Chapter 321: Agreement

When Edie woke up, she was lying on a bed in the hospital. She opened her eyes and looked around the room, dazed and bewildered. "Where am I? What happened?" she asked.

Rhonda followed Clyde and Manley to the hospital and waited in the room with Edie. She rushed over to Edie, "How are you feeling?" Rhonda said, sounding really concerned. Her eyes were red as if she had been crying. "Thank God! I’ve been so worried about you. Are you still in any pain?"

Edie touched Rhonda’s hand. "I seem to be feeling better," she said, trying to reassure her.

"When you arrived at the hospital, the nurses stripped off your wet clothes and replaced them with a hospital gown. You were dehydrated, and they injected you with IV fluids," Rhonda said, sounding relieved.

"Still a little disoriented, Edie asks, "How did I get here? Did you bring me?"

"No! What were you thinking about doing this scene when you weren’t feeling well? Why would you put yourself through the pain and agony?" Rhonda said. A note of panic entering her voice.

"Relax! I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. I know what I can and can’t handle." Edie said, trying to comfort her. As her eyes moved around the room, she saw a figure standing by the window looking at her. Edie froze. She suddenly remembered what happened. ’Clyde,’ Edie thought to herself. She kept her eyes fixed and motionless, but not as if she was in a trance. "Rhonda, would you mind stepping out? There’s something I have to talk to Mr. Jackson about."

Rhonda nodded and quickly stood up, "I’ll be right outside. If you need anything....." she hesitated. "Just call me!" She looked at Clyde and left the room.

Clyde slowly walked over to the bed, "I’m glad you’re feeling better," he said as he touched Edie’s hand. He smiled his charming half-smile.

Edie quickly removes her hand, "Mr. Jackson, I’m not one of your fans. We work together, and there isn’t anything else between....."

Before Edie had a chance to finish, Clyde interrupted. "There was something you wanted to say to me? There’s no need to thank me!" He sat beside her, looking so full of himself.

"Mr. Jackson," Edie says harshly. "Yes, I would like to thank you for taking such good care of me, but I’m a little confused as to why you keep helping me?" Edie took a deep breath. "We’re only friends, and as friends, I feel you may have crossed the line. Do you agree?"

Clyde looked at Edie with genuine interest. "Okay! Yes, continue."

Edie had a perplexed look on her face. "I would like to know why you’re paying so much attention to me. Do you have a reasonable explanation?" she asked.

"Are you telling me not too?" Clyde smiled.

Edie took a deep breath and sighed. "I know what your true intentions are." She frowned, putting a crease between her brows. "Mr. Jackson, I’m happily married. You need to keep your distance. I hope you can understand my situation?"

Clyde’s smile immediately disappeared. He stared at Edie, not knowing what to say. He sat on the bed speechless for which seemed like an eternity. Then he finally spoke, "You’re married?" he asked with uncertainty in his voice.

"Yes, I am, but we’re keeping it a secret because of the media. You know what the media is like!" Edie explained.

Clyde wasn’t going to give up that easily. He tried to pump Edie for more information. "What’s your husband’s name? Do I know him?" he asked.

At first, Edie didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t tell him it was Stuart Yates. "I’m sorry, but honestly, it’s none of your business."

From the expression on Clyde’s face, it was obvious he was thinking about something. "I’ll make a trade with you!" Clyde said excitedly.

Edie looked at him with a confused look on her face. "A trade?"

"Yes! You tell me who your husband is, and I’ll tell you the reason why I’ve done what I did," he explained. Clyde saw Edie’s eyes widen, her mouth dropping open a little as she stared at him.

Edie wanted to know the reason behind why Clyde, all of a sudden, felt the need to help her time and time again. ’Do I dare tell him about Stuart?’ she wondered. Edie continued to stare at him as though she were trying to see through him. She was searching his face, looking for answers. "If I tell you! Will you promise to keep it a secret?"

Clyde raised his fingers in the air and said, "Scout’s honor."

"It’s Stuart....Yates," Edie stuttered from nervousness.

Clyde’s brow slowly wrinkled as he searched Edie’s eyes deeply, and then he said softly, "Mr. Yates? Stuart Yates? The CEO of the L. N. Group?" A look of pure malice flashed in his eyes.

"Okay! I told you who my husband is. Now you tell me why you’re showing such interest in me." Edie said, lowering her voice.

Clyde’s eyes wandered on her face as if she were studying her. Then a big smile appeared on his face. "Okay! I’ll tell you everything." Clyde leans closer to Edie and whispers in her ear. "You’re my fiancé."

Edie’s eyes widened. "Are you crazy? What are you talking about?" she said frantically. "We’ve only met a couple of times. How is that even possible?" Edie asked, question after question.

Clyde tilted his head and looked Edie right in the eyes and said, "You have a necklace called the Sea of Stars. Is that right?"

Edie hesitated. "Yes....So..." She shook her head and nodded.

Clyde’s smile widened to a grin. "That was a gift. A gift is given as a token for our marriage contract."

"What are you talking about?" Edie took a deep breath. "I have never been told that I have a fiancé. My mother gave me the necklace, but she never said anything about an arrangement. You’re lying!" she shouted.

Clyde rolled his eyes up to the ceiling, thinking. "Your mother didn’t tell you. Maybe she didn’t want you to come to me first. I mean, since her and Stanley Greg had an affair." The look of disgust and disdain was in Clyde’s eyes as he said the word "Stanley."

Edie looked at him in shock, not knowing what to do. "How does he know about my mother and Stanley? Is what he’s telling the truth? Is Clyde my fiancé?" Edie said under her breath.