Without a single word to defend herself, Elly sank to the cold floor. Her fingers, still trembling, moved quickly as she gathered the scattered dollar bills from around her.
Every time her hand touched the paper, her heart seemed to wither further. She no longer cared for her status. She had already destroyed her own dignity on that bed, and now she was merely collecting the debris in the form of currency.
On the bed, Erick leaned back, watching the scene with a dismissive, crooked smile. He let out a low chuckle, a sound that carried a sharp edge of cruelty. In his eyes, Elly looked greedy, frantically scavenging for the money as if this had been her ultimate goal from the beginning.
"It turns out you're that easy to buy," Erick mocked, his voice heavy with contempt. "I'll give you even more if you're willing to come back to this room and serve me again."
Elly did not answer. Her focus remained entirely on the banknotes and the ticking clock that continued to haunt her. To her, this money was not for luxury. It was for survival, for milk, and for the price of her mistake in picking up Felix late.
Once the last bill was tucked into the pocket of her rumpled uniform, Elly stood with what little strength she had left. She bowed deeply, hiding a face that remained blank despite the storm of agony raging behind it.
"Thank you for the payment, Sir. I'll take my leave," Elly said. Her voice was dry and devoid of emotion, as if she were a machine that had just completed a task.
Without waiting for a response, Elly turned and ran. She wasn't just running from the room; she was trying to flee the wreckage of her self-respect. Every step felt heavy as she fought the physical sting in her body and the tightness in her chest. The image of Felix's face waiting for her was the only reason she kept her pace toward the hotel exit.
***
Elly's breath came in ragged gasps. The sound of her shoes hitting the sidewalk echoed like a heartbeat racing against her guilt. At the end of the street, the silhouette of the old church stood firm, a stone building that looked peaceful in the night.
Her pace slowed as she reached the courtyard. At the threshold of the massive oak doors, Anna stood like a faithful guardian. The nun remained motionless, cradling Felix in her arms. Felix's small head rested limply on Anna's shoulder, his breathing steady in a deep sleep.
"Anna... I'm sorry," Elly whispered hoarsely, her voice breaking between gasps of air. She immediately reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as she touched the warmth of Felix's back. "I'm so late. I'm so sorry."
With a gentle motion, Anna transferred the boy's small body into his mother's embrace. Elly held her son close.
"He wouldn't stop crying earlier," Anna said softly. Her voice held a tone of sympathy that only made Elly's heart bleed more. "His eyes were fixed on the door, waiting for you until he grew exhausted and finally fell asleep."
Elly closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in the scent of Felix's hair mixed with sweat. The ache in her chest was far more painful than the exhaustion of her work. "I had to work overtime. Everything happened so suddenly I didn't have a chance to call you," Elly murmured, speaking more to herself as a form of futile defense.
Anna placed a hand on Elly's shoulder, a warm and calming touch. "I understand, Elly. But if this happens again, speak to him on the phone so he doesn't wait in such anxiety."
Elly nodded slowly. Tears nearly fell, but she held them back. She gazed at Felix's peaceful face in her arms and made a silent vow. "I will, Anna. I promise. I won't let him wait in fear ever again."
***
The crystal chandelier on the hotel ceiling cast a dim glow, reflecting off the surface of an untouched glass of whiskey on the table. Erick leaned his back against the velvet sofa. In the corner of the room, Matthew stood like a statue. His posture was rigid, his hands clasped behind his back; alert, cold, and unreadable.
"This is the result of the secret investigation regarding the hotel management, Sir," Matthew's voice cut through the silence, low yet sharp. He stepped forward with efficient movements and placed a thick leather folder containing the data of the asset's financial collapse on the table.
However, Matthew did not stop there. He pulled out a second, much thinner folder and placed it directly on top of the first. "And this is the information regarding Miss Elly Anderson that you requested."
Instantly, the lethargy on Erick's face evaporated. His eyes, previously dull, sharpened with a hunger for information he had suppressed for a long time. Without sparing a single glance at the management folder, a multi-million dollar asset on the brink of bankruptcy, his fingers moved deftly to snatch the folder about Elly. To him, the company's losses were mere boring statistics compared to that woman's secrets.
Silence reclaimed the room, but this time it felt more ominous. Only the rustle of paper could be heard as Erick turned page after page with meticulous care. His breathing grew heavy, his chest rising and falling with the lines of text he consumed. Suddenly, his hand froze on a page.
"This...?" Erick muttered. His voice caught in his throat, raspy and filled with doubt.
Erick was transfixed. His eyes were locked on a photograph tucked inside. A young boy with a sparkle in his eyes that seemed to mock him through a sweet smile. The facts written beneath the photo struck his pride with a heavy blow.
"So that woman gave birth to a child by that bastard!" Erick hissed. His jaw tightened and the veins in his neck strained as he tried to contain the explosion of rage boiling in his chest. His teeth clamped together, creating a terrifying grinding sound in the quiet room.