On the other end, Xavier furrowed his sharp brows, his voice lowering. "Serena... you're not doing this because of Clint, are you?"
Serena let out a dry laugh. "What do you think?"
"You told me you'd never have anything to do with him again, but... Gaius is his father..."
"Stop overthinking. I just want to know if his death had anything to do with my dad."
"But a few days ago, I offered to look into it for you, and you said no. What changed?"
"I..."
Serena recalled the strange reaction her mother had when she mentioned Gaius and Dr. Beckett. Her brows furrowed tightly.
"I've run into some odd people lately-and some even odder situations. I think it's time I figured out what really happened back then."
"Odd people and situations?" Xavier lounged on his extra-wide luxury hospital bed with a lazy stretch. "Tsk, I've been stuck in this clinic for days, and sounds like your life's been very exciting."
He sounded like a sulky housewife locked away in her boudoir, full of jealous complaints.
Serena couldn't help but laugh. "It's not what you think."
"Then tell me what it is! You explain, I'll believe you!" Xavier huffed.
"I don't have time to mess around with you." She pressed the ignition button. "Just get your guys on it. Once you find something, I'll explain everything."
"Serena! Are you trying to make sure I lose sleep for the next week?!"
She smirked. "You give me the info I want, I'll give you the info you want. Fair trade."
And with that, before he could protest, she hung up.
Xavier stared at the dark screen, his face clouded with frustration.
Just then, the door opened, and Peter walked in for his routine check-up.
"How are we feeling today, Mr. Blaze?" Peter asked cheerfully.
Xavier shot him a death stare-like a starving wolf eyeing prey.
Peter shivered involuntarily. "Uh... sir? You don't look so great. Are you feeling pain somewhere?"
"Yes. I feel awful. So awful I could kill someone."
Peter looked alarmed and quickly stepped closer. "Where does it hurt? Show me."
With a graceful hand, Xavier pointed to the left side of his chest. "Right here. Feels like hell."
"Oh my God, that's the heart!" Peter gasped. "But your pneumonia was almost gone... could the virus have reached your heart?! Myocarditis?!"
He quickly grabbed his stethoscope and moved to place it on Xavier's chest.
But the man swatted his hand away with irritation. "It's not my heart-it's my soul. You people locked me up in here, wouldn't even let me out! Do you have any idea how much I've missed out on? What if, in this time, some bastard tried to steal Serena from me?! You'll all have hell to pay!"
Peter was baffled. "Uh... Serena? Who's that?"
"She's your damn madam!" Xavier growled, eyes still boring into Peter's face like daggers.
Peter flinched, then nodded quickly. "Uh, got it! You're saying she's about to be stolen away?"
"If you keep me locked up here, she will be," Xavier said through gritted teeth.
Peter nodded, like he'd finally connected the dots. Then he gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I'll take care of this!"
"...At least you've got some sense," Xavier muttered, swinging his legs off the bed. "Now hurry up and help me sneak out while no one's watching."
But Peter firmly pushed him back onto the bed. "Sir, my plan is this-you lie here and pretend your condition got worse."
"What?!" Xavier looked at him like he'd grown two heads. "How's that gonna help? If I'm worse, how do I leave?!"
"You won't have to." Peter blinked his big blue eyes innocently. "I'll go tell your father that Madam is about to be taken away, and your condition's gotten worse, so he should send people to protect her!"
"I..." Xavier raised his hand, looking ready to twist Peter's head off.
His dad already disapproved of him being close to Serena. If this big foreign idiot actually told him that, his dad would blow a gasket and forbid him from ever seeing her again.
The whole thing would completely backfire.
Peter, oblivious, gave a little wave like he'd just saved the day. His grin only made Xavier more furious.
His fists clenched, knuckles cracking. He had to restrain himself not to smack the smile off Peter's face.
"OUT. Just-get out!" he growled, yanking the covers over himself and curling up on the bed.
Peter tilted his head. "So, should I still go tell your dad?"
"If you say one word to my father, you'll never see the sun rise over your homeland again!"
"Uh..." Peter blinked. "But I was trying to help..."
"GET. OUT." Xavier bared his teeth in a forced smile.
And even though he was smiling, the air in the room suddenly dropped a few degrees.
Peter shrank back with a nervous nod. "O-Okay, I'll go now. But if that chest pain comes back, please call me!"
Xavier ignored him, eyes closed, face unreadable.
Once he heard the door click shut, he opened his eyes, pulled out his phone, and calmly gave orders to investigate the supposed suicide of Gaius.
Meanwhile, Serena drove back toward her apartment complex.
As she neared the entrance, she spotted a familiar black Jeep parked by the curb.
She scoffed, stepping harder on the gas and zooming straight into the underground garage.
Riding the elevator up, she peeked out through the curtains once she got to her unit-but the Jeep was gone.
"Unbelievable," she muttered with a smirk. "A big-time celebrity, and this is how you spend your time? Stalking people like some lovesick teenager?"
She turned toward her sofa. "If you like hanging around here so much, fine. But if you ever block my way again like last time... I won't go easy on you."
***