More Than A Favor (Elaine and Logan)

"Elaine, what's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?" Alice's voice pulled me back to the present.

I looked at her, trying to mask my unease. But as I gazed at her innocent face, I remembered that she had lost her father while still in her mother's arms. She might not know certain things-things that could connect our families in ways I hadn't imagined.

"Elaine, are you feeling unwell?" Alice asked, her concern evident in her tone.

I forced myself to stay calm. "Wait. Something doesn't add up. How come you and Ashton's last name is Drake, but your dad's last name is Elordi?"

Alice smiled, as though it were a story she had told many times. "That's because my dad married into my mom's family, so we took my mom's last name. My mom's name is Ashley Drake."

So that was why. If I hadn't come here, I would never have known this. It would never have crossed my mind that the driver who once worked for my family-Mr. Elordi-was actually Ashton's father.

But what about Ashton? Did he already know about the connection between our fathers? Was he looking

out for me because of some obligation carried over from the previous generation? Some thoughts are better left unexamined, but they came to me unbidden, stirring unease.

"Elaine, Ash told me that our parents were deeply in love. After my dad's accident, my mom missed him so much that she accidentally fell into the river while working..." Alice's voice trailed off, her gaze drifting toward the serene river outside the window.

My heart clenched.

Who would have thought that such a beautiful river carried such a tragic story?

Ashton must have built this house here not just for Alice, but also to commemorate their mother. It was as

if, in this peaceful place, she could always watch over them.

"I was raised by Ash," Alice said suddenly, her words cutting through my thoughts.

Her statement made everything clear-why Ashton was so hesitant about her surgery, why he was so protective of her.

Alice wasn't just his little sister. She was practically his daughter, someone he had raised since she was a child. Their bond was deeper than I had realized, forged through years of love and responsibility. Alice continued sharing stories about her and Ashton, painting a picture of their life together. She told me how Ashton built the little courtyard brick by brick, how he learned to catch fish and grill them for her, and how his cooking skills had been perfected through his attempts to make her happy. Every story tugged at my heartstrings, giving me a deeper understanding of the man Ashton had become. His independence, his strength, his quiet resilience-all of it had been shaped by years of sacrifice and loneliness.

As Alice spoke, her voice grew softer, and eventually, she drifted off to sleep.

I sat next to her, watching her peaceful expression. A sudden urge to call Ashton overwhelmed me.

I wanted to tell him that he didn't have to carry everything on his shoulders anymore. I wanted to say that from now on, I would take care of him, just as he had always taken care of others.

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But that thought passed as quickly as it came.

Some things are better shown through actions than words.

Instead of calling Ashton, I dialed Nora's number.

"Where are you?" Nora's voice sounded tired, lacking its usual energy.

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Something was off. "What's wrong? Did you just get off surgery? You sound exhausted."

"I'm sick," Nora admitted, her words catching me by surprise.

Knowing how much she overworked herself, it wasn't entirely shocking. Even doctors weren't immune to illness.

"What happened? Have you taken your medicine?" I asked, concern coloring my tone.

"I have. It's nothing serious. I just pushed myself too hard," Nora replied before shifting the focus back to me. "But you haven't told me where you are yet. Did something happen?"

I laughed lightly, trying to ease the mood. "Do I seem like the kind of person who runs away when thing s go wrong?"

"Nope," Nora said with certainty. She knew me too well.

"Nora, I need a favor."

I explained Alice's situation, laying out everything I knew about her condition. Nora didn't respond

immediately, and the silence on the other end of the line started to worry me.

"You don't know anyone who can help, do you?" I asked hesitantly.

"I do," Nora said finally, though her voice was tinged with hesitation. "And based on what you've told me, I think it's possible.

"Thanks, Nora." Relief washed over me. I hadn't noticed anything strange in her tone, but then she added something unexpected.

"But I don't want to talk to this person," she said bluntly.

Her words caught me off guard. "Do you have a grudge against them? Or is it something... more. personal?"

Nora laughed softly, but there was a hint of sadness in her voice. "I don't hold grudges."

That only confirmed my suspicions-it was personal.

I suddenly remembered something from our school days. Nora had been in love with a senior for years.

Her crush had lasted throughout her youth, but she had never confessed her feelings to him.

When I had asked her why, her answer had been simple: "He deserves better."

Nora was capable of deep love, but she had her own limits.

"Is that senior married now?" I asked cautiously.

There was a brief pause. "I don't know. I stopped keeping tabs on him after graduation. I only came across his name in published papers. He's become a world-renowned expert in cardiology." Hearing that, I realized there was real hope for Alice's heart condition,

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"Nora, please ask him. Saving a life is more important than anything else," I said, pushing her for the first time.

I wasn't entirely selfless, though. A part of me wondered if this situation might bring Nora and her old

crush back together. Maybe, through Alice, they could reconnect and find a new beginning.

Nora sighed in resignation. "Elaine, you really know how to prioritize romance over friendship."

Her words made me smile. I knew she would help.