Chapter 236 A familiar name.

Chapter 236 A familiar name.

THIRD PERSON’S POV.

ONE WEEK AGO.

The force of the explosion at Dominic’s warehouse was so immense that it sent everything within the perimeter flying through the air.

Trees were ripped from the ground. Heavy sheets of metal were hurled in every direction.

Even the C-Class Mercedes-Benz Serena had managed to escape in was flung so far into the woods that everyone simply forgot it had ever existed.

Her fight with Cassandra had been brutal, leaving both women bruised, exhausted, and barely able to stand. But in the final moments, Serena had reached for the pistol that had briefly slipped from Cassandra’s grasp.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she pulled the trigger.

The bullet tore straight through Cassandra’s chest, killing her instantly.

In that moment, survival instinct took over.

Without allowing herself another thought, Serena threw herself into the waiting car and sped away.

She shot out of the compound and onto the rough mountain road leading deeper into the hills.

The entire drive, only one thought echoed through her mind.

Damian’s voice.

Warning everyone about the bombs planted around the compound.

She could have waited.

She could have stayed behind until Damian came running down the stairs so they could escape together.

But another voice—quieter, colder, and far more painful—reminded her exactly who he was.

The man who had looked her in the eye and accused her of cheating.

The man who had brought his mistress into the very home they once shared.

The man who had desecrated their marriage by choosing another woman over her.

Her foot pressed harder against the accelerator.

The Mercedes roared farther up the mountain.

Serena tried desperately to outrun the explosions.

But the moment the warehouse erupted into flames, the blast wave caught her.

The car was launched off the mountainside, flipping violently before crashing deep into the woods, far beyond anyone’s line of sight.

From somewhere in the distance, she heard sirens.

Faint.

Muffled.

Growing weaker by the second.

She tried to move.

She tried to scream.

But the mangled vehicle had folded inward around her. Her body was trapped, crushed between the steering wheel and the driver’s seat, both refusing to budge no matter how desperately she pushed against them.

Every attempt to free herself only drained what little strength she had left.

Before long, exhaustion overtook her.

Darkness swallowed her whole.

Blood poured steadily from the deep cut on her forehead, staining her clothes as consciousness slipped away.

~ ~ ~

It wasn’t until the following morning that anyone found the wreckage.

A lone hiker had taken his usual trail through the mountains that day.

Normally, the route rewarded him with breathtaking views and peaceful silence.

Instead…

He stumbled upon the twisted remains of a crashed vehicle resting at the foot of the hill.

“Hello?” he called cautiously. “Is anyone in there?”

No answer.

He called again.

Then a third time.

Still…

Nothing.

Letting out a sigh, he turned to leave, intending to call emergency services once he finished the remainder of his hike.

But something stopped him.

He couldn’t explain why.

Something urged him to take one more look.

Slowly, he walked back toward the wreckage.

That was when he saw her.

A motionless body slumped inside the crushed car.

“Oh my God…”

He rushed forward.

Using every ounce of strength he had, he managed to pry the damaged door open just enough to pull the unconscious woman free from the twisted metal.

“Ma’am?” he called anxiously.

“Can you hear me?”

He pressed trembling fingers against her neck.

Then against her chest.

“There…”

His shoulders sagged with relief.

“There’s still a pulse.”

Without wasting another second, he yanked his phone from his pocket and dialed emergency services.

“Please hurry,” he pleaded. “There’s been a crash. She’s alive, but barely.”

He looked back down at the unconscious woman.

“Hang in there,” he whispered softly.

“Help is on the way.”

Barely five minutes later, the distant sound of sirens echoed through the valley.

An ambulance came racing over the hill, followed closely by emergency responders.

One of the EMTs knelt beside Serena.

“Is she still breathing?”

“Yes,” the hiker answered immediately. “But it’s getting weaker.”

The paramedic checked her airway before nodding sharply.

“We need to move. She needs a hospital immediately.”

Within moments, Serena had been secured onto a stretcher.

As they wheeled her toward the ambulance, another EMT turned to the hiker.

“Are you coming with us?”

He opened his mouth to decline.

But then a weak hand wrapped around his wrist.

Her eyes remained closed.Her lips barely moved.“Don’t…” She coughed painfully. “…don’t leave me.”

For a brief moment, he simply stared at her.

Maybe it was the helplessness in her voice. Maybe it was simple human compassion. Or maybe it was curiosity.Whatever the reason was.

He nodded. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I’m coming.”

He climbed into the back of the ambulance beside her as the doors slammed shut and the sirens wailed once more.

~ ~ ~

Every minute after arriving at the hospital blurred into the next.

Steven paced endlessly across the waiting area, stopping every doctor or nurse who walked past.

“How is she?”

It became the only question he knew how to ask.

Most simply nodded before continuing on.

Some barely acknowledged him at all.

Nearly three hours later, one of the surgeons finally approached him.

“Were you the one who brought in the accident victim?”

“Yes.”

Steven immediately stood. “How is she?”

“She’s out of surgery now.”

Relief flooded his face.

“And… you can see her if you’d like.”

“Thank you.” Steven released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

“Is she awake?”

The doctor smiled. “She barely slept through the surgery.”

Steven blinked.

“What?”

“She’s one tough woman,” the doctor chuckled. “None of the anesthetics could completely knock her out.”

His expression softened.

“But she’s incredibly lucky.If you hadn’t found her when you did…”

He didn’t finish the sentence.

He didn’t need to.

Steven nodded silently before following the doctor toward her hospital room.

The entire walk there, one thought repeated itself inside his mind.

What would’ve happened if I’d taken a different trail today?

The hospital room door creaked open.

The woman lying in the bed stirred almost immediately.

Her eyes slowly fluttered open the moment she sensed movement.

“Hey,” Steven greeted gently.

“The doctors said your surgery went well.”

A faint smile appeared on her lips, brightening her battered face.

Even after everything she’d endured…

Even after hours of surgery…

Steven couldn’t help thinking she was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen.

“The doctors also told me you’re the one who saved my life.”

Her smile grew warmer.

“If you hadn’t found me…” She swallowed. “Lord knows what would’ve happened.”

“Thank you.”

Steven rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “I’m just glad you’re going to be okay.”

“She is,” the doctor said from the corner of the room.

“And so is the baby.”

Both Steven and the woman turned sharply toward her.

“…Baby?”

They spoke at exactly the same time.

The doctor looked between them. “You didn’t know?”

The woman slowly shook her head.

Confusion—and something that looked remarkably like guilt—washed across her face.

The doctor smiled gently. “You’re approximately eight weeks pregnant, ma’am.”

Silence filled the room.

A few moments later, after the doctor excused herself, Steven glanced back at the woman.

A crooked grin tugged at his lips.

“Wow.” He rubbed the back of his neck again. “I barely know your name, and apparently we already have a kid together.”

The joke earned him a laugh.A genuine one this time.Though it faded almost as quickly as it came.

She looked up at him.

“My name is Serena.” She paused for just a heartbeat.  “Serena Gregory.”