Chapter 40 The Game Begins
DAVID
The red code flashed on my phone screen. My stomach dropped. Without a second thought, I bolted out of the boardroom, ignoring the questioning stares from the executives around the table. My pulse raced as I gripped the phone, the hallway blurring around me. Bella.
By the time I reached the parking lot, I couldn’t wait for the driver. Snatching the keys from his hand, I barked, “Stay here,” and climbed into the car. My tires screeched as I tore out of the lot, each second dragging as I sped toward Hope Valley Hospital.
The sight of my bodyguards lounging near the entrance made my blood boil. They straightened the moment I arrived, but I was already on them, grabbing one by the collar.
“You let someone into the room?” I hissed, my voice dangerously low.
His mouth opened, but no sound came out. My slap echoed across the lot, his head snapping sideways.
“I gave strict orders no one goes in!”
The others stiffened, their faces pale, eyes downcast. None of them dared to speak.
“Where is she?” My voice cut through the silence.
“Mr. Copperfield.”
I spun around to see a man in a white coat jogging toward me. He stopped, bowing slightly.
“We’re sorry, sir. The security breach was beyond—”
“Who the hell are you?”
“Dr. Smith.”
“How is Bella?” The words ripped out of me, sharper than I intended.
The hesitation in his eyes sent my patience spiraling. “How. Is. My. Wife?” I snapped.
“She’s stable,” he stammered, raising his hands as if to calm me. “She was poisoned, but we managed to neutralize it. Another woman was in the room with her they’re both fine now.”
I exhaled sharply, my shoulders dropping for the first time since the text. Relief was short-lived.
“And her father?”
The doctor’s face tightened, and he hesitated again. I hated that look.
“Speak.”
“We’re still running tests, but… his condition is critical. He has a twenty percent chance of survival.”
His words hung in the air, each one a fresh blow. I waved him off and strode toward Bella’s room.
The sight of her knocked the wind out of me. Pale, lifeless, her chest barely rising under the thin hospital blanket. I reached for her hand, cold and fragile in mine.
“I’m sorry, Bella,” I murmured, my voice breaking. “This is my fault. I should have been there.”
The room was eerily quiet, save for the soft hum of machines. I leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“I don’t know what game Lizzy is playing, but don’t play it with her,” I whispered, the words trembling with urgency. “She’s more dangerous than you think.”
The memories came unbidden, swirling like a storm. I’d loved Lizzy since we were kids. She wasn’t perfect hell, far from it. She could be cruel when she wanted to, but I’d always seen the good in her, the part of her no one else bothered to notice.
I worked my ass off to give her the life she deserved, clawing my way to the top of the Copperfield family, even when it meant making enemies. My brother Eden’s sneering face flashed in my mind. His resentment burned hotter than ever after Grandpa handed me the company reins and the bulk of his shares.
Lizzy was another ghost I couldn’t outrun. The woman I thought I’d marry, until I found her in bed with Eden. I’d tried to salvage the pieces, to keep the truth hidden, but she had other plans. Her betrayal had pushed me to the edge the edge where I met Bella.
And now Lizzy was back, stirring up chaos. This wasn’t a coincidence. She wanted something.
I squeezed Bella’s hand, my jaw tightening. “This is just the beginning,” I said softly. “Lizzy thinks she’s ready for war, but she doesn’t know what I’m capable of.”
I stared at the wall, the wheels turning in my mind. If she wanted to play games, so be it. I taught her the rules. Now, I’d make sure she regretted coming back.