Chapter 65 – Accident

Ace Rhodes.

My heart raced as I glanced at the clock on the dashboard. It was almost 8 PM, and I had promised Isabelle that I would pick her up. I cursed under my breath for losing track of time, my busy schedule and endless meetings consuming my every moment.

I rushed out of the office, my steps quick and determined. I knew Isabelle deserved more of my time, more of my attention. I had been neglecting her lately, and that thought weighed heavily on my mind. Tonight had to be different. Tonight had to be special.

I jumped into my car, my fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly. As I pulled away from the office, I made a quick decision. I needed to make this right. I needed to show Isabelle that she was a priority, that she meant the world to me.

I made a detour to a flower shop, my heart pounding with a mixture of guilt and anticipation. I selected a bouquet of her favorite flowers, hoping that the gesture would convey the apology and affection I felt.

With the flowers securely in the passenger seat, I continued towards Isabelle's place. The streets blurred past as I thought about what I wanted to say to her. I wanted to ask her to move in with me, to share our lives more fully. Tomorrow marked the end of my current trip, and I knew I wouldn't be traveling as frequently for the project after that. It seemed like the right time to take this step.

"That should give Isabelle enough time to think about it," I muttered to myself, trying to calm the nerves that fluttered in my stomach.

My phone rang, the name "Jake" flashing on the screen. I dismissed the call, knowing that I needed to focus on getting to Isabelle. I would call Jake later; right now, Isabelle was my priority.

As I approached a street, my mind still lost in my thoughts, I didn't see the motorcycle that came hurtling towards me from the side. It was too late to react, and the impact was sudden and jarring. My car swerved, the screeching of tires and the sound of metal colliding filling the air.

The world spun, and the car flipped, landing upside down. My heart raced as I struggled to regain my bearings, my body hanging awkwardly from the seatbelt. Pain radiated through me, and I knew that I needed to get out of the car before anything worse happened.

I fumbled for the seatbelt release, my fingers trembling. Finally, I managed to unbuckle myself, my body falling heavily against the roof of the car. I groaned, trying to ignore the pain as I pushed against the door. Locked. I cursed under my breath, panic clawing at my chest.

Desperation fueled my movements as I fought with the door, my muscles straining against the resistance. Finally, I managed to unlock the door. Just as I was about to push it open, a sound from the other road caught my attention.

My heart stopped as I realized that a vehicle was approaching at high speed, its headlights blinding me temporarily. The driver likely couldn't see the mess on this side of the road, and terror gripped me as I realized what was about to happen.

A truck, larger and more powerful, slammed into the car with a deafening crash. The impact was brutal, and the world spun once again. Pain seared through me, and my vision blurred as darkness crept at the edges.

In that moment, as consciousness slipped away, all I could think of was Isabelle. The thought of her, the memory of her smile, was the last thing that echoed in my mind before everything went black.

*****

Isabelle Reinhart My dreams were interrupted by the insistent ringing of my phone. I groaned, burying my face in the pillow, hoping that whoever it was would give up and let me sleep. But the ringing kept ringing, jarring me out of my slumber. I fumbled for the phone on the nightstand, blinking away the sleep from my eyes.

The screen displayed Alex's name, and confusion mixed with concern as I answered the call. "Hello?"

"Isabelle, are you awake?" Alex's voice sounded urgent, and I sat up, my heart racing.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" My voice trembled with worry as I clutched the phone tighter.

"It's Ace. He's been in an accident. We're at the hospital right now."

My breath caught in my throat, and I felt like the world around me was spinning. "What? Oh my god, is he okay?"

Alex's voice cracked slightly. "I don’t know, Isabelle, it's pretty bad. Can you come? I can’t do this alone."

I nodded, forgetting that he couldn't see me. "Yes, yes, I'm coming."

"I'll pick you up," Alex offered.

"No," I said firmly, my worry fueling my determination. "You stay with him. I'll come myself."

I ended the call, my mind racing as I tossed the phone aside. I didn't even bother changing the shirt I had slept in. I pulled on a pair of pants, my fingers trembling as I tied the shoelaces. My heart thudded painfully in my chest as I tried to process the news.

Images of Ace flashed through my mind, his face, his smile, his touch. The thought of him hurt and in a hospital bed sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn't let fear paralyze me; I had to get to the hospital.

I grabbed my bag and rushed out of my house, my keys jingling as I locked the door. The night air was cool against my skin, and I practically sprinted to the Subway station, my heart pounding in my ears.

The ride to the hospital was a blur. The hospital corridors seemed endless as I navigated my way through them, my steps quick and purposeful. I reached the floor Alex had texted me and saw him pacing in the hallway.

I ran to him and he pulled me in a hug. “How did this happen?” My lips quivered as he held my face in his hands.

“Hey, stay strong, okay? Ace is a fighter. He’ll be just fine,” Alex reassured me but I could see the worry in his eyes as I nodded my head.

“Come on,” Alex started walking and I hurriedly followed him.

We walked in silence, the tension thick in the air. Finally, we reached a waiting area outside the operation theatre. I looked at Alex, searching for answers in his eyes.

"He's in surgery," Alex said, his voice barely above a whisper. "They're trying to stabilize him."

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I felt a lump forming in my throat. I couldn't bear the thought of Ace in pain, of him fighting for his life. My hands trembled, and I wiped away the tears that had escaped.

"He's strong," Alex said, as if reading my thoughts.

I nodded, my chest tight with a mixture of fear and hopelessness. We sat in the waiting area, each passing minute feeling like an eternity. All I could do was pray, hope, and wish with all my heart that Ace would be okay.