Chapter 24: Car Accident

Sophie wanted to refuse. She wanted to say she could sleep on the couch. But when she met Sebastian's eyes—those eyes that left no room for argument—the words died in her throat.

She knew better than anyone that her opinion had never mattered to this man.

"I…" She opened her mouth, then gave up. Her voice came out small. "Okay."

She wheeled her suitcase to the corner and clutched her briefcase to her chest. She stood in the middle of the living room like a stranger who had wandered into someone else's territory.

Sebastian finished his water and set the glass on the counter. He glanced at his watch.

"You have thirty minutes to get settled. Then come down for dinner. We're meeting George at eight."

Sophie nodded without speaking. She picked up her suitcase and walked into the spacious bedroom.

Thirty minutes later, the two of them left the hotel one after the other.

Night had fallen. The evening air in City A was quieter than Empire City, but warmer. Humid.

Sebastian got the car. Sophie slid into the passenger seat without a word.

The car pulled out of the parking garage and merged into traffic.

Sebastian kept his eyes on the road, hands steady on the wheel. Sophie stared out the window at the neon lights streaking past. That familiar nausea was beginning to creep back into her stomach.

She forced it down and ran through the project details in her head. She needed to be ready when they met George.

The car was about to merge onto the overpass. The light ahead turned green.

Sebastian pressed the gas pedal lightly. Then his face changed.

"Hold on!" His voice was low and sharp. He slammed his foot down on the brake.

The pedal sank like he'd stepped into a pillow. Nothing happened. The brakes were gone.

The car didn't slow down. It sped up.

The tires screamed against the pavement. Sophie felt a violent force shove her forward. Her mind went blank.

Sebastian reacted on instinct. He yanked the wheel hard to the right and threw his arm across her chest, pinning her to the seat. He used his own body to shield her.

The sound of metal hitting the guardrail was deafening. The front of the car slammed into the barrier.

The airbags exploded. The impact shook the entire cabin.

Sophie was pressed against Sebastian's chest. The world spun. She heard him grunt in pain. Then everything went black.

The sharp smell of disinfectant mixed with the steady beep of medical equipment pulled Sophie back to consciousness.

She opened her eyes slowly. A white ceiling came into focus.

Her hand stung faintly. She moved her fingers and realized she was lying in a hospital bed with an IV in her arm.

Her first thought was the baby. Fear seized her. She jerked her hand up and pressed it to her still-flat stomach.

"You're awake?" A gentle voice spoke. A nurse came over and adjusted the IV drip. "Don't move too much. You have a mild concussion. You need to rest."

"My baby…" Sophie grabbed the nurse's hand. Her voice was hoarse. Her eyes were wild with fear. "Is my baby okay?"

The nurse blinked, then quickly reassured her. "You're fine except for the concussion. If you're worried, we can do a full exam. But honestly, you should thank your boyfriend. If he hadn't held onto you like that in the car, things could've been a lot worse."

Boyfriend?

Sophie froze. Then she realized who the nurse meant.

He had protected her. So what about him?

"Where is he?" Sophie's voice was urgent. She tried to sit up. "The man who brought me in—how is he?"

The nurse saw her panic and sighed. Her expression turned serious.

"He's hurt worse than you. He's still in the ER."

ER.

The words hit her like a lightning strike.

She couldn't hear anything else. She yanked the IV out of her hand and stumbled out of bed, ignoring the nurse's protests.

She didn't even put on shoes. She ran barefoot down the cold hallway like a woman possessed.

Sophie grabbed a passing doctor, her voice shaking. "The ER—where is it?"

The doctor pointed quickly. She thanked him and kept running, stumbling as she went.

Finally, she saw it. The door with the red light above it.

Sophie leaned against the wall, gasping for air. Her legs were shaking so badly she could barely stand.

Then the door opened.

A group of doctors and nurses pushed a gurney out. The person on it was covered head to toe with a stark white sheet.

Sophie felt her blood run cold. She staggered forward and grabbed the arm of a young nurse at the back of the group. Her lips trembled, but no sound emerged.

The nurse was startled by Sophie's pale face and hollow eyes.

Sophie finally found her voice. It was barely a whisper, but it was filled with raw desperation.

"Is he… is he gone?"

She stared at the white sheet. Tears streamed down her face.

"Please, check again… Is he really…?"

She kept asking, over and over, clinging to the last thread of hope.

The nurse didn't get a chance to answer.

A cold, familiar voice spoke behind her.

"Who are you talking to?"

Sophie went rigid.

She spun around. Sebastian was standing a few feet away. His forehead was wrapped in gauze. His left arm was in a sling. His face was pale, but his ice-blue eyes were sharp and clear.

He frowned, studying her disheveled appearance.

Sophie stared at him, wondering if grief was making her see things.

She reached out with a trembling hand, wanting to touch his face to see if he was real.

Sebastian watched her hand come toward him. He saw the tears in her eyes and the disbelief written all over her face. His frown deepened.

He stepped forward and caught her wrist with his good hand before she could touch him.

The warmth of his palm was real.

"You…" Sophie's lips moved. The tears came faster.

"Why are you crying?" Sebastian's voice was rough and impatient. "The man they just wheeled out was the other driver."