Chapter 42 I Will Play the Game for You
BELLA
I blinked against the harsh white light overhead. The sterile scent of disinfectant burned my nose. Where was I? My gaze darted around the room, landing on a figure by the window. David. His posture was rigid, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. Even from here, I could feel the storm brewing inside him.
The memory slammed into me like a wave. Lizzy. My father. The syringe. My chest tightened as I tried to push myself upright, but a sharp, pulling ache kept me pinned to the bed.
“David,” I whispered, my voice barely audible beneath the hiss of the oxygen mask.
His head snapped around. In a heartbeat, he was by my side, his hand brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Bella,” he said, his voice low and rough, “don’t try to move. Are you okay?”
I nodded weakly, too overwhelmed to do more.
My thoughts raced. Where was my father? Was he safe? What about Julie? How many days had I been here? I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Frustration clawed at me.
David’s hand enveloped mine. “Your dad is fine,” he murmured, his voice softening. “Julie’s okay too. Everything’s under control.”
Relief washed over me, but it was fleeting. The image of Lizzy’s triumphant smirk as she plunged the syringe into my father’s IV lingered like a ghost. My stomach churned.
I should’ve known better. Lizzy wasn’t just cruel she was dangerous. My father shouldn’t have to pay for my mistakes. Maybe it was time to do what I’d been too afraid to consider. Leave David. Disappear.
The door creaked open, breaking through my spiraling thoughts. Elowen stepped in, her face pale, her eyes sharp with questions.
David glanced at her, nodded, and quietly left the room.
“I wasn’t thrilled when you married David,” Elowen said, her voice casual but laced with tension. She perched on the edge of the bed, crossing her arms. “This? This is why. Rich people are always messy.”
I stared at her, too drained to argue.
“Don’t give me that look,” she added, rolling her eyes. “You know I’m right. Why do you think I ran from my family? For my mental health.”
Despite myself, I almost smiled. That was classic Elowen, always dramatic.
A knock at the door made me flinch. A doctor walked in, her white coat swishing as she approached. My heart clenched. Was it Lizzy?
“Take off your mask,” Elowen said sharply, narrowing her eyes.
The doctor hesitated before complying, and I exhaled in relief. It wasn’t her.
“Sorry,” Elowen said with a shrug. “Just being careful.”
“It’s fine,” the doctor replied, her tone professional as she turned to me. “Can you try moving your fingers?”
I concentrated, wiggling them slightly.
“Good,” she said with a nod. She held up two pens. “How many do you see?”
I blinked twice.
“Progress,” she said with a smile before motioning to the nurse. “Let’s remove the oxygen mask.”
The second it came off, I drew in a deep breath of fresh air. It wasn’t much, but it felt like freedom.
Elowen leaned closer, her lips twitching with a smile. “See? My poor baby is recovering.” Her tone was teasing, but her eyes shone with concern.
I wanted to reassure her, but before I could, she grabbed the remote and switched on the TV.
“What in the world…” she murmured, her mouth hanging open.
The screen flashed with images of Emily, the reigning “Best Actress of the Year.” A bold headline scrolled across the bottom: Secret Love Child with Mr. Roy Exposed!
Elowen snorted. “Emily? With that wrinkled old man? Serves her right.”
The camera panned to Mr. Roy’s press conference, where he fumbled through an explanation. His company’s shares were tanking.
I frowned, unease curling in my stomach. Emily’s son was nearly ten. This was no accidental slip. It felt calculated.
“David’s not involved in this, is he?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Elowen’s silence stretched just long enough to unsettle me. When she finally spoke, her tone was flat. “If he is, Bella, you might want to think about how far you’re willing to go to stay by his side. Because David Copperfield doesn’t just destroy enemies he erases them.”