The Billionaire's Rental Wife Is A Hot Shot
Chapter 220: Final Goodbye

Chapter 220: Final Goodbye

[Wright Mansion]

It had been almost five days, but Elias hadn’t woken up. The doctors were trying their best—sometimes he would react or show responses, but he hadn’t regained full consciousness, raising concerns for everyone involved.

Evelyn sighed as she absentmindedly moved her spoon into the bowl of salad. Luckily, her morning sickness hadn’t worsened, but she had no interest in eating anything.

Rosalind walked toward her, carrying a glass of fresh apple juice. She shook her head, seeing Evelyn lost in a daze again. Though Evelyn was acting fine on the outside, she was breaking inside a little more every day, and it was breaking Rosalind’s heart.

"Did Avery leave already?" Rosalind asked, sitting beside her.

Evelyn came out of her thoughts and nodded in response. "Today is AWE’s monthly board meeting. She left with Ian earlier."

Rosalind nodded with a smile. Everyone had to move on and focus on their jobs. William’s health had deteriorated further, so Gracia took charge of Wright Corporation, while Zevian was needed at the Reigns. Damien had to return to Arecamia since his mission wasn’t complete yet, and Avery was busy handling AWE alone.

Rosalind moved closer and held onto Evelyn’s hand. "I know this is tough, but you need to take care of yourself, honey," Caressing her hand, she added, "Elias would be sad to see you like this when he wakes up."

"I am trying, but..." Evelyn sighed out loud. She was trying to be positive, hoping for everything to be alright. But every minute that passed, she couldn’t stop worrying about the worst. She couldn’t lose Elias, not after they were finally free from Sophia and her schemes.

"Oh honey," Rosalind’s heart ached for her daughter-in-law. She moved closer and pulled her into a hug.

Evelyn closed her eyes and tried to fight back those tears. She stayed in Rosalind’s embrace for a while, her warmth comforting and providing a reprieve for a moment.

"Let’s visit the church and pray for him," Rosalind suggested, still caressing her back. She had been going every day and decided to take Evelyn with her today, hoping it would help clear her mind a little.

Evelyn nodded and broke the hug. Wiping her tears, she managed a slight smile and finished her drink.

A few minutes later, Rosalind smiled as Evelyn came down after getting ready. She looked at the butler, who nodded and walked away to arrange a car.

"Should we pick up Kiana from her school and take her to the hospital? She would be thrilled to meet her uncle," Rosalind suggested as they walked out of the mansion.

Evelyn nodded with a smile. The little girl had been requesting to see Elias too, promising that her magic hug could heal him quickly.

They sat inside the car, and the butler bowed to them as the chauffeur drove out of the main gates. Just then, there was a call from Dante, one of Lucius’s men who was at the hospital.

Evelyn quickly picked it up, and Dante briefed her about the situation. Tears slipped out of her eyes, her shoulders dropping slightly, worrying Rosalind.

"What’s wrong?" Rosalind asked in a panic, holding Evelyn’s hand.

Evelyn turned to her and murmured, "Eli is awake."

"Oh, thank goodness!" Rosalind sighed in relief. She quickly instructed the driver to take them to the hospital. Clasping Evelyn’s hand tightly, she smiled at her, a wave of relief washing over them. The wait was finally over.

It had taken almost an hour to reach the hospital, with the traffic and the distance slowing them down. As soon as they arrived, Evelyn got out of the car and rushed inside, her heart pounding with anticipation and worry.

She was met by Dante’s men at the entrance, who closely followed her steps. But as she started walking toward the ICU, they stopped her. "He has already been shifted to the VVIP room, Ma’am," one of them informed her, gesturing toward the elevator. "This way, please."

Evelyn nodded, barely finding her voice, and followed them. Rosalind was right beside her, holding her hand to keep her nerves in check. Evelyn’s thoughts were a tangled mess—relief that Elias was awake, fear of his condition, and guilt for leaving him alone in such a vulnerable state. Her emotions flickered across her face, though she tried to keep her expression steady.

As they reached the corridor leading to the VVIP room, Evelyn noticed bouncers stationed at the doors. Security had been tightened, a necessary precaution given the recent events. When they finally arrived at the room, Evelyn paused. She wiped her eyes, determined not to let Elias see her crying. Taking a deep breath, she composed herself before opening the door and stepping inside.

