She's My Sleeping Pill

The butler immediately changed the unused sheets and pillows in Stefan’s room and they prepared lots of food as well – most of it were Cayenne’s favorite.

Magnus even cancelled all his appointments for this day just to spend time with his son and daughter-in-law.

When the couple arrived half an hour before lunch, Ferdinand personally greeted them at the door despite his frail body. Magnus was right beside him to give him support.

“Hi grandpa! Hi dad!” she both gave them feathery kisses on the cheeks and warm hugs. “Sorry for taking so long.”

“Don’t mind it.” Ferdinand responded with obvious joy on his face.

Stefan was holding the gifts that he wanted to give but he wasn’t saying a single thing to express his feelings. When Cayenne looked behind her, she frowned. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Do you want them to guess your thoughts?”

.....

Stefan shrugged his shoulders and sighed at the prompt of his wife. “These are for both of you.” Stefan handed them the gifts and walked ahead of them while pulling Cayenne’s hand.

“Stefan chose them himself.” Cayenne told the two men who were still standing at the door with stunned expressions.

Stefan wasn’t really planning to be chummy and close to his father and grandfather. The pain he went through for so many years couldn’t just vanish and he still hated them. But for Cayenne, he’s willing to compromise. He’s willing to spend time with them, to have little fun and share little things. For her, he’s willing to forget his resentment for a little while.

While they’re having a reunion, across the vast ocean, in the huge mental hospital, Diana was chatting with some colleagues, hinting about secret rooms or VIP patients. Artemis was working with the elderlies with mental problems while also observing the place that her parents could have been hidden.

At the same time, at the cafeteria, Elia was looking at the pictures on her phone again.

“You’ve been staring on your phone every time you are not working. Are you waiting for someone’s message?” her co-worker asked with a hint of tease on her words.

“No. I am not. I have moved on already. I am just trying to recall some faces.” Elia responded and showed Cayenne’s picture to her colleague. “Don’t you think this face looks familiar?”

The other nurse looked at the picture and she suddenly rolled her eyes. “I thought you are showing me a handsome guy! Why are you showing me her pictures again?”

“Try to jog your memories and see if you met someone in the past who almost looks like her.”

The nurse couldn’t understand why Elia was asking her to recall someone out of hundreds of patients she handles every year. And she’s been working there for three years. How could she possibly do that? Still, she looked at the picture again and tried to remember the people she took care of in the past.

“I don’t remember anyone.” The nurse commented after almost five minutes. “If I recall someone later, I’ll let you know. For now, don’t give me a headache.”

Elia bit her lower lip in frustration but she couldn’t recall where she found someone who looks like Cayenne as well. She was just about to close her phone when someone snatched it from her. “What are you – ”

“Who’s this? Where did you get this photo?” the other woman asked who was a head taller than Elia. She looked condescending to her but Elia didn’t care and snatched her phone back.

“Why? Aren’t you contented after snatching my boyfriend so you want to snatch the people I care about?”

“I won’t snatch them. I just thought that one of the patients I’m taking care of looks like the girl in the picture. Well, I might be mistaken. Bye – ”

“Wait! I don’t care about you snatching my boyfriend anymore but can you tell me about the patient?”

The woman’s eyes sparkled and slow smile appeared on her face. “Sure, I will let you know. Want to talk somewhere private?”

Elia excused herself from the worried gaze of her co-worker. Although the institution was huge, the news of her broken relationship spread to all departments. After all, the way they broke up was unusual compared to other couples. There were no words of breaking up; he just went on and proposed to another woman whom he claims he’s been in love for so many years.

It shocked everyone. Of course, it would. Elia and her boyfriend were in a relationship for several years. They’ve been paying close attention to each other and his boyfriend was really sweet to her. It was really a surprise that he’d propose to someone else. And after that day, the man she loves no longer paid attention to her. He never smiles at her. Whenever they met, he’d only stare at her with empty expression.

Afraid that this would put a toll on her mental health, the director of their department gave Elia a long vacation and that’s how she ended up meeting Stefan and Cayenne.

The two nurses stopped at the end of a desolate hallway where they have the vantage point of view. Elia put some distance between them and showed the picture again. “I’m not really holding a grudge against you anymore. I just want to help my friend. Can you tell me where the patient who looks like her is?”

“Their records in the hospital said that it was transferred.”

“Their?”

“Hers and her husband’s.”

“What are their names?”

Artemis was on her way to get more supplies when she heard soft voices above her. With how much they tried to lower their voice, she realized that they must be talking about some secrets. She didn’t want to eavesdrop on their conversation but she has to get the items. If she goes on the other side, it will take far longer than expected.

“Rule?”

Artemis’ ears perked up.

“I don’t think my friend has that family name. I’ll ask Yen later to confirm.”

“Oh! Please do. I’ll certainly help you meet them if they’re the right people. I hope they are the right people.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ll go ahead now. Don’t tell anyone about this.”

Elia thought that the woman has good intentions. She thought that there’s no need to be worried for since she already got the man that she wanted. She had no idea that in the woman’s mind, happiness can only be obtained once she completely erases Elia from this world.