Rayna sank to her knees beside Ethan, her body trembling as she took in the sight of him. Blood seeped from a gash on his forehead, pooling beneath him, and his arm lay twisted at an unnatural angle. His breathing was shallow, barely perceptible, and her heart clenched in terror.

"Ethan, please stay with me. Don't leave me," she whispered, her voice thick with desperation. Her hands fluttered helplessly over him, afraid to touch, afraid to cause more pain, but unable to pull away.

She fumbled for her phone, her fingers shaking so badly it took three tries to unlock it. She dialed emergency services, her voice coming out in gasps as she gave their location, pleading with them to hurry.

Within minutes, the distant sound of sirens filled the air, but each second stretched endlessly, and she felt as though time was slipping away. "Come on, come on," she murmured, squeezing his hand as if her grip alone could anchor him to life.

Finally, the ambulance arrived, its lights flashing red and blue across the dark parking lot. Paramedics rushed out, their faces serious as they approached, quickly assessing Ethan. Rayna stepped back to give them room, but she couldn't take her eyes off him.

"We'll take him to Ludus General," one paramedic informed her, his tone brisk but kind. "Are you coming with us?"

Rayna nodded, her voice too choked with fear to respond aloud. She quickly locked her bakery and retrieved her purse before joining them in the ambulance. She clutched her purse in one hand and held Ethan's hand with the other. As the doors closed, she glanced at his pale face, and her heart twisted painfully.

Once they were en route, she pulled out her phone, scrolling to find Melvin's number. Her fingers hovered over Evelyn's name, but she hesitated, knowing Evelyn was dealing with her own troubles. With a deep breath, she pressed Melvin's contact instead.

The phone rang, and her heart thumped with every ring. Finally, Melvin answered. "Rayna?" His voice was curious, wondering why she was calling so late.

"Melvin it's Ethan. He—he's been in an accident," she stammered, swallowing the lump in her throat. "We're on our way to the hospital now. Please meet us there."

There was a moment of silence before Melvin's steady, but concerned voice returned. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

She hung up, put her phone back in her bag, and turned her attention back to Ethan. His face was still, his breathing so faint it was almost undetectable. A tear slipped down her cheek as she gripped his hand even tighter. "Please, Ethan you have to be strong. Don't don't leave me. Not like this."

The ambulance arrived at the hospital, and the paramedics swiftly moved Ethan onto a stretcher. Rayna followed closely, her heart racing and her legs wobbling with each step.

Inside, a nurse approached her, gently guiding her to a waiting area as they wheeled Ethan through swinging doors and into the emergency room.

It wasn't long before a police officer approached, notepad in hand, his expression gentle but businesslike. "Miss, we'll need a statement from you about the accident."

Rayna nodded, wiping her cheeks and steadying herself. "It was a car. I didn't see who was driving," she began, her voice shaky. "The car it looked familiar. I noticed it earlier. It was intentional. The car was aiming for me, but Ethan saved me. I saw it before it happened, but I I didn't see the driver." The officer nodded, jotting down her words. "Can you describe the car?"

"It was a dark sedan," she murmured, closing her eyes briefly, trying to recall every detail. "And I think I think the security cameras around might have caught it on video."

The officer gave a reassuring nod. "Thank you. We'll check for footage and come back if we need more information. Someone will speak to the victim once he's awake."

Rayna nodded, barely registering his words as he walked away.

Left alone, she resumed pacing, her hands twisting nervously as she glanced toward the ER doors every few seconds, praying for news.

As she paced, her thoughts swirled. Why had Ethan been there? Wasn't he supposed to have left for work? Had he come back to reconcile with her? Why had he risked himself to save her? The questions echoed in her mind, unanswered, leaving her heart heavy with guilt and confusion.

She should have seen the car sooner; she should have moved instead of freezing. If only she had acted faster, Ethan wouldn't have had to throw himself in harm's way. "Ethan, please be fine," she whispered, a new wave of tears stinging her eyes.

Just then, she heard hurried footsteps, and she turned to see Melvin entering the waiting room. "Rayna!" He hurried to her side.

"Melvin" Rayna's voice broke as she tried to explain, fresh tears streaming down her face. "Ethan he got hurt because of me. He he pushed me out of the way and got hit by the car. He saved me."

Melvin's expression softened, and he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Rayna. Ethan will be fine. He's a tough one. It'll take more than a car to keep him down," he assured her, his voice steady and warm.

She sniffled, glancing up at him with hopeful eyes. "But the paramedics said he might have broken his arm. And he he was bleeding so much"

Melvin pulled her into a gentle hug, letting her cry into his shoulder as he rubbed her back soothingly. "He's strong. Don't worry, Rayna. Ethan's tougher than he looks, and he will pull through. I know he will."

Rayna closed her eyes, clinging to his hope.

Meanwhile, Sandra gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white, her breath shallow and fast as she parked her car far from the accident scene, but relatively close to home. She switched off the engine, her fingers trembling as she removed the key. Silence engulfed her, but her heart thundered, each beat a reminder of her recklessness. "Stupid," she muttered, cursing herself for losing control. She slammed her fist against the steering wheel in frustration.

Seeing Evelyn and Rayna together, laughing and carefree, had been the final straw. Her hatred for Evelyn had extended to Rayna, and this hatred had clouded her judgment. Now, with the adrenaline fading, the gravity of her mistake settled heavily upon her. Who was that idiot who'd interfered? she mused angrily, thinking of the stranger who'd saved Rayna. She hadn't accounted for a third person.

Her stomach twisted as she realized her impulsive act had put her in serious jeopardy. They would trace the car; it was only a matter of time. A fresh wave of fury surged, directed at herself and Evelyn. Evelyn was the root of all her problems. If Evelyn hadn't returned after all these years… Sandra seethed.

She took a deep breath. "I have to get home," she whispered. Derek had dropped her off earlier—her alibi was solid if she played it carefully. All she needed was for the night to pass quietly so her alibi would hold.

She checked her surroundings. Then, she opened the car door and stepped out. She would make it look like her car had been stolen and abandoned. She left the key in the car, not wanting to bring any evidence into the house. The cold night air chilled her as she hurried home, her footsteps careful and quiet.

Once inside, she exhaled, a flicker of relief crossing her face. She tiptoed through the darkened hallway, her shoes barely making a sound. She moved cautiously, hoping to reach her room unnoticed. But as she placed a hand on her doorknob, a voice shattered her hopes. "Sandra?" Eric's deep, groggy voice cut through the silence, sending a jolt of panic through her as he switched on the hallway light. Sandra froze, her heart hammering wildly. She turned slowly, forcing a neutral expression. He stood in his bedroom doorway, one eyebrow raised, his eyes scrutinizing her. "Where are you coming from?" he asked, his tone suspicious.

Sandra swallowed hard, forcing a tight smile. "Oh, I I just went to get a glass of water." Her voice sounded unconvincing, and she cursed herself inwardly for sounding so nervous.

Her father's gaze narrowed as he took in her appearance. "You went to get water dressed like that?" he asked, his voice laced with doubt. He gestured to her outfit. Sandra forced a laugh, feigning nonchalance. "I, um I was thinking of going out. You know, clubbing, but I changed my mind. I decided to just have a drink of water instead and head back to bed." She managed a smile.

For a moment, he studied her, his expression unreadable. Sandra's heart pounded. Finally, he nodded slowly. "Alright," he said, stepping back. "Have a good night, Sandra." Relief washed over her as she murmured, "Goodnight." She slipped away, fighting to keep her steps steady as she moved toward her room.