There is no denying that Hamish has a handsome face with deep peach-blossom eyes that create an illusion of deep affection whenever he looks at someone.
Though he has an affectionate face, his lips are thin. Elisa once read online that people with thin lips are inherently unfeeling and unfaithful, capable of being heartless even to those they deeply love.
When she mentioned that he looked best in a white shirt, Hamish, while pinching the newspaper, asked, “I look better in a white shirt?”
Elisa nodded, affirming his question.
He raised the corner of his lips, “Then I will wear it for you from now on.”
Hamish owned a lot of high-end shirts, but upon opening his wardrobe, it was evident that he leaned more towards darker colors.
When Elisa complimented the white shirt, he couldn’t help but think about the times he wore white when he first met Autumn.
After breakfast, Elisa found the pet carrier, unzipped it, and Mimi curiously crawled inside. Elisa took the opportunity to zip it up.
Mimi was uneasy at first, making a fuss inside the carrier. It wasn’t until Elisa opened the side zipper and offered the cat some snacks that it gradually calmed down.
“I’ll carry her,” Hamish offered. It had been over forty days, and the once tiny kitten had grown significantly.
“Are you sure?” Elisa looked at him, disbelievingly.
Hamish reached out and took the pet carrier. Elisa watched from behind as he carried the cat, finding the sight somewhat awkward. She couldn’t help but chuckle, then cheerfully followed his strides.
As Hamish walked ahead, when descending the stairs, he instinctively and accurately reached out and held Elisa’s hand.
The two of them went to Burns Group by car. Upon arrival, Elisa noticed that the female employees’ attire had changed significantly. Almost everyone was now wearing long coats and pants, fully covered with hardly any skin showing. Occasionally, a few wore tight skirts, but even those were below the knee.
At the front desk, Elisa saw Calista, who was no exception. Her previous revealing outfits had been replaced by a suit, and her makeup and hair were not as elaborate as before.
Calista glanced at Elisa and immediately lowered her head, seeming reluctant to meet her.
Elisa glanced at her lightly and then followed Hamish into the private elevator. Hamish’s office was spacious, with a separate rest area where one could even sleep, and the room was partitioned, including a bathing area, apparently prepared for his overtime work.
While Hamish worked outside, Elisa stayed inside, watching TV and playing with Mimi. The secretary even brought her fruits, nuts, and juice.
Elisa tried her best to minimize her presence. As long as Hamish didn’t call her, she wouldn’t disturb his work. However, the partition didn’t provide much sound insulation, and she could hear all of Hamish’s work discussions, including some confidential company documents.
Elisa felt a bit parched. Her gastric and throat problems seemed to be worsening, and her throat felt like it was on fire. She didn’t want to bother anyone to bring her water, so she got up and carried a cup outside.
Tobias was discussing the batch of minerals on South Water Island with Hamish. These minerals were crucial for establishing a foothold at the Chiwood station. They were still considering which area to place them, and with this mineral collaboration, the company would have an advantage.
“Mr. Burns, I think C area…” Tobias was interrupted by a commotion behind him as Elisa stepped out with a cup. He looked at her warily, and the atmosphere immediately became tense.
“Come here,” Hamish beckoned to her.
Elisa obediently approached. “Sorry to interrupt your discussion. I was thirsty and came out to get a drink. I’ll leave in a moment.”
“No need to leave, just stay here,” Hamish said. There was a cup of water in front of him, perfectly tempered. Upon hearing Elisa’s thirst, he immediately picked up the water and handed it to her.
Elisa took several sips, but the dryness in her throat couldn’t be quenched.
“Mimi is still inside. I’ll go back.” Hamish didn’t stop her.
Tobias watched as Elisa went back in. For a moment, he didn’t know how to speak. He lowered his voice, “Mr. Burns, why did you bring Mrs. Burns in again?”
“What do you mean, ‘again’?” If he could, he would stick Elisa to himself wherever he went.
Tobias pursed his lips, and after a while, he said, “Mr. Burns, what we’re discussing is confidential. Should we go somewhere else to talk?”
“Why are you so talkative today? Justsay it!” His attitude showed he wasn’t worried at all about company secrets being leaked. In fact, considering Elisa’s current condition, even if they spoke in front of her, she wouldn’t understand. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry; what if Elisa suddenly regained her memory and decided to use this information to get back at Hamish? A cautious approach was necessary, as the current Elisa was like a ticking time bomb.
Despite Hamish’s clear disregard, Tobias still spoke in front of Elisa.
…
On May 21st, Elisa was unaware that this was a special day. In the early hours, feeling drowsy, she suddenly felt a cool sensation on her wrist. Opening her eyes, she saw a delicate bracelet adorning her wrist.
