Chapter 5 The twins

Lucas paced around the hospital, his face filled with fury and anger. The sound of muffled voices, and the antiseptic smell of the hospital filled the air.

Nurses and doctors rushed past him, "Have you found him yet?" he barked into his phone. "No, sir."

"Find him and bring him to me!" he yelled, his voice stern.

Sir, Ma'am Eleanor is awake". The butler interrupted as Lucas dashed immediately up the stairs and towards the room with rapid speed.

As he entered the room, he was met with the sight of his wife, bandaged and bruised, but smiling faintly at him. The doctor stood beside her, speaking softly to her. A nurse bustled in, checking her vitals and adjusting her IV. The room was filled with the beeping of machines and the soft murmur of the TV in the background.

He turned to Lucas. "She suffered a few injuries to the head from the glass shattering, but it's a relief she woke up this morning. All she needs now is rest. I've sent my team to bring down the medication she needs to get her back in shape. I'll take my leave now."

Lucas shook hands with the doctor, his grip firm. "Thank you, Doc. I'll be sure to inform you when anything else occurs." The doctor nodded and left the room, followed by the nurse.

As the door closed, Lucas turned to Eleanor, his eyes filled with regret. "This is all my fault. I shouldn't have listened to you and I should have hired the bodyguard I wanted to assign to you earlier."

Eleanor reached out and took his hands, her touch gentle. "This isn't your fault, Lucas, and I still don't want the bodyguard."

"It is my fault and I have learnt from my mistake and hired a bodyguard for you," Lucas insisted, his voice heavy with guilt. "I should have protected you from that boss of yours ours." He looked at her, his eyes blazing with anger. "If I eventually find him, he'll regret ever crossing paths with me."

"It was your boss, right?" he inquired, his voice low and questioning. "The one who attacked you?" She nodded, and Lucas seethed with anger. "I'll ruin..."

Just then, his phone rang, Lucas's face darkened as he read the recipient's name. He touched her hands. "Give me a few minutes. I'll be back." And with that, he rushed out of the room.

"Why are you calling at this time?" he yelled quietly over the phone, his voice nothing but a whisper.

"Sorry, boss," the person at the other end trembled. "There's been commotion with the batch today."

"Then fix it. Are you calling me to fix the problem you created?" Lucas barked.

"No, not that. Something's not just right. We have to change the location. You're needed here."

"I'll be there. Don't think of doing anything stupid," Lucas warned, his mind calculative as he ended the call.

Things have got to go as planned. I can't risk it going sideways, he thought as he walked back into the room

*******

Eleanor was relieved to know Lucas thought it was a boss that had attacked her. This would give her time to think of her next step. As she tried to get up from the bed, she felt a sharp pain on her head, like a hammer hitting her skull, and she staggered.

Her phone buzzed, she frowned at the message. It was an unknown number from Marcus. "I'm sorry for handling you like that, Elle. We need to meet." She scoffed at his audacity and continued trying to stand up, despite the dizziness.

"Don't!!" Lucas rushed in, placing her back on the bed. "Don't hurt yourself, Don't even move, If you need anything, let me know." He said, as he tucked her back in. "Wait here, while i get you something to eat." He kissed her on the forehead and left the room.

Elenor frowned as her phone buzzed with another message. "Tread carefully, Eleanor. Don't go around ignoring my messages; it would cost you an arm and a leg." Eleanor gasped at the picture that followed the caption.

It was a picture of her twins, Dylan and Sam. Panic surged through her, but she was too weak to get up quickly. She pressed the call button by her bed, summoning James and the nearby guards.

"James, I need to get up," she said, her voice trembling.

"Ma'am, please, you need to rest," James urged.

"You don't understand," Eleanor insisted, tears welling in her eyes. "Help me get up, Now!"

James hesitated, then helped her sit up and supported her as she stood, swaying slightly. Eleanor clung to him for balance, her legs weak beneath her. She grabbed the car keys from James, her hands trembling as she made her way through the hospital corridors with the help of James, her mind calculative on what to do next.

She stopped abruptly as Lucas caught her arm, turning her to face him. "Eleanor, what's going on?" he asked, his eyes wide with concern "why are you up and about?"

Eleanor looked at him, Tears streaming down her cheeks, she whispered, her voice shaking

"The twins... the twins are missing, Lucas!"

Patients and visitors in the hallway turned to look as the gravity of her words settled in.