Chapter 7:
The morning began like any other.
Breakfast passed in its usual rhythm, quiet and uneventful. Yuvan moved about as he always did, helping the maids with small tasks, his presence gentle and familiar.
And yet, something was wrong.
From the very start of the day, there had been a subtle shift in him—one that did not go unnoticed. His steps lacked their usual steadiness, faltering ever so slightly. A faint flush lingered across his face, and a quiet exhaustion clung to him like a shadow.
Sebastian and Theo noticed.
They questioned him more than once, their concern evident, but Yuvan dismissed them each time with light excuses and a reassuring smile that failed to convince.
Still, they refused to leave. Work no longer seemed important.
Only after persistent effort did Yuvan finally manage to send them away.
At Noon:
The house had fallen into a calm silence when it happened.
Yuvan was descending the staircase when the world around him tilted. His vision blurred, and his footing slipped beneath him.
He was about to fall.
But before he could hit the ground, a pair of strong arms caught him.
"Careful, Yuvan," David said, steadying him.
Yet something was terribly wrong.
Yuvan could barely stand. His body swayed, weak and uncooperative, until he leaned completely against David for support.
And then David felt it.
The heat.
Startled, he pressed his palm against Yuvan's forehead—only to pull it back almost instantly.
Yuvan was burning.
Without wasting another second, David lifted him into his arms and carried him swiftly to Sebastian's room. He laid him down carefully on the bed before rushing out.
"Victor!" he called sharply. "Call the doctor—and bring a basin of water!"
Victor, the butler, nodded without hesitation and hurried off.
The commotion drew Robert out of his room.
"What happened, David? Why are you shouting?" he demanded, his voice firm but edged with concern.
"Yuvan has a high fever. He's burning up," David replied, the panic in his voice impossible to hide.
Robert didn't wait for another word. He turned and strode quickly toward Yuvan's room.
"Call Sebastian and Theo. Immediately," he ordered as he left.
---
Elsewhere, Sebastian and Theo were seated in a quarterly meeting when Sebastian's phone lit up.
He frowned.
He always kept his phone on silent during meetings—but today, he had forgotten.
Glancing down, he froze.
David.
David never called unless it was urgent.
"Give me a moment," Sebastian said, raising a hand before picking up the call.
"Hello—"
"Sebastian, come home. Now. Bring Theo with you."
David's voice was strained. Urgent.
Sebastian's grip tightened. "Why? What happened?"
A brief pause.
"Yuvan… he's burning."
For a moment, everything stopped.
The words didn't register—until they did.
The phone slipped from Sebastian's hand, hitting the floor with a dull crack.
He shot to his feet.
"Theo, we're leaving."
"What? But—"
Theo's protest went unheard. Sebastian was already moving, urgency driving every step.
---
The moment they stepped outside, the sky broke open.
Rain poured down in heavy sheets, drenching the streets within seconds. But neither of them hesitated.
They drove through the storm at full speed.
---
Back at the mansion, the doctor arrived despite the unforgiving rain.
Victor led him upstairs without delay.
As soon as he entered the room, Robert spoke, impatience laced with relief.
"Henry, what took you so long?"
"The roads are flooded," Henry replied, slightly breathless. "I got here as fast as I could. Now—where is the patient?"
Robert gestured toward the bed.
Yuvan lay there, motionless.
His face was flushed a deep, alarming red, and his breathing was uneven as he drifted in and out of consciousness.
Henry moved to his side immediately and began examining him.
He took out a thermometer and checked Yuvan's temperature.
Seconds passed.
Then—
"Damn."
Henry straightened abruptly, his expression turning grave.
"We need to take him to the hospital. Now."
"What?" Robert started, but the door burst open before he could continue.
Sebastian and Theo rushed in, breathless from haste.
"What happened? Is he okay?" Sebastian demanded, his voice tight with fear.
Henry didn't hesitate.
"His fever is at 114°F. We can't wait."
The color drained from Sebastian's face.
Without another word, he stepped forward, lifted Yuvan into his arms, and turned toward the door.
No one tried to stop him.
Moments later, they were gone.
Racing against time.
*:..｡o To be continue o｡..:*