Chapter 2
Amelia stumbled forward, her legs barely supporting her. She had no money, no phone, and no way to call for help. The only option left was to run to the police station near the hospital, but her weakened body was on the verge of collapse, not strong enough to carry her far.
“Ms. Edwards is just ahead,” one of Zachary’s bodyguards reported briskly, spotting her.
“Amelia, stop right there!” Zachary bellowed, his voice booming through the corridor.
The sound of his voice, coupled with the pounding footsteps of the bodyguards behind her, sent a chill straight down Amelia’s spine. A quick glance over her shoulder confirmed her worst fear–they were catching up fast.
How did they move so fast? They must’ve checked the hospital’s surveillance footage, she thought, her panic rising like a tidal wave.
“What do I do? If they drag me back, one shot of anesthesia and I’ll be nothing more than a lamb to the slaughter. The nightmare from my last life will repeat itself!” Cold sweat drenched her, and her vision blurred.
She forced her legs to move faster, but they wobbled beneath her. Each breath felt like a weight on her chest, her legs trembling as she fought to stay on her feet.
Her condition was so fragile, so depleted, that she could barely move. The effort of running felt like a cruel joke–her body simply wouldn’t cooperate.
If I keep going like this, they’ll catch me for sure. The thought tightened her chest with fear. Her chances of escape were slipping away, and she knew it.
“I can’t outrun them. What should I do? Someone, please help me.” Desperation clawed at her chest as she pressed on. After turning several corners, Amelia spotted an unusual-looking room. A faint flicker of recognition sparked in her mind. If I’m not mistaken, she thought, this is the private room of Landon Kingsley, the eldest grandson of the Kingsley family head. Their family is the most powerful dynasty in Norava.
Landon’s name alone was enough to make anyone’s blood run cold. Known for his ruthless efficiency and unrelenting dominance, he had transformed Kingsley Group into Norava’s top corporation in under two years.
But three months ago, a car accident had unfortunately left him in a vegetative state.
The door to the room was slightly ajar, with no guards in sight.
Amelia hesitated for only a second before making her decision. She bit her lip, shoved the door open, and slipped inside, slamming it shut behind her.
Outside, Zachary’s furious voice was unmistakable. “Where is she? Find her! I want every corner searched. We must find her now.”
The sound of footsteps and Zachary’s yelling grew louder, closer. Her heart thudded wildly. The room was opulent but lacked any decent hiding spots.
Amelia’s eyes darted around before landing on the bed. With no time to waste, she rushed over, yanked back the covers, and slid underneath.
“Get out.” The voice was so cold, so sudden, that Amelia nearly tumbled off the bed in shock.
Her mind raced as she panicked. That’s impossible. Vegetative patients don’t speak. I must be hearing things.
Shaking off the thought, she pressed closer to Landon’s motionless body, positioning herself so that, from the outside, it would look like only one person was under the covers. Unless someone physically pulled the blanket off, her presence would remain concealed.
She assured herself that Zachary wouldn’t dare touch Landon’s bed.
Landon’s body radiated warmth, a stark contrast to her icy, trembling form. The sudden comfort made Amelia’s eyes sting with tears.
How did my life come to this? she thought bitterly, her sorrow and despair threatening to overwhelm her. The mother I respected, the fiancé I loved, the stepsister I cared for–they’re all monsters. What have I done wrong? Why do they have to treat me like that?
“Mr. Foster, Ms. Edwards has barged into Mr. Kingsley’s room,” one of Zachary’s bodyguards reported from outside.
Zachary and his men gathered just beyond the door, their voices low as they discussed their next move, though they hadn’t broken in yet.
Amelia’s breath hitched. Her heart skipped a beat as she felt a sense of urgency flood through her.
Though Landon was the epitome of power, he was still comatose, unable to move or speak.
And for reasons she couldn’t fathom, the Kingsley family’s guards were nowhere to be seen. If Zachary barged in with his men, there would be no one to stop him.
Clutching Landon’s shirt desperately, she whispered on the verge of tears, “Landon, what should I do?”
“Not my problem. Get off me.” The frigid voice pierced the silence again.
Amelia froze, her tears forgotten. “He… spoke?” Her heart raced. Seems like Landon isn’t unconscious. He’s awake? This is incredible. If he’s really awake, I can ask for his protection. We kind of know each other, after all.
Wiping her face quickly, she crawled out from beneath the covers and moved closer to him. She knelt by his side, her face now mere inches from his. “Landon, please help me. That jerk Zachary forged fake medical records to justify cutting off my left breast. He’s a monster.”
Landon’s eyes remained closed, his expression serene as if he were still in a deep sleep.
Is he pretending? Amelia wondered. No way am I letting this chance slip away!
Gripping his shoulders, she shook him with all the strength she could muster. “Landon, I know you’re awake. Open your eyes and look at me. It’s me, Amelia Edwards.”
“Amelia?” Landon’s voice came again, yet his eyes stayed firmly shut, and his lips didn’t move an inch.
But he just spoke to me… How is this possible? Could it be ventriloquism? Amelia placed her hand lightly on his stomach, feeling only the gentle rise and fall of his breathing–no other movement, nothing to indicate he’d spoken.
