Chapter 216 - 216: Make a Truce

The next day, Elle occupied herself by taking care of Charles just to keep her mind busy. She gave him special care and attention. Charles felt a little bit awkward since he was still unaccustomed to the way she was treating him now.

As of this moment, Elle was feeding Charles with a porridge since he couldn't still use his right hand. Charles was staring at her strangely while Elle brought the spoon on his mouth. 

"What?" Elle asked him when she noticed Charles giving her a weird look.

Charles smiled sheepishly at her with his flushed cheeks.

"Nothing. Am I dreaming? Can you pinch me?"

Elle knitted her brows. She stopped what she was doing and pinched Charles on his right cheek.

"Ouch!" Charles grunted. "You are still Elle. So harsh. Did you forget that I am a patient here!" he complained to her.

Elle let out a soft chuckle. "I just did what you've requested. See… I am very well behaved and obedient here."

She continued feeding Charles. Then Charles paused again as he fixed his gaze on her face.

"Hey. What's with the kind of look again?" Elle asked as she raised her right eyebrow.

"I think you will make a good wife," Charles said to her with his serious tone.

Elle was rendered speechless after hearing his out-of-the-blue comment. Then she heard him sighed deeply before speaking again.

"I envy that Detective. He was very lucky to have you as his wife. Smart, strong, and beautiful. I wish I could find one."

Charles didn't notice the changes in Elle's expression when he mentioned Erick. He just continued talking with her. He had no idea about what happened that night. He was unaware that Erick already found out the truth about Elle's identity.

Elle just remained silent as she continued stuffing porridge in his mouth, non-stop, just to make his mouth shut from speaking a topic which was a taboo for her.

"Hey! Hey!" Charles stopped her. "Slow down! Are you feeding me or are you trying to kill me by choking on my food!" 

Elle just rolled her eyes at him. "Stop talking and just eat! Focus on your food. I am putting an effort here just to feed you!" she spat back at him.

Charles pouted as Elle just scolded him. 'Why her mood suddenly changed? I knew it. She couldn't treat me well for a long time. She is still the demoness, disguised as an angel. Hmph!' he lamented in his mind.

Sensing that Charles became upset Elle just heaved a sigh of defeat.

"I'm sorry. I burst out. I didn't mean to scold you." Elle apologized to him. She was not mad at him but she just didn't want to talk about Erick in the meantime.

Charles was put in the daze when Elle suddenly apologized to him and gave in. It was very rare for her to do that. Oh, she never did. He thought this was the first time she did that. Of course, her apology yesterday was different and not counted.

Charles put on a big smile of delight. Elle really changed a lot since then.

"Elle… I wanna ask you a question. Can you answer me truthfully?" He said as he looked at her expectantly.

Elle just nodded in agreement. "Okay. What is it?"

"Uhm… you know… we've been together for so many years now. I wonder… why you didn't fall for me back then. On the other hand, you've only been with that Detective for several months then suddenly you fell in love with him after spending some time with him."

Charles scratched his reddened face using his left hand. He asked her that while looking down. He couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes.

When he gazed up, he could see Elle staring at him with an indescribable expression on her face.

'D*mn! I regretted it already. Charles, you are a fool. Why did you ask her that? Oh my, I was carried away by her sudden change in attitude towards me.' he was cursing himself inwardly.

After her long silence, Elle finally answered him.

"Because you became my first brother. I see you as part of my family- you and Master Phantom."

Elle gave him her sweetest gentle genuine smile. Her smile warmed his heart. 

They were still staring at each other silently when suddenly they heard a familiar voice.

"Are you having a staring contest?" the man asked both of them. There was a hint of humor in his voice.

Elle and Charles averted their gaze to the direction of that voice. They saw Phantom standing at the front door, smiling at them.

"Master Phantom!"

"Master Phantom!"

Both of them called him in unison.

"Ohwuh. What happened to the handsome face of my dear Charles? I just disappeared for a short time and then this happened to you. Tsk tsk tsk. What I gonna do if both of you will be in trouble while I am away." Phantom sighed deeply.

He walked towards them. He had brought some fruits and drinks. Dr. Clara was following behind him. She was holding a bouquet of flowers for the patient.

"You are back!" Elle said to him as he approached her. 

Phantom tapped her shoulder as he said "Yes, I am. I can't concentrate on my task knowing that the two of you are in danger. I traveled back here immediately."

Then he turned to Charles. "I am glad that you are safe. You scared us to death, you kiddo! Recover quickly." Phantom patted his head.

"I was not afraid that time Master because I knew both of you would find me and save me. See, I'm here, still alive and kicking!" Charles proudly said to him.

Phantom just burst out into laughter as he put the basket of fruits on the bedside table. The four of them engaged in a casual conversation before Charles drifted off to sleep and rest.

After making sure that the patient was already sound asleep, Elle approached Phantom.

"Master, can we talk?" Elle said to him with a serious tone.

"Sure. I also have something to inform you." He simply replied.

Phantom and Elle left the hospital ward. Elle didn't want to disturb Charles and she didn't want him to overhear what she was about to discuss with Phantom.

"Should I speak first or you?"

"You go first, Master."

"Alright. It's about Alfonso Ramirez. The facility he is managing at that province is a manufacturer of bio-weapons. I left my two henchmen there to continue their investigation." Phantom informed her.

Elle's eyes widened from that discovery. It seemed like Dark Knight was also involved in terrorism. What a frightening organization.

"I got it, Master." 

"I asked my men to follow and monitor Alfonso. Don't worry. We will be able to catch that bastard very soon." Phantom gave her assurance.

"Thank you, Master," she smiled at him faintly.

"Alright. Now, it's your turn. What do you want to discuss with me?" he asked her.

"I have a request. I know Charles wanted to help me with my revenge but after what happened to him I decided not to involve him. I don't want him to suffer again because of me." she shared her thoughts with him.

"I want to exclude him in our plan. We need to hide things from him starting today with regards to our next move against my enemies," she added.

Phantom paused for a moment, rubbing his chin as he was thinking.

"Hmm, are you sure about this? He will be upset once he finds out about this."

"Yes, Master. This is what I want. Please help me. I want you to send him to a safe place. I made a lot of enemies. They are coming to hunt me down and I am sure Charles will be one of their targets again in order to find me." She was resolute with her decision.

"Send him to a faraway place. Use his condition as an alibi. He needs to recuperate and recover for now. Convince him, Master." Elle added, desperately.

Phantom sighed deeply before he nodded in agreement. "Okay. I will do my best. I will let some of my trusted men in order to watch over him and protect him also."

"I know you can do it. He will listen to you. Thank you, Master." Elle was glad. She would now be more at ease when it comes to Charles.

'Though I doubt that he wants to be separated from you. He had already sworn to protect you with his own life.' Phantom thought to himself as he stared at Elle.

"Alright Master. I will leave Charles in your care in the meantime. I have to go somewhere." Elle bade him goodbye.

"Where are you going?" Phantom asked her before she would disappear from his sight.

Elle halted in her steps before she answered him. "I need to decrease the number of enemies. I couldn't afford to have more enemies who already knew my identity. I need to make a truce with them."

She gave him a meaningful smile before she turned around and left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, at the Arison Holdings and Mining Corporation, James was having their corporate weekly meeting with the management and shareholders when he received a message from an unknown number.

A frown immediately appeared on his face when he saw it. He planned to ignore it at first but since he was bored by just listening to the presentation in front, in the end, he opened the message. And he was glad he did that.

That message came from the person who occupied his mind for the whole day.

[ Meet me now at a park in the District of Eals. I have something to tell you. I will be waiting for you. « Elle » ]