"She's stable now but still unconscious. But there's no need to worry. She's going to be fine," the doctor said after examining Seraphina's condition. Even though she was stable, the doctor still put her on an IV drip. He also injected her with multivitamins after discovering that she was severely exhausted. He even noticed several bruises on her body, which suggested that she had nutritional deficiencies.
"Thank you, Doctor," I said sincerely.
"You know, I was worried when you called and asked for my help. It's unusual for you to call me. Is she your girlfriend?" he asked.
"No. She's a friend."
The doctor laughed. "I don't think she's just a friend. Your concern for her is unusual, Lucca."
The doctor's words made me think as well. I had never cared or worried about anyone like this before. I didn't know why, but Seraphina felt different from everyone else. Was it because our pasts were connected? Or was it because of the ring?
I looked at the ring and remembered what I had witnessed a while ago. Did the ring absorb Seraphina's energy? Was that why she fainted and lost consciousness?
That question could only be answered by my master.
"You're spacing out, Lucca," the doctor said, snapping me out of my thoughts with a chuckle.
"I'm sorry," I replied.
"I can't stay any longer because I already had another appointment before you called. Since it was urgent, I came here first," the doctor said before continuing. "Just call me if you need anything else. I'll come back later after my appointment."
"Thank you," I said before the doctor left.
I was left alone, staring at the fragile little woman lying unconscious on the bed. I admitted I was annoyed by her at first. Her mysterious presence irritated me. But at the same time, I felt this strange urge to protect her, especially now that Damon knew about her.
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a phone ringing. It was Seraphina's phone. Mira was calling. Should I answer it and tell her what had happened to Seraphina? If I ignored the call, Mira would only worry even more.
I sighed before picking up the phone and answering it.
"Sera! I thought you weren't going to answer. I called because—"
I didn't let her finish.
"It's not Seraphina," I said in a husky voice.
"Wait... Lucca? Is that you? Why are you answering Seraphina's phone? Wait... are you with her?" she asked in shock.
I knew what Mira was thinking, but before she could jump to more conclusions, I spoke again.
"Do you want the answers to your questions? Come to Seraphina's house," I said before ending the call. I didn't want to answer any more questions over the phone. It would be easier to explain everything once she got here.
Ten minutes later, I heard a car pull up outside Seraphina's house. I looked out the window and saw Mira. She really cared about Seraphina. She had even rushed over wearing her pajamas.
"What happened to Sera?" she asked.
The moment she saw Seraphina lying unconscious on the bed, she gasped.
"Lucca! What happened?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion.
Of course, I couldn't tell her the truth, about Damon or the ring. Mira wouldn't understand any of it.
"She's sick. I saw her collapse," I said. The shorter the explanation, the better.
"But... she was fine when we got home," Mira said, her eyes welling up with tears.
"That's what I thought too," I said.
Mira didn't ask any more questions, which was a good thing for me since I didn't know what answers I should give her. She didn't even ask why I was the one who found Seraphina. Maybe she forgot the questions she was about to ask because she was too worried about her.
Mira sat beside Seraphina while holding her right hand. "I'm sorry, Sera. I didn't know."
I sighed and decided to stay in the living room. I pulled my phone from my pocket and called Dominic.
"Yes, Lucca? Why did you call me? Did you miss me?" he asked jokingly.
"Tell Damian to come to my place. I have something to tell you," I said.
"Whoa. Was that serious?"
"It's about Seraphina," I answered.
"Then it must be serious," Dominic said.
I hung up the phone and went back to Seraphina's room to talk to Mira.
"The doctor will be back later, and so will I. If you need anything, call me," I said.
She frowned. "I don't even have your number."
She had a point. I hadn't given her my number. So I gave it to her for the sake of updates, and I got hers as well.
"I'll get some food," I said before leaving the room and heading out of the house. I started the engine and drove to my place in just ten minutes, even though it usually took twenty.
When I arrived, I saw Dominic and Damian's car already parked outside the gate. I went inside my mansion but didn't see them. However, I knew where to find them.