How is he communicating with me? she pondered, her curiosity growing. “Can you really talk?” she whispered tentatively. But silence followed. She waited, her ears straining, yet heard nothing more.
Was it really Landon speaking? Or am I just so desperate for help that I’ve started hallucinating? she thought, questioning herself internally, frustration tugging at her.
Just then, voices erupted outside the door.
Aaron Hall, Landon’s personal assistant, spoke first, his tone sharp, “Mr. Foster, this is Mr. Kingsley’s private room.”
“Mr. Hall, my apologies,” Zachary’s voice replied, laced with forced politeness and a thread of tension. “My fiancée entered without permission. I’ll take her out right away.”
Amelia’s stomach tightened in fear. Whether or not Landon’s voice was real, she had no other choice now.
She quickly slid back under the covers, pressing herself tightly against Landon’s still form, praying that Aaron wouldn’t let Zachary in.
Aaron’s tone turned skeptical. “Mr. Foster, you must be mistaken. I’ve been stationed here at the door the entire time, and I haven’t seen anyone enter.”
Zachary chuckled nervously, “Mr. Hall, how about you just open the door and let us take a quick look? I promise we’ll be in and out.”
Landon was someone Zachary could never afford to cross, even now, reduced to a comatose state by the accident.
But the stakes were high, and Zachary was determined to find Amelia and get her on the operating table today, no matter what. If he failed today, all his careful plans, months of scheming, would come crashing down.
“That’s not happening,” Aaron replied firmly, his patience wearing thin. “Mr. Kingsley’s room isn’t open to just anyone.”
“Mr. Hall–” Zachary’s tone grew more pleading, but Aaron cut him off.
“Mr. Foster, please don’t interfere with my duties,” Aaron said coolly, his stance unyielding. He was unwavering, and Zachary knew better than to challenge him further.
A tense silence filled the room, thick with unspoken threats. Zachary adjusted his glasses, turning to one of his men. “Tom, are you sure about what you saw?”
Tom Wallace nodded emphatically. “Absolutely, sir. I swear on my life–Ms. Edwards went into that room. She’s in there right now.”
“Mr. Hall,” Zachary said, his impatience starting to show, “you heard that, didn’t you? My fiancée’s surgery can’t be delayed. It’s a matter of life and death. She’s been spoiled since childhood and is terrified of pain. That’s why she ran off at the last minute. Please, can’t you make an exception?”
Under the covers, Amelia’s body shook with equal parts anger and fear. Her frail frame trembled against Landon’s side as she clenched his shirt in her petite hands. In her panic, her legs accidentally entwined with his.
“Let go.” The sudden command was sharp and furious, nearly making her leap out of her skin.
Another hallucination? she thought, mortified by the situation and their current position. Quickly, she withdrew her legs, but her body remained glued to his. All she could do was pray silently for Zachary to leave so she could borrow Aaron’s phone and call the police.
Zachary, however, wasn’t giving up. “Mr. Hall, surely you’re concerned about Mr. Kingsley’s safety too, right? My fiancée is carrying a virus. If she infects Mr. Kingsley, it would be disastrous.”
Amelia’s chest burned with rage as she was actually perfectly healthy. Aaron wouldn’t actually let them in, would he?
The sound of the lock turning was like a gunshot. Amelia froze in terror, her fingers instinctively clutching at Landon’s clothing.
“Where exactly do you think you’re touching?” Landon’s furious, frigid voice startled her so badly that she almost bolted upright.
When she looked down, her face turned scarlet as she realized, to her horror, that she had grabbed the waistband of his pants. She instantly retracted her hand like she’d been burned.
“I–I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” she stammered, her ghastly face flushed crimson with embarrassment.
Outside, Zachary’s voice suddenly brightened with triumph. “I heard her just now.”
He pushed forward eagerly, his confidence swelling. Finally, I’ve got her. No matter what, Amelia is going under the knife today. Once the surgery is done, I’ll marry her tomorrow at the city hall. Then, everything she owns will become mine and Sandra’s.
Amelia’s heart sank, a wave of sadness and despair washing over her. Am I really destined to relive this nightmare, even in this life?
“Mr. Foster,” Aaron’s voice interrupted sharply as he stepped forward, blocking Zachary’s path. “You’re mistaken. There’s no woman here. I haven’t heard anything.”
“I heard her just now.” Zachary wouldn’t back down.
“You’re imagining things. I heard nothing,” Aaron replied smoothly. “This room is perfectly visible. Other than Mr. Kingsley, there’s no one here.”
Zachary continued. “She must be hiding somewhere. Let me just–”
“You intend to search Mr. Kingsley’s room, Mr. Foster?” Aaron asked, his voice icy.
As if on cue, about four towering bodyguards appeared silently, forming an impenetrable line in front of the door.
Zachary hesitated, his face twitching with frustration. After weighing his options, he finally stepped back with a forced smile. “Apologies for the disturbance.”
The door closed firmly, and the tension in the room dissipated slightly. Aaron approached the bed, his sharp gaze narrowing. Without a word, he yanked back the blanket, exposing Amelia. She froze like a deer in headlights.