Room for You
Chapter 62

Chapter 62

“No, Elliot-1 want you to go to the hospital with me,” Hayley pouted asshe clutched onto Elliot's sleeve tightly like a child terrified of losingaffection.

“I can't go with you because I still have stuff to do. Be good and let Reytake you to the hospital,” Elliot cajoled patiently.

“No. I want you to go with me, or won't go at all,” she whinedstubbornly.

He frowned pensively. Given that she was still in shock after theaccident, it made sense for him to take her to the hospital and stay withher throughout the check-up. However, just as he was considering this,Anastasia suddenly snorted. “So don't go to the hospital then, Hayley.President Presgrave and I still have things to do. Come on, PresidentPresgrave, we have to get going!”

Hayley's chest rose and fell erratically when she heard this, and shestarted trembling as she groaned, “I feel dizzy, Elliot!” With that, hereyes rolled to the back of her head and her legs buckled under her. Itwas only because Elliot moved quickly enough to catch her that she didnot collapse onto the ground.

He swept her into his arms and carried her into the backseat of the car,saying, “I'll get you to the hospital now, Hayley.” He then addressedAnastasia, who stood firmly in place, “Could you get a ride back to thecompany?”

Anastasia watched as his car sped out of the parking lot, leaving herbehind. She heaved a sigh and headed back to the company.

Over at the private hospital that was run by the Presgrave Corporation,Hayley had gone through several tests, and it was concluded that shewas fine aside from the shock and the concussion that came with theaccident. The doctor also mentioned that she would be fine after a fewdays’ rest.

Elliot was presently seated by her hospital bed. Taking in the bump onher forehead and her pale face, he consoled her by saying, “Don’tworry, you'll just have to stay here for a couple of days for observationpurposes.”

“Elliot, what were you doing with Anastasia? Were you both going outfor work or something?” Hayley asked as she lay demurely in bed,feigning curiosity.

He shook his head. “I was going to bring her to the PresgraveResidence to meet my grandmother.”

Hayley was in shock as she asked, “Why do you want her to meet yourgrandmother?”

“I was kidnapped once when I was only a child, and it was Anastasia’smother who sacrificed her life to save mine. My grandma's been waitingto repay the deed ever since,” Elliot explained frankly.

“What? You were the kid Anastasia’s mother saved back in the day?Anastasia and I were classmates throughout elementary and highschool. I heard about how her mother had died while on duty, but Ididn’t think you were the person she saved. Her mother was a selflesswoman,” Hayley pointed out with admiration. “I've always looked up toher mother.”

"Did something happen between you and Anastasia?” Elliot askedcuriously. He could tell that Anastasia harbored enmity toward Hayleyto the extent that her hatred for the latter was unmistakable.

Hayley had long since thought of an answer, and she lied with a sigh,“Anastasia came to save me once when I was being taken advantage of,but in the end, she ended up getting assaulted instead. She's beenholding it against me ever since.”

“Assaulted?” He blanched at this, wondering if Hayley was perhapsreferring to some other kind of assault.

“Yes. Some gigolo ended up violating her. It was because of me thatshe had to suffer something as horrible as that,” Hayley went on to sayas tears of guilt glistened in her eyes. She buried her face in her handsand muttered in anguish, “I could never make it up to her, not even if Iwere to spend the rest of my life trying to atone for my faults.”

Elliot felt his heart leap to his throat. Anastasia was assaulted by a manbefore this? “Are you sure she was.” The words died on his tongue ashe fixed his gaze on Hayley, unwilling to accept what he had just heard.Hayley's tears streamed down her face as she nodded firmly and said,"Yes, her chastity had been cruelly taken away from her that nightagainst her own will. That was her first time and I... She was assaultedbecause of me, and I can't ever make it up to her. She's hated me sincethat horrific ordeal, and I deserve it. I deserve to be loathed by her forthe rest of this lifetime.”

Just as she was saying this, Hayley thought darkly, I just need to letElliot know that Anastasia isn't some virtuous and pure lady. Now,regardless of how pretty she is, she will forever be tainted goods tohim!

Elliot, on the other hand, felt as if he was caught in the aftershock of anearthquake. He was so stunned that his handsome features seemedfrozen in place, and his eyes were wide as he contemplated what hehad just learned.

“It's only right that she hates me. There is nothing I can do to atone forthis sin of mine, Elliot. I know that I had the same experience as she did,but I was lucky

Anastasia, though; she met a scoundrel who slept with her andabandoned her as soon as the deed was over.”

“Does that mean the kid belongs to that gigolo?” Elliot pressed in a lowvoice, his fist clenching where it rested atop his knee. I can't believe shewent through something like that.