Feverish wife?
''Alright, let's end it once and for all,'' Archer's tone was crisp.
It was too late by the time Elvina realized that out of all the suites in this huge hallway, this food trolley was meant for both of these men she was trying to avoid bumping into.
Earlier, she spotted a birthday cake on the table and the mysterious person who threw this grand party also had his birthday today.
By any chance, is that enigma the same person who was talking to Archer?
The waiter greeted them before he left.
And Elvina was left all alone in the room, with Archer and his friend.
To put the cherry on top, she was sitting inside this food trolley with her limbs almost twisted.
She forced a smile on her face.
It's okay. A little adventure is not bad.
The smile faded from her face when her head bumped into the surface.
Fuck adventure!
She wanted to break this damned thing and step out like the main protagonist of some cheesy television drama.
She adjusted the white curtains around the table, ensuring that there was no gap from any side.
Inhaling a deep breath, she paid attention to their conversation.
Now that she was sitting here already, she should make it worth her time.
...
''Archer!! For god's sake, can't you get over it already?! It has been so long since all that happened."
Archer glanced at the man standing in front of him.
Maven Larsen. The man who was once his closest friend.
Archer still remembered the first day of his school when he met this brooding and detached boy who sat back in the further corner of the classroom, not talking to anyone.
And he still remembered the first time when they talked, it was a talk with fists. Both of them were hard-headed and it resulted in them beating each other.
But of course, it was just the beginning of their long-time friendship in the years to come.
He introduced Maven to Emir and the three of them were inseparable until that day...
''It's not that I am holding onto the past,'' Archer thrust his hands inside his pockets, ''I just don't want to have anything to do with the likes of you.''
Maven's jaw ticked. He knew that he fucked up and what happened in the past was all his fault but it has been three years since that day. And he has been trying to get in touch with the man just so he could apologize to him properly.
But it was practically impossible to meet Archer Cardale as the man was determined to not see him again.
In the end, Maven resorted to this.
Archer had to come to this club for the inauguration in person. This property held a meaningful position in the Cardale Family.
Alex Cardale, Archer's father had acquired this property for his mother after a few years of their marriage.
And in recent years, Archer took over this project, deciding to build this luxurious club here. So, it was obvious that he would be here for the inauguration.
What's more... it turned out to be the perfect opportunity when he heard that Archer would come to this place on his birthday.
So, he threw a birthday party, making the perfect plan and calculating the perfect time to meet this man.
''What will it take for you to give me another chance?" Maven glanced at the man with a straight face.
He couldn't believe that their decades of friendship was over just like that nor was he willing to accept it.
''As long as you can reverse everything,'' Archer nonchalantly said. Looking at the man's face as it changed colors, he clicked his tongue, his lips tugged up in a mocking smirk, ''It's too late now for us to go back to how it was.''
Being friends with Maven will only remind him of the betrayal of the man and his ruined relationship with his younger sister.
He stormed out of the room without looking back at the man.
Maven looked at his retreating back quietly for a few seconds before he punched the food trolley, his hand sweeping off the bottle of champagne and cake from the food trolley. The bottle broke into pieces as it crashed to the floor.
He had invited Emir to celebrate like the old days but it seems impossible now.
He tucked his bleeding fist inside his pocket and strode out.
The room was back to being silent.
The trolley, which now had a dent on it, moved as Elvina stepped out of it with a complicated expression on her face.
She quietly rubbed the top of her aching head.
...
In Silverton Estate.
Archer reached the house around 10 pm. He entered his fingerprint and stepped inside only to find the lights on.
His gaze scanned the living room, stopping near the couch where a woman was curled up, sleeping peacefully while holding a fat cat in her arms.
Archer walked towards the couch and placed his suit jacket on the coffee table before squatting near the head of the couch.
He gazed at Elvina's sleeping face quietly.
Why was she sleeping here? Was she not comfortable in the room?
He noticed the woman frowning occasionally. Was she having a nightmare?
As if on instinct, his hand reached out to tuck the loose strands of her hair that framed her face.
But right at that time, he saw her stirring in her sleep.
Archer pushed himself to his feet before he cleared his throat.
She opened her eyes.
''Mm... You're back,'' Elvina's voice was hoarse, and her eyes were hazy.
And Archer hated the way his dead-to-the-world cock stirred just by the look in her eyes.
This must be the exact darn reason why men had a reputation for thinking by their lower bodies.
Just look at him reacting to a woman he was far from being interested in.
Archer was beginning to doubt that his abstinence was taking a toll on his mental and physical health.
''Yes,''
Elvina sat up slowly, holding Gold carefully in her arms.
She placed the sleeping cat on the couch before standing up, ''Did you have dinner?"
Archer raised an eyebrow. What's up with that look on her face? She was looking at him with what looked like.... pity?
Moreover, her sugary tone. He was not used to it. God forbid he ended up having diabetes.
''Not yet. What about you?" he asked, kicking aside his inner monologue.
''Same,'' Elvina stroked her stomach, ''I was waiting for you.''
''What... Cough...'' Archer choked on air. He pressed his fist on his mouth as he coughed profusely.
Elvina's brows tugged together. She walked behind before patting his back, ''Calm down. You will hurt yourself.''
"_"
''Do you have a fever?" Archer grabbed her wrists, stopping her hands which were busy patting his back. He turned around to look at her.