Chapter 111

Joanna hadn't expected Bruce to follow her to the hotel. He dominated her again, triggering a severe depression attack.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Bruce knocked heavily on the bathroom door several times. He shouted, "Joanna, what are you doing in there? Get out now! If you don't, I'll break in!"

She didn't reply or open the door. Holding his breath, Bruce leaned close to listen, but heard nothing. Panicked, he kicked the door open and switched on the lights.

Joanna was curled in the bathtub, eyes tightly shut, her face submerged in the water.

"Joanna, what are you doing?" Bruce asked.

She didn't respond; she appeared to have passed out. His heart leaped. He quickly pulled her from the water.

"Joanna, Joanna!"

She was unconscious, her body limp. Flustered, he carried her to the bed and began CPR.

After more than ten sets, she showed signs of life. She moaned, choked, and coughed up water. Seeing this, Bruce panicked even more. He quickly put on a bathrobe, wrapped her in a sheet, and was astonished; he'd never heard of someone drowning in a bathtub. If he hadn't broken down the door, she would have drowned.

"Joanna, wake up! I'm taking you to the hospital!" He hastily tied his bathrobe and carried her out.

Bodyguards outside rushed to him.

"Mr. Everett!" they greeted.

"Hospital! Now!" Bruce shouted.

"Yes, Mr. Everett!"

They didn't hesitate. One rushed to the elevator, another called the driver via walkie-talkie: "Kody, Mr. Everett needs a ride to the hospital. Go now!"

"Got it."

The others escorted them from the hotel. Downstairs, the car was waiting. A bodyguard opened the door. Bruce got in with Joanna.

"Nearest hospital!" he shouted.

"Got it, Mr. Everett."

The driver sped off. In the car, Bruce held Joanna tightly, nervously, like a baby. Her face, pale from the water, ached his heart.

"Joanna, Joanna! Hang in there. You can't leave me like this. Do you hear me?"

Her eyes remained closed. He couldn't understand how she could have tried to drown herself.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at the hospital. A bodyguard summoned a doctor while Bruce carried Joanna inside. Nurses arrived with a stretcher, rushing her to emergency. The bodyguards waited anxiously.

Bruce, still in his robe, paced nervously outside the ward.

"What's this about? Why the bodyguards?" a patient murmured.

"No idea, but he looks like he's from some organization," another replied.

"Let's go. Stay out of it," a third advised.

Passersby watched them curiously.

Half an hour later, the doctor emerged.

"Doctor, is she okay?" Bruce asked anxiously.

"Where did this happen? She was lucky to arrive on time. We saved her, but she hasn't woken up yet because she inhaled water." The doctor assumed she'd drowned in a pool.

"Doctor, please save her!" Bruce pleaded.

"Don't worry, she's out of danger. Young adults need to be more careful when swimming. It's a matter of life and death!" The doctor lectured.

Bruce frowned, feeling deep pain. He'd thought she loved him, but now He hesitated, then asked, "Can I see her?"

"Sure," the doctor replied.

Bruce entered the ward. Joanna lay on the bed, wearing an oxygen mask and receiving IV fluids. She was still unconscious.

"Joanna, please wake up I never knew you hated me so much," he whispered, feeling guilty. He held her hand, an indescribable feeling washing over him. He'd always thought she was playing hard to get, but now

Early the next morning, Cora cried, "Oh my gosh, Miss Haynes is missing! I can't reach her!"

Michael frowned. "Could she have returned to Greyport?"

Coco was anxious. "Impossible! We were supposed to go to the venue today. Why would she go back alone? She would have left a message."

George was shocked. "This isn't good. Was she kidnapped?"

Cora and Michael were horrified. Michael said, "No, that's not possible."

Cora blamed him. "It's your fault! You insisted on going to those clubs last night! Now she's missing!"

"Maybe she's sleeping soundly? Let's try calling again."

"Impossible! It's nine o'clock. She can't still be sleeping." "Should we call the police?"

"It hasn't been 24 hours yet. They won't take the case."

Cora called again, receiving only an automated message. They all tried, with the same result.

"Oh my gosh, why isn't she answering?"

"Maybe we should ask the front desk if she checked out."

They rushed to the desk. The receptionist checked.

"She hasn't checked out."

"Then why isn't she in the room?"

"Someone took her to the hospital yesterday. We assumed they were with you."

Cora was frantic. "Who?"

"I only know there were several people."

"Which hospital?"

"I don't know."

"Can we see the security footage?"

The receptionist showed them the recording.

Cora gasped. "Oh my god, that's Mr. Everett! What happened? She was fine when she was with us."

Michael and George frowned. Michael guessed, "It seems Mr. Everett abused her again."

Cora shouted at the receptionist, "How could you let strangers into the hotel?"

"As long as they are guests, we have no responsibility to protect them."

Michael interrupted. "Enough. It's Mr. Everett, not a kidnapper. Cora, you have his number, call him!"

Cora called, but he didn't answer.

"I can't reach him either."

"Call Andy."

Bruce stayed at the hospital all night. Joanna woke briefly in the middle of the night but fell back asleep from weakness.

It was ten o'clock. Joanna's hand and eyelids moved. Bruce, eyes red from lack of sleep, held her hand. "Joanna, are you awake? I'm sorry"

Soon, Cora and the others arrived at the hospital.

Chapter 112