The design of the bracelet was simple, with a few diamonds as embellishments, the most prominent being a small lock.
“What’s this?”
“Your birthday gift.” It took almost a month to design and create this bracelet, and it was the only one of its kind in the world.
The length of the bracelet was just right, simple and elegant, matching Elisa’s aesthetic.
Hamish held her delicate, fair wrist. “Do you like it?”
Elisa didn’t react immediately, as if her body had awakened but her soul was still drifting in outer space. She remained dazed for a while before asking, “Today is my birthday?”
“Yes, May 21st is your birthday.”
Elisa was still in a state of confusion. She felt a strange familiarity with the date, yet also a sense of aversion. Nonetheless, she was happy that Hamish remembered her birthday and had prepared a gift for her.
Setting aside the flaws of her nail-less fingers, the bracelet looked beautiful on Elisa’s wrist, accentuating her slender, fair, and elegant hand.
After a moment, Elisa slowly said, “I like it,” finally fixing her gaze on her unattractive fingertips.
Hamish also noticed her gaze. He reached out and held her hand, intertwining their fingers. “It looks beautiful.”
Elisa was no longer as concerned about her fingertips as before. Recently, she had found a bunch of nail stickers online that looked just like real nails, and they actually looked quite good.
“Will you go on a date with me tomorrow?”
Elisa agreed without hesitation.
Hamish planned the entire day, and they went to an amusement park, ate cotton candy, and he even bought candied hawthorn for her. Concerned about getting cavities, Elisa held the candied hawthorn in her palm the entire time.
She wore a red ankle-length skirt, her hair was braided and clipped at the back, and she had put on light makeup for the date, making her radiant and captivating.
As they walked through the streets, they were occasionally photographed by passersby, but Hamish forcefully stopped them and requested the deletion of the photos.
After putting on makeup, Elisa’s complexion improved, and under the sun, fine hairs on her face were visible. However, the blood vessels on her neck were more pronounced than before.
They didn’t engage in thrilling activities at the amusement park, as Elisa’s skirt made it inconvenient, and she wasn’t in the best spirits.
They played simpler games, but it still took up a lot of time. Finally, they went to a specific restaurant for dinner. While Western cuisine would have been more romantic, Elisa didn’t like it and, due to her stomach cancer, she couldn’t eat steak. Eventually, they found a restaurant to dine in.
“They looked like an ordinary couple. After lunch, they went to see a movie. During the movie, Elisa couldn’t help but open the candied fruit skewer and ate a piece. Her mouth was too small, and the sugar from the skewer stuck all over her mouth and hands, making them sticky.
She wasn’t paying much attention to the movie, her focus entirely on the candied fruit skewer in her hand. Suddenly, she felt itchy and wanted to scratch, but her hands were sticky.
“I want to go to the restroom,” she whispered to Hamish.
“I’ll go with you.”
The theater was dimly lit. They sat in the back with stairs to the west. Worried about Elisa tripping, Hamish held her hand tightly.
While Elisa was in the restroom, Hamish waited outside, holding the uneaten candied fruit skewer. After washing her hands, Elisa began to scratch an itch. Suddenly, a wave of itchiness overcame her, becoming increasingly unbearable. It started on her back, then spread to her hands and neck.
Looking at the rash on her hands, Elisa suddenly felt breathless, unable to catch her breath. Leaning against the wall with her hands on the sink, she couldn’t support her body even in this position.
In just a short while, her body started to feel hot, and she even felt nauseous.
These symptoms were clearly an allergic reaction. Everything she had eaten that day was something she usually had, except for the candied fruit skewer.
Could she be allergic to hawthorn?
Suddenly, a hazy image rose in her mind. She tried to grasp it, but the image only became more and more blurry, and then came a sharp pain lingering in her mind.
It wasn’t very painful, but the continuous presence in her mind was uncomfortable, as if something was slowly filling it up.
Elisa propped her head up with one hand, the other on the sink, the sound of rushing water from the tap filling the room.
Unable to control it, Elisa retched, and a mouthful of blood gushed from her throat, carrying all sorts of flavors, but ultimately dominated by a metallic sweetness.
At that moment, a woman came in to touch up her makeup, seeing Elisa leaning against the wall, her face pale. Unable to hold back, she asked, “Are you okay?”
Before she could respond, the woman saw Elisa’s body go limp and collapse to the ground.
The sight of blood trickling from her mouth startled the woman, who panicked and screamed.
Outside, Hamish waited for Elisa. Five minutes passed in a blur, but Elisa still hadn’t come out…
The woman had been in the restroom for quite some time, but not so long as to warrant this complete absence of activity.