As I opened the door to my room, I saw Dominic and Damian sitting on the sofa, looking uneasy.
"You called us here just to make us wait for you?" Dominic asked.
"Didn't I tell you why I called?" I shot back.
"Then what is it? Is it worth our time?" Damian asked.
I sat on the sofa. We didn't drink wine because it was too early for that.
"Seraphina is unconscious," I began.
"What? Where is she? Which hospital? Why is she unconscious?" Dominic fired question after question, just like Mira had on the phone.
"After you dropped us off, I saw a text from Damon on her phone. As soon as you left, I went straight to Seraphina's house."
"Damon?" Dominic asked.
"He's becoming bold with his moves," Damian said.
"But why is she unconscious? Did Damon hurt her?" Dominic asked again.
"The ring protected her from Damon," I answered.
"What do you mean?"
"I saw it. A glimpse of the black ring. Damon was about to touch Seraphina, but the ring stopped him. And I have a feeling that she became unconscious because the ring absorbed her energy."
"You mean it doesn't only grant eternal life but also protects its owner?" Dominic asked.
"Yes," I said.
"Lucca, we underestimated the power of the black ring. I thought it was only a keepsake from her grandmother, but apparently it isn't," Dominic said, unable to hide his amazement.
"That also means I won't be able to get the ring easily," I said.
"Of course not! Do it legally," Dominic replied.
I frowned. "As if you actually have a plan," I told him.
"So now we know that Seraphina is aware that we have supernatural strength, and that she isn't safe from Damon. That means you'll have to take care of her 24/7, Lucca," Damian said, crossing his arms.
I frowned at the thought, but at the same time, Seraphina had become my responsibility. She had no one else to turn to. Mira didn't even know anything about us or Damon. That left me with no choice but to protect her at all costs since I was the one who needed something from her.
"What are you thinking about now, Lucca?" Dominic asked.
The two of them waited for my answer. I sighed once again before speaking.
"Wouldn't hiring her be the easiest way? I can't just tell her that I'll be protecting her 24/7 because we all know she would never agree to that," I explained.
"And you'll get closer to her. If she eventually falls in love with you, you can ask her to give you the ring," Damian said.
Dominic frowned but didn't say a word.
"It's a good plan, Lucca. Everything is in your hands now. All you have to do is execute it. You already got close to her when we were in Sagada, didn't you? It'll be easier now since you're her boss," Damian added.
For the first time, I saw hope in my situation. At least it would be easier for me to get the ring since I had already built a bond with Seraphina. The only thing I needed to figure out now was how to execute the plan the right way.
After talking with the boys, I told them I was going back to Seraphina's house. Dominic insisted on coming with me, so Damian was forced to come as well. Before we left, I told them we'd stop by the grocery store because I had decided to fill Seraphina's refrigerator with food.
"It's been a long time since I've gone grocery shopping," Dominic said as he looked through the items Seraphina might need.
I didn't respond to his comment because I was too focused on choosing the things she might need. Damian stayed in the car since we had taken mine to the grocery store. I told them to leave their cars at my mansion and pick them up later after we visited Seraphina.
After filling the cart, we went to the counter, and I paid for everything. Dominic insisted on paying at first, but I didn't let him. After loading the groceries into my car, we headed straight to Seraphina's house. We also bought some takeout on the way since it was already lunchtime.
"Damian!" Mira shouted before hugging him. Damian awkwardly returned the hug. I simply shook my head. If Damian was really just using Mira, she would surely end up crying her heart out.
"Lucca, what did you bring us?" Mira asked excitedly. It seemed that the sight of food had made her forget how worried she had been about Seraphina just moments ago.
"You bought groceries for her?" she added.
"Yeah. These are for Seraphina," Dominic said as he placed the groceries inside the refrigerator.
I set the takeout we had bought on the dining table, different flavors of chicken wings and a few boxes of pizza. That would be our lunch for the day.
"Mmm. This pizza is so good," Mira said between bites.
I grabbed a slice of pizza as well. I was starting to feel hungry since I'd only had coffee for breakfast.
"Should I let Sera eat this later or not?" Mira asked with a giggle.