There he was—Elias, lying on the bed. There were still medical instruments attached to his chest, monitoring his vitals, but the oxygen mask had been removed. His eyes were closed, his face pale and gaunt, with the faint shadows of exhaustion etched on his features. At the sound of the door opening, he slowly turned his head, sensing someone entering.

Avery, who had arrived faster than Evelyn, stood up from her seat with a smile. As Evelyn walked over, Avery helped her sit on the stool beside the bed. Rosalind stood beside Avery, giving her a side hug as they both looked warmly at Elias.

The siblings stared at each other, silently analyzing the other. Elias’s smile lit up his pale face as he looked at his sister. Evelyn, unable to hold back her emotions, felt tears streaming down her cheeks. She turned away, hurriedly trying to wipe them.

"Ah, stop crying. I’m not dead," Elias grumbled, his voice low and weak.

"And you should stop bringing up that word so casually, young man," Avery scolded their "gold retriever." She had cried worse than Evelyn, to the point that the doctors had sent her out earlier to calm down.

"I won’t die before you guys, so don’t worry," Elias joked with a faint grin, earning a light slap on his shoulder from Evelyn.

"Ow! You can’t harass a patient, sis," Elias murmured, feigning offense. Avery shook her head but couldn’t help breaking into a smile. It was a relief to see their lively gold retriever back, though all the drama had sapped his energy.

Evelyn held onto his hand, a small smile tugging at her lips. He was fine, and she silently swore to herself that she wouldn’t let anything break him again.

Just then, Dr. Samantha walked in, a smile forming on her face on seeing Evelyn. Evelyn stood up and bowed slightly in gratitude.

The junior doctor moved toward Elias, checking his vitals, while Samantha addressed Evelyn. "His body is responding well, but we need to observe him for a few more days," she explained. She further detailed his current condition, stressing how complete stress was essential, as well as his diet and other important information.

"The wounds might take time to heal so make sure he doesn’t move a lot. Bending and lifting weights is a complete no."

"I will keep that in mind, Doctor," Evelyn replied and bowed again. "Thank you."

Samantha smiled and excused herself, her nurse and junior doctor following behind, and left the family alone.

"I will go and visit the church, Evy," Rosalind said, turning to Evelyn. She had been planning to go before they received the news and needed to offer her gratitude for this blessing.

"I will come with you!" Avery chimed in. At Evelyn’s nod, the two walked out of the room together, leaving the siblings alone.

Evelyn adjusted the blanket over Elias, tucking him inside properly. Taking a seat beside him, she asked softly, "Do you need some water?"

Elias shook his head with a faint smile. Evelyn moved closer and caressed his hair, her gaze filled with warmth and love. She felt a sense of relief she hadn’t experienced in days, while Elias was simply grateful she was fine. He silently vowed to keep protecting her, no matter what the future held for them, even if it meant taking more bullets or starting a war against that woman.

———

The next two days passed quickly, with family members visiting Elias regularly. Avery took turns with Evelyn to watch over him, while Zevian found time between his responsibilities to stay for a few hours. Gracia and William also visited, but since William couldn’t sit for long hours, Evelyn insisted they not worry too much and rest at home.

"Ian is on his way. Do you need something to drink?" Evelyn asked Elias, who shook his head, his expression relaxed yet fatigued.

Evelyn texted Zevian back, confirming his arrival, before turning her attention to the television. They were watching Elias’s favorite movie, an action-packed flick. Normally, she would have argued with him about indulging in so much noise and chaos, but this time she let him enjoy it—he was still recovering, after all.

As the duo passed time, the doors opened, and Evelyn smiled upon seeing Zevian. Her smile faltered as her gaze landed on the police officers walking in behind him. Elias frowned, already irritated. He had given his statement the other day about the attack, and he had assumed the matter was closed.

"Why are they here again?" Evelyn asked Zevian as he walked over to her.

Zevian gently held her hand and asked her to wait. He explained that things hadn’t settled yet and had gotten even messier after Sophia’s gun stunt. The officers couldn’t hold back since the situation required an immediate response from the family.

"Will they be here?" one officer asked Zevian.

"Yes. Mr. Wright and his wife will be here soon," Zevian replied, confusing both Elias and Evelyn further.

