Adrian couldn’t move.
“Tonight?”
Ethan nodded, crying.
“The doctors said her heart is too weak.”
Adrian immediately grabbed his son’s hand.
“Take me to her.”
They rushed into the SUV.
For the first time in years, Adrian didn’t care about his company, his money, or the millions waiting for him overseas.
He only cared about one thing.
Finding Olivia.
Minutes later, the SUV stopped outside a small, aging hospital.
Adrian ran through the hallway with Ethan beside him.
Room 217.
He pushed the door open.
And there she was.
Olivia.
Pale.
Thin.
Connected to machines.
But alive.
Her eyes slowly opened.
When she saw Adrian standing in the doorway, she stopped breathing for a moment.
“Adrian…?”
He walked toward her, tears falling freely.
“I thought you were dead.”
Olivia looked away.
“I thought you chose your company over us.”
“I never chose to leave you.”
His voice broke.
“I was told you died.”
Olivia’s eyes widened.
“What?”
Adrian showed her the photograph.
“I was told there were no survivors.”
Olivia stared at him.
Then she began to cry.
“They lied to both of us.”
Adrian froze.
“Who?”
Before she could answer, Ethan stepped forward.
“Mom…”
Olivia reached out her trembling hand.
Ethan ran into her arms.
Adrian watched them embrace.
Seven years of pain suddenly became unbearable.
He dropped to his knees beside the bed.
“I missed you both every single day.”
Olivia looked at him through tears.
“Then why did you never come looking?”
Adrian shook his head.
“Because I believed you were gone.”
Silence filled the room.
Then Olivia reached beneath her pillow.
She pulled out a small envelope.
“I kept this for seven years.”
Adrian opened it.
Inside was a letter.
His name was written on the front.
He began reading.
“Adrian, if you’re reading this, someone finally told you the truth…”
His hands began shaking.
He looked at Olivia.
“What truth?”
Olivia whispered:
“The accident wasn’t an accident.”
Adrian’s face went pale.
“What do you mean?”
Olivia looked toward the hospital door.
“I didn’t lose you because you left us.”
She squeezed his hand.
“Someone made sure you would never find us.”
Adrian’s eyes hardened.
“Who?”
Olivia looked at Ethan.
Then back at Adrian.
And whispered:
“Your own family.”
Adrian stared at her in disbelief.
Outside the room, a shadow suddenly stopped behind the glass.
Someone had been listening.
And then the hospital lights went out.
TO BE CONTINUED…
