"You failed to protect her!"

Elena cried as she tugged on my collars, jerking my body towards her. I could see the pain on her face, in her voice.

"What if something happens to her? How will I forgive myself? How will I survive? What will I answer to her father? What if he has already seen the news? Oh god, he'll never forgive me." She rambled in fear, moving her fingers through the locks of her hair.

"Hey, hey, Elena." I grabbed her hands. "Trust me, nothing will happen to Eloise, okay? Your daughter is safe now. And no one knows that it was Eloise in Rick's hotel and no one will get the hold of this news, I promise you." I said sincerely.

Her face softened but her sobs increased and all of a sudden she started crying in guilt. "Only if I hadn't done that! It's all my fault, my daughter is suffering because of me. I had no idea what I was doing to my own daughter. Neither I could become a good mother nor a wife. What have I done? I have always made the worst decisions in my life."

I embraced her in my arms and rubbed her back in a soothing manner. Though she had done wrong to her family and have neglected them, she knew she was wrong and was repenting. I couldn't be upset with her because everyone deserves a second chance, she deserved a second chance.

"Thank you for being with her. I don't even want to imagine the scenario that could have happened if you hadn't been on time."

Though she was praising me for being with Eloise, her statement hit me hard. My heart clenched at the thought of ... What if? My mind itself drove to the scenario that had happened years ago. Only if had visited my parents on time, they would have been alive today. And what if I hadn't been on time to save Eloise? She wouldn't have been in this situation if I had reached home early.

I didn't know what happened to me but I couldn't think straight. Tears of guilt made their way in the back of my eyes. I distanced myself from Elena and without uttering a word I dashed in the opposite direction and taking a sharp into the corridor, I supported my body against the wall. I closed my eyes tightly in order to stop my tears from falling but I had no idea that it wouldn't help. A stray of tear rolled down my cheek and the pain in my chest intensified.

I shouldn't have been comparing the two situations but I couldn't help it. Everything was racing in my head on its own. I lost my family just because of me and my busy schedule. What busy schedule? I should have given time to them. I shouldn't have allowed them to take the step to fly across the country to meet me.

My already disheveled hair became more untidy as I madly ran my fingers through my hair in order to stop the thoughts that were running on repeat mode. I had my eyes closed and had been controlling my tears but when I felt the presence of someone near me, I broke down because I knew only they could understand me.

"Daniel." Their worried voice forced me to open my eyes and in the next second, the two bodies enveloped me into a strong brotherly embrace.

I couldn't hold my emotions. "What if I was late? What if something had happened to her if I hadn't been on time? I lost my family just because of this fucking timing. If only I had visited them earlier..."

"Stop it, Daniel," Xavier said sternly, detaching himself from me. "Do not dwell in the past. Whatever happened wasn't your fault. Nothing was in your hand so do not blame yourself for anything."

"And in this situation too, you are not at fault," Sean said firmly. "Don't think of what-ifs. Be thankful that you were on time, you saved her. Don't be hard on yourself."

"But I did fail to protect her. I had promised her mother and myself that I would protect her at any cost but see here she is now, on the hospital bed." I muttered lowly.

"Why are you taking everything on you? Haven't you appointed a guard for her? Haven't you brought her to your house just to make sure she stays safe? Didn't you visit Rick to threaten him in order to protect Eloise from him? Tell me?" Xavier asked firmly and I just nodded my head slowly, not meeting his gaze.

"Then why the heck you think you failed? You did your best, Daniel. All of this happened just because of some reckless decisions taken by Eloise. We still don't know why she went to the club without informing anyone. So, until you talk to her, stop over-thinking, okay?" He said, patting my shoulder. I again nodded my head and this time in understanding.

"Don't run this already empty head of yours and be satisfied that Eloise is safe." Sean joked, poking the side of my head with his finger. I chuckled with teary eyes.

"Now stop crying, wipe your face, and do your hair, you look like a mess." Sean slapped the back of my head and they laughed at me. I couldn't help but join them. They always make everything easy for me, that's why they are my best friends.

Call me childish but I grabbed Sean's suit jacket and wiped my face with it. "What the fuck you think you're doing?" He rebuked, pushing himself away from me.

"Wiping my face, what else? I don't have tissues here to clean my face." I retorted playfully.

"Fucking use your own shirt." He scowled. I laughed and hugged him. He tried to push me away but I tightened my grip around him, Xavier too joined us.

