Chapter 4

• On the other side, the car speed through the empty road, cutting through the night like nothing could stop it.
• Patrick’s hands were steady on the wheel, but everything inside him was not.
• His thoughts kept going back to Julie.
• Her voice, the way it broke when she tried to explain.
• The fear in her eyes.
• It did not feel right.
• None of it did.
• Everything about what she told him felt too arranged, and too perfect in a dark way. Like someone had planned every step and waited for the right moment to strike.
• He had seen many things in his life. He had built his name from nothing, he had dealt with people who lied without blinking, and handled situations where the truth was buried under layers of deception.
• This felt like one of those times.
• A girl wakes up in a hotel room with a man she barely remembers being with.
• Before she can even understand what is happening, the door bursts open.
• Reporters came in with cameras, they began accusing her without questioning or giving her a chance to explain.
• Patrick tightened his grip on the wheel.
• “No,” he muttered under his breath. “This was planned.”
• He reached for his phone and made a call. The line connected almost immediately.
• “Sir,” a calm voice answered from the other end.
• “Ezra,” Patrick said, his tone sharp, “I want everything on Julie Williams.”
• There was a brief pause on the end. “Everything, sir?”
• “Everything,” he repeated. “Her family, her life the past few years, the people around her. I want names, connections, anything that stands out.”
• “Yes, sir.”
• “And the hotel,” Patrick added. “Get me the footage of every camera, and all the angle.”
• “That might take some time,” Ezra replied carefully.
• “I don’t care how long it takes,” Patrick said. “Just get it.”
• The line went silent for a second.
• “It will be done,” Ezra confirmed.
• Patrick ended the call without another word.
• His eyes stayed on the road, but his mind was already working ahead.
• If this was a setup, then someone had gone through a lot of effort to make it look real.
• Which meant one thing, Julie was not the target by accident, she was chosen.
• And that meant whoever did this knew her well.
• His jaw tightened.
• “Who did this to you?” he whispered, as if she could hear him.
• ……
• At that same moment, across the city, the atmosphere inside the private hospital was far from calm.
• Sam rushed through the back entrance, his face was dark and impatient.
• He had been delayed long enough.
• The reporters outside the hotel had almost driven him mad. Their questions came one after another, their cameras pushed too close to his face, their voices were loud and intrusive.
• He had forced his way through them, but even that was not enough.
• They had followed him even here.
• “They have nothing better to do,” he muttered as he walked quickly down the hallway.
• His bodyguard stayed behind to deal with them.
• Sam did not stop until he reached the reception.
• “Helena Salvador’s room number,” he said quickly.
• The nurse looked up, slightly startled by his urgency. She gave him the room number, but before she could say anything else, he was already gone.
• He did not even thank her.
• His steps were fast, almost unsteady, as he made his way to the room.
• By the time he reached the door, his breathing had changed. It was not from the distance, but from everything building inside him.
• Fear, anger and guilt.
• He pushed the door open carefully.
• The room was quiet.
• Helena lay on the bed, her face was pale, and her body was still.
• For a moment, Sam just stood there.
• Then he walked closer slowly.
• He reached out and touched her face, his fingers were gentle against her skin.
• “Helena… please wake up,” he said softly.
• His voice broke. “I’m here.”
• There was no response, the machines beside her continued beeping.
• Sam lowered his head, his hand still resting on hers.
• “This is my fault,” he whispered. The words came out before he could stop them. “If I had not… if I had not been with that girl…”
• His expression hardened. “Julie.”
• Just thinking about her made something inside him twist.
• “I should never have gone near her,” he continued, his voice filled with regret. “None of this would have happened to you.”
• He stayed there for a long time, sitting beside her, holding her hand.
• He got more and more tired. He had not rested all day.
• And at some point, his eyes closed without realizing it.
• …..
• Silence filled the room again.
• Until…. A light touch brushed against his hand.
• Sam stirred slightly, his brows tightening.
• The touch came again.
• He opened his eyes slowly. It took him a moment to adjust to the light.
• Then he saw her.
• Helena was awake. Her eyes were open, fixed on him.
• But there was something strange in her gaze. Something he could not immediately understand.
• He felt relieved.
• “You’re awake,” he said quickly, sitting up straight. “How do you feel? Are you in pain? Should I call the doctor?”
• But Helena spoke before he could move. “How is my sister?”
• The question froze him.
• For a second, he thought he had heard wrong.
• “My… sister,” she repeated softly.
• Sam stared at her. Of all the things she could have asked… That was her first question?
• His jaw tightened, anger rose inside him so quickly it almost showed on his face. But he forced it down.
• “Not now, not in front of her,” he thought.
• “She’s fine,” he said shortly, his tone controlled.
• Helena relaxed slightly at his answer.
• Sam looked away for a brief moment, trying to steady himself.
• Even now, after everything that happened, she was still thinking about Julie.
• She was sill defending her, and caring about her.
• He clenched his fists. “She does not deserve you,” he thought, but he did not say it.
• Instead, he changed the subject.
• “You should focus on yourself,” he said. “You’ve been through a lot.”
• Before she could reply, he pressed the call button.
• The doctor arrived shortly after and began checking her condition.
• After a careful examination, he nodded.
• “She is stable,” the doctor said. “Her body went into shock, but she will recover. Give her two days of rest, and she should be fine.”
• Sam let out a quiet breath.
• Helena nodded slightly, still looking weak.
• The room fell silent again once the doctor left.
• They looked at each other, but neither spoke. There were too many things between them. Too many things unsaid.
• Sam wanted to apologize. But the words did not come. He was not even sure what he would be apologizing for.
• They had never made anything official between them.
• There were no promises, just feelings.
• And now, everything was complicated.