Moments later, Lucius walked into the room, carrying a file. Still dressed in his coat, Evelyn assumed he had just returned from court. A few minutes after Lucius’s arrival, Avery joined them, and they all waited for Gracia and William in the growing silence.

"What’s going on here?" Evelyn asked Zevian again, her nerves fraying, but he only asked her to be patient for another minute.

The atmosphere felt thick with tension, like the calm before an impending storm. Evelyn sighed and held onto Elias’s hand, steeling herself for whatever was to come. She tried to prepare her mind, but her heart pounded with anxiety.

When Gracia and William arrived, the officers quickly got to business. Gracia helped William sit beside Elias, while Evelyn and Avery stood near the side.

"Mr. Reign requested that we wait for a few more days, but unfortunately, we couldn’t. It’s urgent," the officer said, stepping forward and passing a tablet to Elias. "Your mother suffered a huge shock after the incident. Following a series of medical evaluations, it has been diagnosed that she’s suffering from post-traumatic psychosis coupled with a dissociative identity state."

Elias took the tablet, his brows furrowing. Evelyn and Avery leaned forward slightly, their curiosity tinged with fear. On the screen was a video of Sophia sitting on the ground in a prison cell. Her hair was disheveled, strands sticking out in wild directions as if untouched for days. Dark circles framed her hollow eyes, which stared blankly ahead, devoid of any recognition or clarity.

Sophia rocked back and forth, her hands cradling what looked like a doll, clutching it tightly as though it were her lifeline. Her lips moved faintly, murmuring incoherent words, her expression a haunting mix of detachment and desperation.

"Eli, my baby," Sophia murmured, hugging the doll as if it were her son. "Momma would never kill you. She loves you so much. Don’t listen to anyone, okay?"

Avery frowned at the footage, her skepticism rising. Could this be another act? But the officer swiped to the next video, showing Sophia aggressively fighting with another prisoner who had called her a murderer. She clutched her doll tightly, mumbling incomprehensibly before running away into the corridor.

"You mean she’s gone mad?" Avery asked, glancing up at the officer.

The officer nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line. Avery couldn’t help but glance at Gracia. Sophia had always wanted to drive Gracia mad, torture, and enjoy, yet here they were. Life had turned the tables in a way no one could have foreseen. Karma finally seemed to be hitting her, very hard and harshly.

"The psychiatrist reported that seeing you, her son might make her better. Staying with her could aid in her recovery," the second officer explained. He added that Sophia’s condition had worsened significantly, leaving her future uncertain. While the doctors weren’t sure if she could ever return to normalcy, they believed Elias’ presence might bring a breakthrough.

Elias handed the tablet back, his expression unreadable. After a moment of silence, he looked at the officers and said, "Can you do me a favor?"

"Yes," one officer replied, leaning forward slightly.

"Tell her that I died in the court," Elias declared. His voice was plain, but the weight of emotion beneath it was unmistakable.

"But—"

"She is solely responsible for her current condition, and I do not want to help her." Elias cut in, his voice firm. He didn’t want any ties to her—not now, not ever. Even if it made him seem like a bad son in society’s eyes, he just never wanted to see her again. This was karma punishing her for her crimes, and he had no intention of standing in its way.

"Please don’t ever reach out to me about her," he added, his tone final.

The officers exchanged glances, but they couldn’t force him. Lucius stepped forward, offering to handle the matter legally. He nodded to Zevian before escorting the officers out, leaving the room in a heavy silence.

Elias sighed deeply as they left. William reached over and patted his hand. "You must be tired. Rest early," he murmured. Their relationship was still a complicated mess, but William was glad Elias was taking steps to move on from Sophia.

Elias nodded and replied, "You should return home."

William stood slowly, Gracia helping him up. She shared a brief hug with Evelyn and gestured for Avery to take care of them before leading her husband out.

Once they were gone, Avery moved forward and gently patted Elias’s head. "You did the right thing, Eli," she murmured with a soft smile. "Don’t think about it too much."

Elias nodded, his gaze shifting to Evelyn, who smiled warmly at him. The weight of the past still lingered, but for the first time in a long while, they felt ready to move on, leave behind the bitterness and pain, and focus instead on living their lives peacefully.