Chapter 519 Keeping It from Her
Burry's reaction immediately sent Aurelia's heart racing with anxiety.
"Burry, please don't lie to me. I need the truth from you—whatever happened over there, good or bad, I have to know."
Burry fell silent for a moment before continuing. "He disguised himself as a doctor and explained his escape plan to me in the examination room. He even gave me a gun for protection, but I don't know how to use one, so I gave it back. Just knowing someone was there to help put me at ease. When they rescued me, everything was chaotic..."
Burry paused here, glancing at Aurelia before continuing. "During the rescue, Alex was captured. The mercenaries watching me got into a firefight with another group, and Joe used the confusion to get me out of the building."
Aurelia's breathing became labored. "What about Nathaniel? Didn't you see him?"
Burry pulled the blanket closer around herself. "Aurelia, I'm tired. Can we talk about this tomorrow?"
This conversation left Aurelia completely unable to sleep. Listening to the steady breathing beside her, she carefully slipped out of bed and returned to her own room. Nathaniel's phone still went straight to voicemail.
At dawn, she was jolted awake by her phone ringing. Seeing the familiar name on the screen instantly brought her to full alertness.
"Nathaniel, why are you just calling me back now?" Aurelia's voice carried both relief and frustration.
There was a long pause before he responded. "Aurelia, yesterday was hectic—I've been dealing with some situations. Were you worried about me?"
Aurelia wiped away tears, unable to identify her exact emotions. Hearing his voice alive and well released the tension she'd been carrying, but she couldn't help feeling hurt and abandoned.
"When are you coming back to Coral Bay?"
"In a while. Things here are more complicated than expected—it'll take time to resolve."
Aurelia's voice was thick with unshed tears. "Nathaniel, did something happen that you're afraid to tell me? You promised you'd never hide anything from me."
Nathaniel chuckled softly. "Nothing happened. I'll be back to Coral Bay soon—don't overthink it."
"Fine, then let's video call. I want to see you."
On the other end, Nathaniel froze again. After a long pause, he tried to sound casual. "Aurelia, maybe not right now—it's early morning and I'm not dressed."
His tone immediately confirmed Aurelia's suspicions. "Stop making excuses and turn on the video. It's not like I haven't seen you before."
"Aurelia, I'm in the middle of something, I—"
"No more excuses. Video call, now!"
Aurelia's voice brooked no argument. Nathaniel sighed in defeat. "Alright, but I'm slightly injured—don't be alarmed."
Tears sprang to Aurelia's eyes. She knew things weren't as simple as he'd claimed. She hung up and immediately initiated a video call. On the other end, Nathaniel mustered his strength while Zack helped him sit up and button his shirt before accepting the call.
"Aurelia, I'm really fine."
He wore striped hospital pajamas against the backdrop of white hospital sheets. Aurelia's eyes were red-rimmed as she took in Nathaniel's pallid, sickly appearance. She was accustomed to seeing him vibrant and energetic—this weakened state was jarring.
"Show me where you're hurt."
Nathaniel angled the camera toward his right leg. "I fell while running—injured my knee. You know how these things go—it'll take time to heal properly, so I'll be delayed getting back to you."
Aurelia frowned as she examined his bandaged right leg through the phone screen—the injury looked severe.
"Are you hurt anywhere else?"
Nathaniel forced a laugh. "No, and if it weren't for this leg, I'd already be on my way to you."
Aurelia was on the verge of tears. "Stop joking around. Show me your upper body—take off your shirt."
Nathaniel's eye twitched as he handed the phone to Zack. "Aurelia, look, I'm fine. Want me to demonstrate some military exercises from this chair?"
"Stop deflecting and take off your shirt!"
Nathaniel was cornered. He knew she wouldn't be easily fooled. Just then, a nurse entered to change his dressing.
"Aurelia, someone's here..."
Hearing the nurse's voice, Aurelia temporarily relented. "How serious is your knee injury? I should come to Imperick tomorrow to stay with you."
Nathaniel wiped sweat from his forehead. "Aurelia, don't come. Burry urgently needs tissue typing—that can't be delayed. Stay in Coral Bay for now. I'm really fine—just superficial wounds that need time to heal. I have to go now—the nurse needs to change my dressing."
After hanging up, Nathaniel exhaled in relief.
The nurse shook her head disapprovingly. "Mr. Heilbronn, I told you not to move. You just had bullet extraction surgery and now you're bleeding again!"
Nathaniel looked down to see his shirt front stained crimson.
Zack and an orderly helped remove his soiled clothing, revealing his fevered body beneath.
The nurse wheeled over a cart laden with medications and supplies for treating his chest and knee wounds.
After cleaning his wounds and starting an IV, the nurse packed up her equipment. "Mr. Heilbronn, if you can't follow medical orders, I'll have to confiscate your phone. You nearly died—you can't continue being so reckless. You need rest."
Nathaniel kept his eyes closed. When had he fallen so low as to be lectured by a nurse?
After the nurse left, Zack tucked in his blankets. "Mr. Heilbronn, she's right. We should follow doctor's orders. I'll handle Mrs. Heilbronn—I won't let anything slip."
Nathaniel shot him a withering look. "You don't understand."
She was too sharp now—not easily deceived.
Zack felt caught in the middle. Upon hearing about Nathaniel's injury, he'd flown back from Coral Bay overnight. Marcus had assigned him as personal security, and they hadn't even informed Reed, fearing the shock would be too much for him.
"Mr. Heilbronn, you really can't be reckless anymore. If that bullet had shifted just slightly left, it would have pierced your heart directly. Aren't you afraid? If something had happened to you..."
How would the family survive?
Nathaniel found the chatter irritating. "Zack, how many years have you worked for me?"
Recognizing the warning tone, Zack immediately fell silent. After eight or nine years with Nathaniel, he knew all too well what that particular inflection meant. Push further, and his career would be over.
"Mr. Heilbronn, please get some sleep. I'll keep your phone safe!"
Risking termination, Zack snatched the phone from his bedside and stationed himself outside the room.
Nathaniel cursed under his breath. Exhausted from the surgery, he closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
Meanwhile, in Coral Bay, the Semona estate buzzed with unusual activity that morning.
With a new addition to the household, Cathy treated the day like a celebration. The kitchen staff outdid themselves—alongside the local Coral Bay chef and the Imperick cook, they'd hired an international chef overnight. The breakfast spread rivaled a state banquet.
Burry and Aurelia sat side by side. Due to her condition, Burry typically had little appetite, but today she sampled every dish, touched by the family's thoughtfulness.
Joe returned from making phone calls. "Everything's arranged at the hospital. We'll do the tissue typing after breakfast—I'll go first."
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