"Thank you," I said heartily. They didn't utter a word; just patted my back and distanced themselves.

"Now, let's get going. The doctor might come out at any moment." Xavier said. Three of us walked back to where everyone was waiting outside the room.

"Oh, Daniel." Elena rushed to me and grabbed my hands. "I'm so sorry, Daniel. I shouldn't have blamed you, it wasn't your fault. It was mine and my daughter's fault. I know my daughter very well, she must have done something. You did your best to protect her but it's her who can't listen to orders. I don't know what I was thinking and blamed you. I'm sorry Daniel, please forgive me." She pleaded.

"Hey, I understand, you're her mother. This is bound to happen." I reassured her with a slight smile.

My eyes met worried eyes of Ariana and Trish, I nodded my head in their direction to assure them I was okay.

The doctor chose the moment to come out of the emergency room. I rushed to her and asked about Eloise.

"Don't worry, she fine. We flushed the drug out of her body. There is no sign of serious injury, just a few small wounds here and there. Nothing serious."

I sighed in relief and asked the doctor if I could see her.

"Umm...she is under the effects of sedatives right now and will be up in an hour or so but yes you can see her."

I thanked the doctor and dashed inside the room. I stopped near her bed and observed her, she looked so fragile, IV tube attached to her hand and heart monitor showing her heartbeat. My eyes landed her red cheek where a handprint was marked. My blood boiled and I cursed Rick for doing this to her. I had no regret for beating him. He deserved it. How dare he lay his hands on my Eloise? My hands curled into balls, I was still not done with him. He will cry tears of blood when I'll be done with him. He'll regret messing with me.

I gently caressed her cheek with my thumb and the bandage on her forehead.

"I'm upset with you Eloise. I never expected this from you. You shouldn't have gone out without informing me or anyone. I have never stopped you from doing anything or going anywhere. All I wanted was you to keep me updated about your whereabouts."

I paused for a moment and then again spoke.

"I'm glad you're safe but this doesn't mean I won't scold you for being so careless. I will definitely give you punishment for making me and everybody worried about you. Just wake up fast, Eloise." I kissed her forehead.

I stayed with her for a few more minutes and then left the room and asked everyone to leave and take rest as Eloise was fine but they opposed. They didn't want to leave until they see her wake up. Elena, Trish, and Ariana went inside to see her. I asked them to stay with her until she wakes up as I had something important to do.

We, men went to the police station to make sure Rick and Michael were being treated the way should be. I didn't wait twice to talk to a lawyer and filed the strongest case against both of them. I decided to bring out Rick's dirty businesses. I disclosed the sources and proof to the lawyer which could help to make a strong case against Rick and would bring out his dirty businesses.

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I whimpered as I tried to open my eyes. I had to struggle to do so. I felt a throbbing pain in my head. Bringing my hand to my forehead, I rubbed it and groaned.

"Oh, you're finally awake." I opened my eyes when I heard Trish's voice. As soon as I opened my eyes, they were hit by the bright lights. I blinked several times to adjust to the lighting. The first face that came into my view was of my mother.

"Oh dear, are you okay?" She asked. The worry was evident in her voice. I roamed my eyes around only to see the worried faces of Ariana and Trish.

I didn't have to run my mind for where I was and what they were worried about. I knew what I did and for what I was lying in the hospital bed.

"Why didn't you take a bodyguard with you, Eloise? Don't you know how worried we were? What if something had happened to you?" Mom scolded me but I still had no intention to listen to her. I was still mad at her. I averted my eyes to tell her that I wasn't in the mood to see her face and in the next moment, my hand that she was holding was free from her grip. She should feel the pain too.

"I'm really mad at you, Eloise!" Trish exclaimed. Though she was trying to be stern, her voice came out cracked. "Why did you go to the club? Who were intend to meet? How you landed yourself into the trouble, tell me?"

Her questions sent me to the events that happened in the club. I mentally cursed myself for believing Claire, for thinking that I could really help her. She betrayed me and pushed me into the danger for some selfish reasons.

"Hey, let her breathe." A sweet and soft voice pulled me back to reality. Ariana approached me and caressed my hair.

"Are you feeling alright? Does it hurt anywhere? Shall I call the doctor?" She asked softly. I shook my head in no. This is what I had always liked about her, she never makes anyone upset by asking questions that might hurt them. She always gives soothing relief by being polite.

