The Garden land legally transferred by the time they had their lunch. PA.Mason passed a pendrive to Lily, Which she took it from him and turned towards the Kenneth Cross and said "Our legal team contact yours to deliver the original documents in a three days." she give the drive to Kenneth and continued "Here's the digital document, the Garden land legally belongs to Mr.Tristan Cross."
Kenneth took the drive and stared at it, before looking up and met Lily's eyes as he said in a grateful manner "Thank you, Ms.Crescent." Lily nodded in response and escort them out.
After they left, Lily returned to her office and settled herself onto the couch. She checked the time, still mid-afternoon. Then she glanced at Magnus Shaw, who was already in her office, sitting in the armchair, before asking him. "When are you leaving, Uncle Shaw?"
Magnus Shaw's gaze fixed on Lily. His voice carried a gentleness he used only for her. "Tonight. When are you leaving?"
Lily's voice went soft and low as she answered, casually. "I have some work to finish now, and I have to visit someone at the hospital this evening. So, I still haven't decided whether it's tonight or tomorrow."
"Someone's in the hospital?" Uncle Magnus asked, his brow creased slightly, but his voice still carrying that gentleness. "I thought you came here on short notice just to meet the Crosses."
Lily nodded, then shook her head and sighed before telling him about the accident she'd witnessed yesterday.
She hesitated as she fixed her gaze on the window straight ahead her, then clarified, "So, I only came for the Crosses at first. But his grandson called this morning. I kinda told him I'd stop by to see his grandfather later this evening." She frowned, still processing the call she'd had that morning.
Uncle Magnus's gaze stayed fixed on Lily. He didn't miss the hesitation or the way her brow creased into a frown. He studied her a moment before his deep voice softened even more as he asked her "Little girl, what's the matter? Something's bothering you."
Lily looked at him, pursing her lips, and exhaled before nodding. Her voice came low as she whispered, "I don't know what to do, Uncle Magnus."
Magnus didn't probe or press her but patiently waited for her to continue. What felt like a minute later, Lily continued, her voice still low, but Magnus could hear her clearly. "Hmm... I think it's him who called me this morning."
It didn't take a long moment for Magnus to realise who is HIM Lily's speaking about and his eyes went wide and he stiffened for a moment before he relaxed himself and asked her restrained calmness "The telepathic guy...?"
Lily wasn't looking at Magnus to see his movements but she just nodded in response. Magnus looked down, lost in his thoughts and asked, "Do you know anything about them? Names? Identities?"
"Hmm…" Lily hummed. "I know, Uncle Magnus. The person who had the accident yesterday is Felix Allen. You might have heard of him… the retired general officer. And the person who called me…" She paused and whispered in a low voice. "He said his name is Elisha Allen." She felt something she couldn't explain stir in her chest as she said his name.
Magnus's eyes stayed fixed on the ground. He still looked lost in thought, even as he responded, "Allen? Ivan's family."
A sudden realization dawned on Lily. "Oh, yes! Mr.Felix Allen is our Ivan's granduncle. How did it not even cross my mind?"
"It's not important now," Magnus said before finally looking up and sighed like he was done with his thoughts, he took out his phone, pressed record, and asked her..."Tell me what you're unsure of. What do you not know what to do about?"
Lily didn't care why he was recording their talk. She knew he only did that when she was having a dilemma. She turned serious as she gave him her honest thoughts "I'm wondering… What should I do if I meet him? Does he know what I look like? Can he identify me? And if he does… should I ask how he knows me, or why he's always thinking of me?"
Lily's voice dropped. It sounded like she was asking herself, "Does he really… really love me? But how? How is it even possible for him to know me?"
Her brows knit together as she looked at Magnus. "I was still a kid when this telepathy or whatever called started, Uncle Magnus, and I didn't even know what emotions or feelings were at that age. I only knew I get unbearable pain and I cry everyday. While growing up, I thought I had a disease just like Lina, but it's just different from her."
She was perplexed as she continued, "He might have been a kid too. So how is it even possible for an innocent kid to think of me and have the heaviest emotions that hurt, Uncle Magnus? And now look where I am. I went from thinking it was a disease to understanding every bit of his emotions. He's longing for me, Uncle Magnus. He needs me. He wants me. He's waiting for me, every day. And most importantly, he loves me while hurting quietly, Uncle Magnus. I know his feelings well, but I still can't come to terms with how or why."
She paused before speaking her innermost thoughts. "I tried, Uncle Magnus. I tried to tell myself there's no one, that it's just my imagination, just a psychological problem. But I don't know why or how... I just know he exists and I just know somehow everything is real."
She fixed her gaze on the window again and asked quietly, "What are all these emotions and feelings inside me, Uncle Magnus? I'm just confused. Why am I even having them?"
Magnus pressed off the recorder and stood up from the armchair. His movement made Lily look up at him, and he stretched out his hand toward her. "Let's go and meet him, little girl. Maybe you'll know what to do then."
