The Royal Contract

Count Thomas had finally left, seeing that his son was resting. He said that he would return later. He believed that the Count left intentionally, allowing him to talk to his friend alone about what they had discussed in the elevator.

Still, he wondered if he would be doing the right thing. He still believed his friend deserved to know that he was about to become a father. But it was not his place to tell him about that?

“Why did I end up in this situation?” Once again, he mumbled as he gazed outside the hospital window, watching the view of the dark sky but barely seeing anything

But, his mind was somewhere else.

It was back in the apartment, on the balcony, having a heated discussion with a pregnant woman. He was trying to plea his friend’s case.

When he heard that she had no plans to see Lance, he could already guess she had given up. He suspected her conversation with the Count had convinced her to back off.

.....

But why would someone who loved his friend would easily do that? It did not make any sense unless she accepted money from the Count. He had seen many cases of this.

“You know he deserved to know about the baby even if you are not interested in him anymore,” Evan spoke to her, slightly annoyed about her decision.

He had handled cases like this before. Although he had never thought much about it before, this was different. He, somehow, had a personal take on this since it was his friend’s child that was on the line.

He could not allow this woman to take his friend’s child away from him. However, when he saw her teary eyes, he knew he was wrong about her.

“I love him so much.” She said as tears started dropping in her eyes. “I am doing this for him.”

He could sense her pain. He could tell that what she said was genuine, but still, he did not understand how her decision would be for the betterment of his friend.

How could she say she loved him, then leave him just when he needed her the most? It just did not make any sense to him.

“Please, do not tell Lance about our baby.” He could still hear Eida’s voice inside his head, but nothing he said could convince her to change her mind. “But I am going to need your help, Evan,” Eida asked him, to which he had no choice but to agree.

How could he say no to a pregnant, crying woman?

He still had no idea what the Count said to Eida. She would not tell him. However, concluding from his observation, it could not have been good. And it was enough to persuade her to run away.

Presently, he had no idea how to handle his situation. As a lawyer, it was easy to keep information about his client, but as a friend, it was the worse feeling ever.

So, he decided to ask Eida for a dollar. A retainer’s fee so that she would become a client officially. Now, he had no option but to keep her secret as an attorney and client privilege.

“Hey, how long have you been standing there?” His friend asked, probably seeing him when he finally woke up. Immediately, he shoved his memories to the back of his mind to concentrate on his friend.

In truth, he had no idea how long he had been unaware of his surrounding. He was so lost in his thoughts that he barely noticed the time.

But he turned around and faced his friend, moving forward so that Lance did not have to strain his neck to look at him. He could see that he was still in pain. He did not wish to add to it.

“Long enough to notice that you have been sleeping all the time.” He jokingly responded as he sat across from his bed. “But seriously, how are you feeling?” Making casual conversations.

He could still see several bandages across his body and a fiberglass cast that was supposed to help his legs and arms to heal faster.

Although many of his minor injuries had started to subside, he was still far from recovering his health back. He still needed therapies to help him with that.

But he was thankful that the worse was over.

But was it over?

“Like shit,” Lance eventually answered, closing his eyes when he tried to move as his face frowned in pain. “Everything hurt like hell.” He answered him as he attempted again.

This time, Evan stood up to help his friend find a more comfortable position. He could not imagine what he was going through since he had never been in that same situation yet.

But he hoped he would never have to experience such pain. But as always, fate had a terrible way of showing up at your doorstep when you least expected it. Suddenly, what was once great could turn upside down in an instant.

“Don’t worry. The doctors guarantee your full recovery. You only have to endure for now.” Evan hoped his words would help alleviate the pain he might be feeling.

But more than that, he hoped his friend would be ready to hear the sad, terrible news he had to tell him. Suddenly, he could not help but think, what if he was in his friend’s shoes. What would he do?

But then again, how could he end up in the same condition as his friend when he hardly knew how to love, when he could not even fathom entering a committed relationship.

“I am not talking about my injuries. I want to see Eida. Have you found her yet? Have you talked to her? When is she coming to see me?” Lance fired his questions.

Although he had answers to all of them, it was not easy to say them. He felt like the words were stuck in his throat, refusing to come out. He dreaded hurting his friend more than the physical pain he was already suffering at the moment.

“Well, have you seen her?” Lance looked at him impatiently as if every second he did not answer him was more pain inflicted on his body.

He stepped away from his friend and started pacing the room. He looked like a lawyer, ready to state his closing remark in front of a judge and an entire jury.

However, compared to his cases, this was more difficult than anything he had ever handled in his entire career. He seemed tongue-tied, unable to come up with his opening line.

“Yes. I saw Eida.” He finally admitted, figuring that sugar coating the situation would not help their case. “But she is not coming.”

“Is she ok?” Lance asked, concern written all over his face. “Is she sick?”

“No, she is never coming to see you.” Evan reiterated the words, hoping that he would finally understand this time what he meant. But when his brows knitted together, appearing confused.

He added to clarify his words. “Eida is gone for good.”