Chapter 156
Chapter 156
Clara’s POV
I stayed there. I talked about nothing.
Everything.
I told her Mia was probably terrorising the hospital staff already. I told her George looked like he wanted to personally dismantle her car and inspect every piece himself. I told her Sofia had shown up and immediately started giving me legal advice because apparently even attempted murder couldn't stop her from being Sofia.
I even told her about my mother.
“She thought the concert was romantic.”
I rolled my eyes.
“So congratulations. You won her over with public humiliation.”
My thumb brushed her hand.
“She likes you.”
I smiled. “She always did.”
The room slowly darkened as afternoon became evening.
At some point, a nurse came in to check the monitors.
I moved back enough to give her room but never released Ayleen's hand.
“Everything okay?” I asked immediately.
The nurse checked the readings.
“Her vitals are stable.”
I had never loved a word so much.
“Has anything changed?”
“Not yet.”
My heart sank. She must have seen it on my face.
“This can take time,” she reminded me gently. “Her body has been through significant trauma.”
I nodded. “I know.”
She finished checking the IV and left. I returned my attention to Ayleen.
“You heard her.”
I squeezed her hand.
“You're stable.”
My smile was weak. “Very impressive.”
I lowered my head beside her arm.
Exhaustion was beginning to pull at me now. I couldn't remember the last time I had eaten.
That felt like another lifetime.
My eyes closed.
I don't know how much time passed before I felt it.
Something against my palm.
Tiny.
So small I thought I had imagined it.
My eyes opened.
I stared at our hands.
“Ayleen?”
Nothing.
I sat upright.
My heart began pounding.
“Ayleen?”
Her hand remained still.
I stood, leaning over her.
“Angel?”
Nothing.
I pressed the call button immediately.
The nurse appeared less than a minute later.
“She moved.”
My voice came out too fast.
“Her finger moved. I felt it.”
The nurse approached the bed.
“Which hand?”
“This one.”
She checked Ayleen, speaking her name, applying pressure against her fingernail, watching the monitors.
I stood there holding my breath.
“Is she waking up?”
The nurse didn't answer immediately.
“Please.”
She looked at me.
“Movement can happen in patients who are unconscious. Sometimes it's reflexive.”
My hope collapsed so quickly it almost made me dizzy.
“But she moved.”
“Yes.”
“So that's good.”
“It isn't necessarily indicative of consciousness.”
“But it could be.”
The nurse hesitated.
“It could be many things.”
I hated that answer. I looked back at Ayleen.
Her hand hadn't moved again. The nurse touched my arm gently.
“The neurological team will continue assessing her.”
I nodded, unable to speak.
After she left, I sat again.
This time I wrapped both hands around Ayleen's.
“I felt you.”
I stared at her fingers.
“I know what she said.”
Nothing.
“But I felt you.”
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I ignored it.
It vibrated again.
Then again.
I finally pulled it out.
Sofia.
Three missed calls.
I frowned.
She knew where I was. She knew what was happening. Sofia wasn't someone who called repeatedly unless something mattered.
I glanced at Ayleen before answering.
“What?”
“Where are you?”
“With Ayleen.”
“I need you at the office.”
I closed my eyes. “No.”
“Miss Clara, Please .”
“Whatever it is, Sofia, handle it.”
“I can't.”
“Then handle it tomorrow.”
“It can't wait until tomorrow.”
Something in her voice made me sit straighter.
“What happened?”
Silence.
Not long. But long enough.
“Sofia.”
“Remember those documents I mentioned?”
My gaze remained on Ayleen.
“The client's paperwork.”
“Yes.”
“What about them?”
“I went through everything.”
“And?” Another pause.
“I found something.”
I rubbed my forehead.
“What?”
“Your signature.”
My hand stopped. For several seconds, I said nothing.
“What did you say?”
“Your signature is on the documents.”
A cold sensation moved through me.
“What documents?”
“The authorisations.”
I stood slowly.
“I never signed any authorisations.”
“I know.”
My heart began beating harder.
“Sofia.”
“I know” I looked at Ayleen.
The room suddenly felt colder.
“What exactly am I supposed to have authorised?”
Sofia didn't answer immediately.
And that frightened me more than anything she could have said.
“What did they put my name on?”
Her voice was quieter when she finally answered.
“Financial transfers.”
I stared through the glass wall of the ICU, my reflection barely recognisable.
“How much?”
“We need to discuss this in person.”
“No. Tell me now.”
Another silence.
Then Sofia spoke.
“It isn't just one transfer.”
My stomach tightened.
“How many?”
“I don't know yet.”
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“And where did the money go?”
“That,” Sofia said carefully, “is what I'm trying to figure out.”
I looked down at Ayleen.
At the bruises.
At the machines.
At the woman fighting for her life while somewhere outside this room another part of mine was apparently being dismantled.
“Sofia.”
“Yes?”
“Don't touch anything.”
“I already copied...”
“No.”
My voice hardened instantly.
“Don't move anything. Don't email anything. Don't access those files again from the firm's system.”
She went quiet.
“Why?”
“Because someone is setting me up and you know it, First Ayleen, now it's me, the police are probably on my way to get me. Katherine played her cards right”
I stared at Ayleen's motionless hand.
“I will trust you to get me out on bail when they come for me, Sofia.”
The accident wasn't the only trap that had already been set.