Chapter 273 - The Price of Love

Everyone was tired. Edward was no exception. After the mission was over, the teen felt as if he aged a hundred years. Claire was sleeping on a chair beside Alex and Scarlet was still staring at blank space.

Edward watched his girlfriend worriedly. The doctors said that other than some bruises, Scarlet was unharmed physically. However, due to the trauma she suffered, there could be some complications. A psychiatrist will be coming to take a look at her first thing in the morning. They had about three hours of shut-eye before that but Scarlet refused to sleep or move. Edward couldn't do a thing about it and decided that he would accompany her after lying her down on the bed.

The teen dragged a chair over and held Scarlet's hand by her bedside. He didn't feel like talking and he was tired. If he was back at the apartment, he would have started to clean and bathe thoroughly. There was nothing more sickening than feeling filthy after a mission. Edward had a terrible urge to wash off the mission-related matters with a good long bath but his lover's condition worried him too much for him to leave her even for a brief moment.

It was soft but Edward heard them clearly. Someone was approaching their room so he sat up straight. His instincts to kill and protect were still not over completely.

Mr Bayon entered the room like a shadow. Claire woke up immediately and attacked the intruder from her place closest to the door but Mr Bayon took a quick step back and raised his arms to indicate that he wasn't a threat. He didn't blame Agent Cyborg for reacting in such a manner. In fact, he was anticipating it. With Edward and Claire in the room, these girls couldn't be safer.

"Relax, I'm here to talk to my son."

Claire didn't recognise this man but Edward did.

"Sorry, this is my father. He's also the person backing the Interpol's operation tonight. Meet the General Secretariat - Victor Bayon."

Claire blinked and looked at father and son.

"I understand," she bowed. "I will wait outside if you need to speak privately."

Victor smiled and shook his head. "It's alright, this is something that concerns Scarlet as well so it would be best if you can listen."

Claire was as puzzled as Edward but nodded and gathered around Scarlet's bed when Victor walked over to look at Scarlet.

As expected, Scarlet didn't respond. Victor wasn't surprised. Anyone who had been through something so traumatic would be mentally disturbed. Alex wasn't the normal one here if she acted as if everything was alright. However, there was a huge chance that Alex's reaction would be delayed because the model was still in a fight or flight mode even as she slept. Her instincts to protect her sister powered over her fears and it was obvious how the model unconsciously had her body turned towards Scarlet even in her sleep.

"Has the psychologist talked to them before they slept?"

Edward shook his head. "We dropped off from the helipad and they were sent for treatment immediately. Nobody had the chance to talk to them and Scarlet isn't responsive. She's managed to completely shut herself out from the world."

Victor raised his brow. Normal people wouldn't react like this, especially to their first shooting incident. This girl must have undergone abuse over a long period of time to have this sort of reaction. The Wilde family didn't seem like the kind who would abuse their children so that left the unknown history of Scarlet's earlier life.

"Has this happened before?" he asked the head maid who didn't reply at once.

"It hasn't happened with us but we know she has done this before she officially came under our wing as a Wilde."

Edward felt his heart hurt. Scarlet shared with him about her past and he knew how severely this had affected her. To make matters worse, there was a shoot out at the restaurant just before they were kidnapped. Alex said that Scarlet woke up in the hotel room dazed like this but Edward had a feeling the sight and sound of guns triggered her PTSD so badly that Scarlet chose to shut it out completely and reside into herself. It was a stage of emotional numbing and a defence mechanism to cope with the things she couldn't control outside of her.

There was only one way to coax Scarlet out of her protective shell but for that to happen, Edward needed Scarlet to feel safe. He might know all of Scarlet's triggers and fears but he didn't know what Scarlet liked. She barely spoke about the things she liked or preferred and Edward was realising this a little too late now. How could he make her a safe haven if he didn't know what made her feel safe?

Victor looked at the deep look of hurt in his son's eyes. He knew that look and seen it one too many times by the close family of victims in his job. However, he couldn't relate. If Edward could make this kind of expression and feel this kind of thing, he must retire. He was already too emotionally involved and putting him on the mission earlier was a huge gamble. Luckily, it paid off and Edward was still able to separate work and personal issues.

"Edward," Victor said and the teen looked up.

"Retire as an agent. You're not cut out for the job anymore."

Edward didn't protest. He looked at Scarlet and knew at once that his father was right. Still, it didn't make him feel any better. Wilmer told him that it was alright to feel lost in life but for Edward, the only thing he could see now was Scarlet. He thought that she was like a kite flying high in the sky and that he should act as her burden. However, after today, he learned that it might not be the case. If Scarlet was a ship at sea, Edward was her anchor just like how she was currently his anchor. If she wasn't here, Edward would simply not think that he had another purpose in his life. It was Scarlet who taught him that he was more than just a weapon or tool for the government. She taught him how to be human and Edward agreed with his father. He wasn't suitable to be a spy.

Victor was expecting some resistance but was met with none. Had Edward accepted it so easily?

"I understand. I'll hand in all the doc.u.ments tomorrow and move out of the apartment," Edward told his father who had a contemplating look.

"Do you have a place to go or a job in mind after graduation?"

Edward looked at Scarlet, his grip on her hand tightened. "No. I'll figure something out."

Claire was about to offer the teen to live with them for the time being when Victor shook his head.

"In that case, you should continue living in the apartment. I'll have someone clean out the things you no longer need. Scarlet might need that place more than you think. It's been home for the both of you for a while now so you should take care of her properly. As for jobs... I was thinking that it would be a waste for you to work with civilians. Once Scarlet has recovered, why don't you work as a psychotherapist for the Interpol and evaluate the spies? You can even work as an informant on the side like Danny."

Edward considered it. That was a very tempting offer. However, he rejected it. "I can't take such a dangerous job. Scarlet... Scarlet needs me."

Claire interrupted. "Don't worry about that. Liu Xiu Wen only existed because she wanted to get closer to Anastasia. Now that everything is over, I think Scarlet is more comfortable staying hidden away from the rest of the world. That girl had always dreamed about becoming a full-time author. The actress side of her is not something she wanted. You can do your job and leave worrying about her safety to us after she recovers."

Surprised that Scarlet actually wasn't a fan of the screen, he thought about his father's proposal but couldn't give him an answer.

"Don't worry about it," Victor said after seeing that his son was very conflicted. "Don't rush to give me a reply. I'll just get someone to clean out the apartment. You can continue using it until you graduate. In the meantime, please take good care of your girlfriend. Your mother likes her a lot and I have a feeling she wants to meet her soon."

Edward was confused. Why was his father suddenly acting like this? Normally, the man was very cold and business-like.

"Why are you suddenly pretending to be a father?" Edward couldn't stop the words from leaving his mouth.

Victor stopped. His door was already on the handle but he turned back to look at his son. Indeed. Why was he acting like a father now?

"Who knows? Perhaps this is the price of love. You often make sacrifices for it. Your mother isn't an indispensable woman but she is still special to me. Like many spies, I am unable to experience such a profound romance. Since you've decided on this path, don't look back."

Edward watched his father leave and looked at Scarlet who was finally asleep. The sun was starting to rise and the sky started to change colour. Finally, the night was over and as Edward watched the birth of a new day, the heavyweight on his shoulder was finally lifted.

The future might still be uncertain but there was one thing he knew for sure. He was finally liberated.