"I guess I'm going to need a rabies shot, " Zayn simply replied.
Lucas almost spat his wine out at that.
Just then, Naya came into the room. "Mr. Giblo, let me tend to your wound."
"How is she?"
"She has calmed down, and there are no serious injuries, " Naya said as she cleaned Zayn's wound. "Freda put a pair of noise-canceling headphones on her, so there won't be any worries of her waking up again to the thunder."
"Exactly, " Lucas chimed in. "They usually pay a lot of attention to the weather. If there were reports of a thunderstorm, they'd make sure to have Carla wear the headphones. But, for some reason, they forgot about it today."
Hearing that, Zayn grew silent. Carla got attacked two years ago, and they destroyed her last antidote. She must have gone through hell and back after that episode. It was a miracle that she even survived it.
Her memory loss and having a relapse every time there's a thunderstorm could also be the effects of that traumatic event.
"Your wound looks bad." Naya frowned. "You'll have to get a tetanus shot at the hospital. I'm afraid I haven't brought any with me."
"I'll do it later." Zayn didn't care about it right now. "You should go stay by Carla."
Naya nodded and left with her medical kit.
After she left, Lucas looked at Zayn quizzically. When Zayn kissed Carla and even claimed to like her, Lucas didn't believe him. He had thought it was all part of Zayn's plan to force Carla out of the project.
But now, it seemed like Zayn wasn't lying at all.
When Carla had a relapse, Zayn was far more anxious than anyone else in the room. He had no care for himself when he used his body to protect Carla. Even when she bit him, he still didn't let go.
With such a display of selflessness, Lucas knew Zayn wasn't joking around.
Zayn was calling Bugara when he saw Lucas staring at him. "What are you looking at?"
"Do you really like Carla?" Lucas blurted out. "When did you start liking her?"
Zayn didn't reply instantly. Instead, he barked his orders at Bugara over the phone, "Where are my clothes?"
"Coming, Mr. Giblo! I'm downstairs right now."
"Hurry up."
"Yes, Mr. Giblo."
After ending the call, Zayn looked up at Lucas. "Two years ago."
"What?" Lucas widened his eyes in shock. It took him a while to recover from it. "You've known her since two years ago?"
Lucas paused as he contemplated more about it. Something didn't add up. "Wait a minute. Didn't you have a wife two years ago? She went missing, and you searched for her high and low… "
"She doesn't belong to you. Go look for another, " Zayn said sternly.
His words had only just sunk in when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Bugara came in with a bag of clothes before excusing himself.
Then, Zayn picked up the clothes and proceeded to change in the bathroom.
Lucas, on the other hand, stood behind the door with panic in his voice as he asked, "What happened exactly? Tell me everything right now!"
Despite that, Zayn ignored him as he continued changing. When he was done, he made a beeline for Carla's room.
"Hey! Answer me!" Lucas followed behind in exasperation.
When Zayn reached Carla's room, he was glad to see her sleeping peacefully in her bed, but at the same time, his emotions were all over the place.
"Mr. Giblo, thank you for your help tonight. We'll let Ms. Lierger have a good night's sleep now. We can talk tomorrow if there's anything else, " Freda said calmly.
Both she and Rogan seemed guarded, as if afraid that Zayn might touch Carla again.
"Take good care of her." Zayn took one good look at Carla before taking his leave.
"Can I come in?" Lucas decided to try his luck with Freda and Rogan.
As expected, they denied his request. "Sir Lucas, we're very sorry. We can't let anyone in to disturb Ms. Lierger right now. You can talk to her tomorrow."
Lucas still felt a little hurt by the rejection as he followed sullenly behind Zayn.
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