the start that they wouldn't be sleeping in the same room. After all, they were still in the process of getting to know each other-and Lucian knew very well that asking too much from a woman who had just been arranged to marry him wasn't a wise step.

Although there was no clear sense of disappointment, Lucian felt awkward. Even just locking eyes for a moment had his heart fluttering. What would it be like if they had to share a room? "Maybe this is for the best," he thought, trying to reassure himself.

He took a deep breath, gently pulled the door handle, and stepped into his room. The silence lingered for a moment before he decided to freshen up. Having dinner with Rachel was certainly an agenda he had to follow, even though there was a subtle tension between them that had yet to be revealed.

Lucian's eyes narrowed in concern as he saw Rachel's pale face and her tight grip on the bed. His instincts kicked in, and he knelt beside her, trying to keep his voice steady, despite the rising panic within him.

"Rachel, please, tell me where it hurts. Should I call a doctor?" Lucian's voice was barely a whisper now, his eyes searching for any sign of reassurance.

Rachel shook her head weakly, her eyes opening just enough to meet his gaze, though it was clear she was struggling to keep conscious. "No doctor... Just..." She gasped for air, her breathing shallow and quick. "Just stay with me... please."

Her voice, although weak, broke something inside Lucian. He didn't know how to help her, but he knew one thing for sure-he couldn't leave her alone like this. Not when she was in pain, not when she looked so vulnerable.

His heart raced as he gently moved her hair away from her face, his touch surprisingly tender despite the tension coursing through him. "I'm here, Rachel," he whispered, his hand brushing her damp forehead. "You're not alone."

Rachel's eyes fluttered shut again, but her grip on the bed loosened slightly, as if his words had a small calming effect. Lucian looked around, trying to think of what to do next. The pain she was in seemed so real, so intense. He couldn't just sit there and do nothing.

"Do you need anything? Water, maybe?" he asked, his voice still soft, though his body was tense with worry.

Rachel shook her head faintly, her lips pressed tight as if even speaking required too much effort. Lucian knew he couldn't just sit idly by. With a deep breath, he decided to act. He moved away from the bed for just a moment, grabbing his phone and dialing for help.

But then, as he turned back to her, something in him stopped. She had asked him to stay, to be with her. And for once, he realized, the best thing he could do for her might not be to fix everything-sometimes, just being there was enough.

As he returned to her side, Lucian sat down on the edge of the bed, watching her closely. "I'll stay here as long as you need me," he murmured, trying to comfort her, though unsure if his words would have any impact. Still, it was all he could offer in that moment.

And as the minutes passed in silence, Lucian found himself wishing he could do more, that he could take away her pain. But for now, all he could do was wait and stay.