"Where's Daniel?" I whispered. I was looking for him, I wanted to see him.

"He has gone out for some work. He'll be here soon, okay?" She gave a small smile.

My heart sank in the pit of my stomach. He wasn't here. I had wanted to see him since the moment I heard his voice at Rick's hotel room. I couldn't see him there and now, he wasn't here too. What work he had that he even couldn't wait for me to wake up? I knew he must be upset with me but he should have been there in the room. Was he intentionally doing it? Didn't he want to see me? Was he avoiding me?

Has he decided to leave me? No, no, no... He can't. He can't leave me.

An involuntary cry escaped my lips at the thought of that. A throbbing headache again hit me and I grabbed my head in pain and shut my eyes tightly.

"Eloise?... Trish, please call the doctor." I heard Ariana say.

"Oh, dear." Mom rushed to me and squeezed my hand. I wanted to push her hand away but my headache was much stronger than any other thought. In a few moments, Trish came with a doctor.

"Let me check her." A female, unfamiliar passed through my ears. Must be the doctor. I thought.

She injected medicine in my hand. "Are you feeling pain anywhere else than your head?" She asked. I shook my head in no.

"Do you feel dizzy?"

"Yes," I whispered, looking at her.

"Eloise, do not stress yourself, do not over-think. You're safe and you're fine. I've given you medicine, it will give you relief from your headache." She said politely. "Now sleep."

I wanted to protest as I didn't want to sleep until I see Daniel but my body was not under my control. My eyes became heavy and started to shut on their own and in no time I fell asleep.

When my eyes opened again, I didn't feel pain or dizziness. The room was silent. I glanced around the room to see where everyone was. I didn't find anyone but I held my breath when my eyes landed on Daniel who was sitting on the chair beside my bed. His eyes were closed. My eyes welled up with tears. I wanted to touch him to make sure he was really here. I lifted my hand but couldn't reach him. The anticipation was killing me.

"Daniel," I whispered in a cracked voice but my voice didn't reach him. I again tried and this time a little louder.

"Daniel." His eyes shot open quickly and he approached me in a heartbeat.

"You're up." He mumbled. I could see his moistened eyes. I sighed in relief the moment his voice reached my ears. He indeed was here, it wasn't my dream.

"Where's everyone?" I whispered.

"I've sent them home." He replied.

"Does it hurt anywhere? Shall I call the doctor?" He asked in worry.

I shook my head and reached for his hand. I felt something rough when I touched his hand which made me look at his hand. I gasped when I saw bandage wrapped around his hand. He was injured because of me.

"I'm sorry, Daniel," I whispered. Regret and guilt were embedded in my heart. All of a Sudden, his aura changed and he detached his hand from my hold. He suddenly became distant.

"Eloise, we'll talk in the morning. You need to rest." He said in a distant voice. No, Something was wrong. He can't do this to me.

Fear gripped inside me and tears started to flow out of my eyes. I grabbed his hand again and clutched it tightly.

"I'm sorry, Daniel. I'm a fool, I never listen to anyone. It was all my fault. I shouldn't have gone out. Please don't ignore me. If you want, you can scold me but don't be distant. I'm so sorry. I promise I'll listen to you, I promise I'll tell you everything. Just please, don't punish me by leaving me. I'm sorry. I love you so much." I cried harder.

"Hey, stop Eloise." He rubbed his free hand on my arm. "I'm upset with you, yes, but I'm not leaving you, never will. I've so many questions to ask you but not right now, you need rest. It's already midnight, we'll talk in the morning. Just calm down, alright?" He said softly as he kissed my forehead and wiped my tears. I nodded my head vigorously.

He tried to remove his hand from my grip but I protested. "No."

"Eloise, I'm not going anywhere. I need to pull the chair to sit." He said. I hesitantly released his hand and watched him as he pulled the chair closet to the bed. As soon as he sat on the chair, I again grasped his hand and intertwined my fingers with his.

"I'm here, sleep now." He mumbled, kissing the back of my hand.

"Don't leave me," I whispered again.

"Never." He replied. Though his reply was aloof, I was content he was with me.

I knew he was disappointed in me and he should be. I had committed a mistake and I deserved this. I would do anything to bring my loving Daniel back. I'll not let him be distant for long. He hadn't smiled a single time since I opened my eyes, I will make him smile again.

I gripped his hand tightly to make sure he does not leave me in the middle of the night. I gave a last look to his face before I closed my eyes again.

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