Magnus's worry doubled when he saw her gasp and nearly fall. "LILY!" he shouted, catching her under the arms and hauling her up against his side. Her head dropped against his shoulder, feet dragging.
The commotion drew the attention of the security team guarding Felix Allen's room down the hallway, including Eli, who had just stepped into his grandfather's VIP suite with his second uncle, Noah.
When he heard the name he longing for years, he froze for a moment before he took a step back and looked out into the hallway, heart racing.
The second his eyes met with the girl who was barely standing, Eli's recognition was immediate 'HIS LILY' and he ran toward her, panic ripping through him at the sight of her like that.
Meanwhile, Lily didn't hear Magnus shout even though she was inches from him. As she was reliving the memory playing in her mind.... the man's panic-stricken face rushing toward her, yelling her name like his heart was breaking. Tears slipped from her eyes without her knowing. With the last of her strength, she lifted her hand slightly into the air, stretching out toward him... wanting him to reach her, at least, before her eyes closed shut as a soft, breathy whisper slipped from her lips "Eli."
In reality, Eli reached them in seconds. He didn't even glance at Magnus and just tore Lily from Magnus's arms and crushed her to his chest, one hand cradling the back of her head, the other locked around her waist like he'd never let go.
"Lily~" Eli breathed, his voice breaking.
Magnus was stunned at the sudden presence of the youngman and his attention shifted from Lily to the man who had taken her from him. He stared at how the young man's entire body was shaking, at how he held her like he'd lose her if he blinked.
Eli's second uncle, Noah, who had hurried after Eli when he sped into the hallway, stood rooted a few steps away, shocked by what was happening before him.
Not just him. Even Jason Lee, the security team leader, and his men guarding the hallway were surprised by Eli's sudden involvement or his reaction towards the girl.
In Grandfather Felix's suite, Butler David, who had stood from his chair to greet Sir Noah and Sir Eli, blinked in confusion. He took a moment to process Eli bolting out of the room, Noah following suit. Then he looked at Sir Felix, who had grown anxious and snapped at him "David, go and Look what happened."
David replied, "Sir Felix, I'll see what happened," and hurried into the hallway.
Meanwhile, Lily felt her eyes closing, her memory fading away behind them. Then she sensed someone's presence... the touch of someone holding her, a fragrance that felt somehow familiar.
Lily's eyes were almost shut, her vision swallowed by blackness. She couldn't see anything, but she started hearing her name in whispers. The voice felt familiar too, just like the touch and the presence.
The whispers became frantic. They kept ringing in her ears, the tone carrying so much desperation. However, Lily felt so tired. She just wanted to shut down, but the familiarity surrounded her urging her to open her eyes.
Lily was raised like a warrior. She didn't know where all the strength she possessed had gone, but she wouldn't give up like that. The warrior in her gathered what strength she had left and slowly opened her eyes.
Lily's vision was blurry at first. She blinked hard until it cleared and her eyes met him.
Her mind was still clouding with the memory she'd just witnessed, and for a moment she thought he had reached her. She stared at him for a moment and slowly whispered his name, barely breathing, "El... li..." , before closing her eyes and losing consciousness.
Something within Eli snapped when he heard her call his name in a breathy whisper, but the next instant his body froze when he saw her eyes shut.
For a moment, his mind reeled with the memory of her last moment. Tears slid down his cheeks, until he forced himself to snap out of that nightmare and roared, "Call the doctor!" Not at anyone in particular, but at anyone near enough to hear him.
Then he lifted Lily into his arms and took her towards his grandfather's VIP suite. Everyone in the hallway was stunned by Eli's breakdown. They had never seen Eli lose his composure until now.
And this was the scene witnessed by Butler David, who had just stepped out of the room to see what had happened, and William Allen, who was coming back to his father's suite after speaking with the doctor about his father's discharge.
Butler David was shocked to see Eli in tears with an unconscious girl in his arms. He slipped back into the room and glanced at Sir Felix but hesitated to report it to him.
Meanwhile, William, worried by the sight of Eli, moved toward him before stopping in his tracks as he went rigid when he recognized the girl in his nephew's arms.
Noah looked at Jason Lee and ordered him to call the doctor immediately before glancing at William, who stood rooted to his spot and calling him, "William."
"Ahh~" William snapped out of it and shifted his gaze from Eli, who was moving toward his father's suite, to his second brother Noah. Then he walked toward him and asked calmly, "What exactly is happening here?"
Noah sighed before replying, "I'm just as surprised as everyone else. Let's go see. Eli looks like a wreck."
William gave a silent nod, and both walked toward their father's VIP suite.
In the suite, before hesitant Butler David could report anything to Felix, Eli entered the suite carrying Lily in his arms following them entered Magnus.
When Felix looked at the scene and realized who exactly was in Eli's arms, he froze.
Eli carried Lily straight into the VIP suite bedroom connected to his grandfather's room. He laid her on the bed before slipping off her shoes. Then he sat at the edge of the bed beside her and took her hand in his like it was the only thing keeping him alive.