Chapter 64:
Elena waved it off. “Let’s stick to business. What have you discovered?”
Lydia reached into her pocket and pulled out a ring. The intricate dragon design carved into it made it stand out.
“Healer died years ago, and information on her and her husband is scarce. I dug through global databases and found a house they once lived in. My people got there and found it had been abandoned for years. This ring was discovered inside. It’s clearly a man’s size, likely belonging to your mentor. It could be a clue to his identity, but that’s all I could uncover.”
Elena studied the ring carefully. The craftsmanship was unusual—not typical jewelry, but something with a military edge.
Slipping it into her pocket, she lifted her glass. “Appreciate it.”
Lydia clinked her glass against Elena’s and drank it down in one go.
“No need for thanks between us.”
After wrapping up their conversation, Lydia left Empire.
Elena headed to the restroom. As she rounded the corner, a familiar figure came into view.
Wesley leaned against the wall, a cigarette between his fingers. Wisps of smoke curled around him, obscuring part of his face, but his unreadable gaze remained locked on her. Through the haze, their eyes met.
Elena’s eyelashes drooped as she decided not to move any closer. Pretending not to recognize Wesley, she walked toward the exit.
Yet when she brushed past him, she noticed the paleness on his face. In a swift assessment, Elena realized Wesley was in discomfort due to stomach issues.
A hint of alcohol clung to him, and it struck her as reckless for someone with such problems to both smoke and drink—it was as if he had a death wish.
At the hallway’s corner, she paused, reconsidering her next move. Elena thought about the two times he had come to her aid before.
With that in mind, she turned around and walked back to him. “You really should rethink your habits. Smoking and drinking aren’t doing your stomach any favors,” she said.
Wesley raised his gaze slightly at her familiar tone.
Ｍｏｒｅ ｕｐｄａｔｅｓ ｉｎ ｇａｌｎｏｖｅｌｓ．ｃｏｍ
Maintaining a cool, unreadable look, he asked, “What made you come back?”
Elena removed the cigarette from his hand and dropped it into a nearby ashtray, saying, “Since you helped me before, think of this as my way of repaying you.”
Gripping his wrist with one hand, she gently pressed her other hand against his abdomen.
In her eyes, Wesley was just another patient in need of care.
Her focus on the task made her oblivious to the intimacy of her actions. Resting against the cold wall, Wesley felt Elena’s petite body pressed close.
Instead of a heavy perfume, her skin carried only a subtle hint of medicine.
While he generally despised strong fragrances, Elena’s gentle scent was entirely acceptable.
Her careful touch against his stomach seemed to ease the severe pain gradually.
His attention shifted as he studied her focused, tender face.
The sweeping curves of her thick eyelashes resembled tiny brushes, adding an unexpected charm to her look.