"I'll cook something healthy for her," Dominic said.
"Aww. That's so sweet," Mira said with a smile as she continued eating.
"Am I not sweet?" Damian asked, looking at Mira.
Mira blushed.
"Of course you are," she replied, making Dominic laugh at the awkward exchange. Damian had never acted like this before. Was he really starting to fall in love, or was he simply putting on an act?
At least we enjoyed our lunch together, but Seraphina still hadn't woken up.
Seraphina's POV
"Hmm..." My body ached, and my head hurt. I didn't know what had happened, but I felt really uncomfortable. I had just woken up from a deep sleep when I heard people talking outside, as if I had visitors.
I immediately opened my eyes and gasped when I saw an IV drip attached to my hand. What happened to me?
Then I remembered Damon coming to my house to see me. He was about to touch me when someone, no, something, protected me from him.
I looked at the black ring I was wearing. Was it possible that this ring had protected me? Or was it my grandmother watching over me from above? I had seen the pain in Damon's eyes even though I hadn't touched him. So perhaps the ring had really saved me.
"Sera!"
I looked toward the door and saw Mira standing there.
"Mira!"
She immediately hugged me tightly.
"What happened to you? You didn't even tell me you weren't feeling well."
Mira cupped my cheeks with both hands.
"Please stop making us worry. The boys are outside waiting for you to wake up," she whispered.
My eyes widened.
"Did you call them?" I asked.
"No. Actually, Lucca called me," Mira replied.
"Lucca helped me?" I asked again. Curiosity filled my mind. How had he ended up here when Dominic had dropped him off before taking me home?
"Yes. Lucca found you after you collapsed, so he helped you. He even called his family doctor to examine you."
I didn't know what to feel after hearing Mira's explanation. Part of me felt embarrassed because Lucca was always helping me whenever I got into trouble. But at the same time, countless questions filled my mind, questions that I knew only Lucca could answer.
"Can I tell the boys you're awake now? Mind you, they canceled all their schedules today just to stay with you," Mira said proudly.
"Even your boyfriend?" I asked.
"Yup. Even my boyfriend," she answered with a giggle.
Damian wasn't even close to me. I could understand Dominic or Lucca coming to visit me, but Damian? Definitely not. Maybe he was only here because Mira was.
"Boys! Seraphina is awake!" Mira shouted without even waiting for my permission.
As soon as Mira shouted, Dominic entered first. He sat beside my bed and looked at me with concern.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
I smiled.
"Yes. Thank you for visiting me. But you didn't have to cancel your schedules just because of me. I've already been such a burden to you all," I said before looking at Lucca, who was silently standing by the door.
"It's nothing. What are friends for, right? Are you hungry? My friends and I bought food for you. We even went grocery shopping to restock your refrigerator."
I was shocked by what Dominic had just said.
They went grocery shopping?
"You didn't have to do that, Dominic. I already owe you so much that I doubt I'll ever be able to repay all of you," I said.
He had recently given me the money that should have been his. The house my mother had sold... Dominic had bought it back for me. I tried returning the money, but he refused, insisting that it already belonged to me.
"It's not a debt. We did it because we wanted to. Besides, you're about to start working at Lucca's company, and I'm sure you won't have much time to go grocery shopping. We even enjoyed it, right, guys?" Dominic said, looking at his friends.
Damian and Lucca simply nodded, but it still didn't make me feel any better. I couldn't help feeling like I was becoming a burden to everyone around me.
"Wait, I know you're hungry. I'll get your food," Mira volunteered before leaving the room.
"Did Damon hurt you?" Dominic asked in a low voice.
"Huh?"
How did Dominic know that I had run into Damon after we got home?
"Lucca told me," Dominic answered.
I turned to look at Lucca.
Does that mean he saw Damon with me?
"Please don't tell Mira what happened," I said immediately. I hoped they wouldn't tell her anything. Damon was her parents' business partner, and I didn't want their relationship to be ruined because of me.
"We won't," Dominic assured me.
Just then, Mira returned carrying a tray of food.
"Your favorite chicken soup with green papaya and moringa leaves," she said.
