Chapter 3
I lifted my hand and wiped the cold water from my face.
I locked eyes with Peter.
Peter took a step back because of my stare; the insult he was about to spit out got caught in his throat.
Urgent footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Wade stormed in, roaring, "Who let you in here?"
He launched a fierce kick, knocking Peter to the floor.
Peter writhed on the ground, clutching his stomach in agony.
"No one touches my beloved wife." Wade turned and shoved the people holding up their phones.
He threw his arms around me protectively, then pushed me down onto the bed.
His elbow accidentally pressed right against my stomach, where I'd just had surgery.
The pain was so intense that everything went dark. I let out a cry. "Get off me."
I desperately hammered at Wade's shoulders.
Wade held me tightly, refusing to let go. "Hannah, don't be scared. I am right here. No one can hurt you."
Just then, William burst in with security guards.
He hurried over and grabbed Wade's arm. "Mr. Jennings, let go. You're going to kill her. Her wound has completely torn open."
Wade, his eyes bloodshot, turned his head. "Paul, get Peter and the others out of here safely. Make sure the security guards don't hurt them."
He turned back to me, watching me struggle violently. "William, my wife's completely losing it. Give her a strong sedative, now!"
William refused firmly. "She's in no condition for a sedative right now."
Wade shoved William aside.
He rushed to the nurse's cart and grabbed the syringe full of medication himself.
He strode back to the bed, dropped to one knee, pinning my legs down.
I fought desperately, my nails tearing several bloody streaks across the back of his hand.
Wade gripped my wrist tight and jammed the needle into my vein.
The clear liquid was forced into my vein. The icy medication coursed through my veins, sending a cold wave over my whole body.
My vision started to blur, and my struggle grew weaker and weaker.
My body turned to mush, slumping into Wade's sweaty arms.
Wade lowered his head and kissed my forehead. "Just sleep for a bit. When you wake up, everything will be fine."
I closed my eyes.
Half-conscious, I felt Wade gripping my fingers.
He desperately kissed my cold fingertips. "Hannah, I'm taking you somewhere just for us. We'll start over."
He wrapped me tightly in his oversized cashmere coat.
Careful to avoid the nurse's gaze, he scooped me up in his arms.
The wind whipped rain against my face.
Wade shoved me into a black sedan parked by the back door.
The door slammed shut with a bang.
The car jolted violently.
I opened my eyes in the back seat, my stomach churning.
Rain was pouring outside, and everything was swallowed up in darkness.
With the headlights shining, I realized we'd arrived at Wade's abandoned villa halfway up the hill.
I sat up, bracing myself against the seat, and reached for the door handle.
The door was locked from the outside. There was no way I could open it.
Wade stood outside the car.
Rain had soaked through his suit, his hair plastered to his forehead.
He walked up to the window and dropped to one knee in the muddy water.
He pulled a red velvet box from his pocket and opened it to reveal an expensive diamond ring inside.
Wade yelled through the glass, "Hannah, will you marry me again? Let's start over."
He completely ignored the spreading bloodstain on my hospital gown. "Once we're out of here, we can leave everything behind, including that baby. I promise, we'll have another one together."
Headlights swept closer through the darkness.
Vivian appeared at the villa's entrance, soaked to the bone.
Barefoot and stumbling, she rushed over and flung herself into Wade's arms. "Wade, they found my home. The debt collectors said they'd cut off my hand. They're trying to drive me to my death."
Wade clutched the diamond ring in one hand, brushing Vivian's shoulder aside with the other.
He shot me a desperate look through the window. "Hannah, don't get the wrong idea. I'm only scared she'll die. I can't have her blood on my hands."
I looked at Wade.
He was pledging his loyalty to me through the car window, all the while letting Vivian cling tightly to his waist.
It felt like the last bit of air was sucked right out of my chest.