With a shake of her head to dispel her swirling thoughts, she quelled the unrest in her soul and eased a bedroom door open to step inside.

Her son lay there, asleep and peaceful.

Sitting at the bed's edge, Tilda lifted her hand to caress his hair tenderly.

Would he resent her for withholding that Lyndon was his real father?

Guilt gnawed at her for the hardships he faced as an unrecognized son.

In the hospital, following urgent care, Ellis had stabilized.

"Mr. Fernandez, you're awake." Georgia, who had been attending to him, let out a relieved sigh. "You almost scared me to death. What made you vomit and get diarrhea? Are you still feeling ill?"

Ellis's clarity gradually returned.

Certainly, he was still uncomfortable.

He was baffled by his sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhea. However, now was not the time to ponder that.

He glanced at the IV drip in his hand, then at Georgia, and asked weakly, "What time is it? Why are you here? Were you successful?"

Georgia pouted in response. "No, Xavier didn't lay a finger on me."

"What?!" Ellis exclaimed as he struggled to get up.

But his stomach rumbled loudly, frightening him into remaining still, fearful he might have another accident.

"Don't get worked up. You're still on the IV," Georgia said as she tucked him in and reminded him gently.

Ellis grasped her arm. "Xavier didn't touch you? Why? Is he impotent?"

Georgia replied, "He said he wasn't interested in messing around and recommended that you pick up some business strategies from Lyndon."

Ellis was stunned for a moment before letting go of her arm.

Picking up some business strategies from Lyndon? What was Xavier trying to say? Was Xavier implying that he wasn't as good as Lyndon?

Lyndon could manage a company, whereas he only knew underhanded tactics?

Confusion clouded Ellis's mind. He had gone to great lengths to please Xavier.

Xavier favored exotic beauty, and Ellis had thought to use this to his advantage.

What game was Xavier playing now, pretending to be so virtuous?

Ellis's expression darkened and his brows knitted together tightly.