She was about to feed me, but I gently refused.
"I have hands, Mira. I can feed myself," I said with a smile. They were treating me as if I were a disabled person.
"Okay, as you wish," she said, handing me the spoon.
As I blew on the hot soup, I noticed that all of them were staring at me. It made me feel a little uncomfortable, so I leaned closer to Mira and whispered,
"Are they really going to watch me eat until I finish?"
Dominic suddenly burst into laughter, startling me.
"I'm sorry, Sera. We'll wait outside instead. Come on, boys," Dominic said as he stood up.
Lucca and Damian quietly followed him.
I let out a relieved sigh and continued eating my lunch. I finished everything before Mira handed me a glass of water.
"Thank you, Mira," I said.
"Take your medicine now. Lucca told me earlier that the doctor said you have nutritional deficiencies. You need to eat more and take your supplements," Mira explained.
"I will," I said before taking the medicine Mira handed me.
We talked for almost an hour before I finally cut the conversation short. I knew Mira was still tired from the trip, and I wanted her to get some rest.
"No, I'm not tired. I'll stay here until you get better."
"But, Mira, I'm perfectly fine now," I said.
"Perfectly fine with an IV drip attached to your hand?" she asked sarcastically.
I laughed.
"Stop being sarcastic. I'm serious. You can come back tonight and spend the night with me. For now, go back to your condo and get some rest."
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes. Take Damian with you."
She immediately blushed.
"Is that why you want me to go home? Because you want Damian and me to have some alone time?" she asked teasingly.
I rolled my eyes at Mira's overreaction. Whenever Damian was involved, she instantly shifted from being worried about me to acting all flirty.
"Yeah... now go. Damian probably needs your hugs and kisses more than I do."
She blushed even harder, making me shake my head in amusement.
After saying goodbye, she left the room. A few moments later, Dominic came in.
"Sera, I have to leave for a while. The company needs my signature, so I have to stop by the office. As soon as I'm done, I'll come back."
"You don't have to come back if you're busy. I can manage on my own. Mira will be here tonight, so I won't be alone."
"Even so, I'll come back later," Dominic insisted.
"Okay."
That was all I could say. They were all so persistent.
Soon, only Lucca and I were left in the house.
"Lucca, you don't have to stay here. I can take care of myself," I said. I felt guilty. He was probably busy, yet he was staying because no one else was with me.
"You couldn't even take care of yourself when you collapsed," Lucca replied, crossing his arms.
"What else did you see?" I asked.
"You mean the part where Damon texted you while we were still in the van, saying he was coming to your house?" Lucca asked.
"How... did you read the message?"
"Accidentally," he answered.
"I didn't tell anyone because I didn't want to bother you guys. I thought I could handle Damon, but I was wrong."
I should be grateful. If Lucca hadn't seen that message, I might have been left alone with Damon.
"Thank you... again and again," I said. Lucca had helped me so many times already that I couldn't help but think of him as one of my closest friends.
Lucca didn't react, as though everything he had done was nothing.
"Thank you for calling your doctor to check on me as well. But... was all this really necessary?" I asked, glancing at the IV drip attached to my hand.
"It was. You're suffering from nutritional deficiencies. The doctor also ran some laboratory tests. He said he'll come back later, so we'll know the results then."
I nodded. There was no point in arguing.
"Lucca..."
He looked at me without saying a word.
"Can you please not tell Mira what happened? I'm sure she wouldn't understand any of it. Your supernatural strength... Damon... even this ring. It would only confuse and shock her. I think it's better if things stay this way."
"Okay."
"And tell Damian not to overshare," I added.
"Do you really think a man like him would overshare?" Lucca asked.
He had a point, but I just wanted to make sure.
"I'm just making sure."
"Tsk."
There he was again, acting sarcastic. Even though he was frowning, it didn't seem genuine. Somehow, I felt that he truly cared about me, that he genuinely wanted to protect me.
Or maybe that was just my imagination.
"Lucca..." I called again.
"What?" he asked, sounding irritated.
"Do you... genuinely care about me?"