Lily looked at his outstretched hand and took a moment before replying, like she'd found an excuse to delay. "But Uncle Magnus, I told him I would visit in the eve~"
Magnus cut her off like he exactly know it's just an excuse and stated. "You're worrying, little girl." He patted her head twice, his voice gentle and then returned his hand to its outstretched position as he said. "Let's face it instead of stalling in worry, little girl."
When Lily hesitated, he added little cheeringly, "Hmm, I do want to see who's worrying my little girl so much. So then I'll let my son deal with him."
Lily chuckled at his comment and put her hand in his outstretched hand. She stood up as she declared, "Then let's go and see if he's as I imagined him, if not we let Brother Alaric deal with him."
••••
At Allen Industries, Noah Allen got a call from his brother William reporting that their father was insisting on being discharged today and he had even asked the doctor about it during his check-up. After listening to his brother, Noah felt like he was aging faster because of his father behaviour instead of his children. "What did the doctor say, William?"
William's resigned voice came from the other end of the call. "The doctor said he could be discharged tomorrow morning after a check-up if he wants to rest at home. But you know our father. He said it's just a small wound compared to the major injuries he's had before, and he ordered the doctor to discharge him this evening."
While Noah was sighing at his father's antics, Eli's deep voice reached his ears. "Second Uncle, what happened?" William could also hear Eli's voice through the phone.
Noah looked at Eli who's gaze already fixed on him and felt like he had found the savior of their worries and told Eli about his father's insistence on being discharged. Eli sighed and asked him to pass the phone and spoke with William. "Third Uncle, I'll be there in an hour. Don't worry."
William exhaled with relief and hung up with an "Okay." Eli passed the phone back to Noah and told him he would leave for the hospital. When Noah said he would come too, Eli didn't object, and both set off for the hospital.
The drive to the hospital was silent. Eli was driving, and Noah was seated beside him in the front passenger seat, lost in thought regarding what his brother had mentioned in his messages about Eli. His mind kept running through the thought of Eli being in pain, just as William had mentioned. Meanwhile Eli, who was driving, observed his second uncle tapping his fingers, which he only do when he thought about something seriously. Eli thought his Uncle was worrying about his grandfather, so he spoke to lessen his worry, "Don't worry, Second Uncle. Grandfather will not discharge today."
Noah glanced at his nephew and studied him while responding, "I'm not worrying about my father, Eli. I know he will listen to your word." He paused, weighing how to continue, before telling him in a low voice, "We're worrying about you" as he quietly added "It's not just me, but everyone."
Eli was taken aback and glanced at his second Uncle to ask "About me? But why~" before realization dawned on him. "Third Uncle told you..." He didn't complete the sentence but trailed off.
Noah stared at the road ahead and responded, "He wouldn't have, if you hadn't made him so worried."
Eli didn't say anything in return. Noah took the cue and peeked at him before asking, "Who is HER you're searching for, Eli?"
Eli remained silent for a moment before denying it solemnly. "I'm not searching anyone, Second Uncle."
"You're not?" Noah narrowed his eyes and asked in a doubting tone, while giving him side long glance.
"Hmm." Eli just hummed at first, his gaze fixed on the road as he responded slowly while remembering the someone he is talking about, "Maybe Uncle William misunderstood something here. But I'm not searching for anyone." He paused again for a beat and added melancholy, "I'm just waiting for someone."
"Waiting?" Noah echoed, puzzled by his nephew's response. "Why?"
Eli took a turn towards right and replied in a nonchalant tone, shifting his attention to focus on his driving "I was advised to wait instead of searching for her, so I wouldn't lose myself in the quest before even reaching her."
Noah shifted in his seat and tilted his head, wondering "Who even advised you that?"
Eli shifted his gaze from the road and held his gaze as he said, "Grandmother Alicia, Second Uncle." and then he shifted his gaze to focus on driving again.
It took a moment for Noah to process who Eli mentioned, and he caught off guard before he stating with a visible frown, "But it's been almost 13 years since my mother left us. When did she even tell you that?" his voice one of a surprise before he paused as the implication sinking in and wondered, "Did my mother know about the person you're waiting for?"
Eli nodded. "She knows," he quietly confirmed is Uncle question and added with an audible exhale "And she gave her advice in her final moments."
Noah's tone shook as he uttered in surprise, "How long have you been waiting for that person, and who exactly is she, Eli?" he couldn't believe Eli was waiting for someone from so long, he wondered what he and his family don't know about.
Eli's grip on the steering wheel loosened. His gaze turned distant, his voice low, as he said a moment later, "She's someone important, Second Uncle." Then, in uttered barely a whisper, "Time is longer than it ticks while waiting for her."
Noah felt he's more confusing then getting answers to his questions, he resigned asking anything and leaned back in his passenger seat and closed his eyes. He would wait and continue his questions when everyone got together to fire off their worry for Eli in questions when he's home.