"Don''t move just yet."


    Chad gently pressed her back against the bed, his voice soft but firm. "The doctor said you''re incredibly lucky-no broken bones, but you do have quite a few cuts and bruises, and a mild concussion. That''s nothing to take lightly. You need to rest and stay under observation for a while."


    Evadne''s eyes shed with defiance. "You still haven''t answered my question."


    Chad''s lips curled into a faint, unhurried smile as he replied, calm as ever.


    "My private physician-Ms. Alexia-has a ce nearby. I came to see her, but suddenly felt unwell. She brought me here to get checked out. That''s when I happened to see you being rushed in."


    Happened? A cold weight settled in Evadne''s chest.


    If anyone else had said it, maybe she would''ve believed them. But not this man.


    "How long was I unconscious?"


    "Not too bad-just about a day and a night."


    He leaned in, his tone gentle, his gaze steady. "I didn''t have your family''s number, but I reached out to my grandfather. He let Chairman Emeric know about your ident. Don''t worry-your family is already on their way to Elmsworth."


    Stunned, Evadne tried to sit up, but Chad held her down.


    "I''m fine... I can be discharged now!"


    "I know you''re worried about your family, especially your father."


    Chad''s dark eyes were filled with concern. "But, Ms. Evadne, you''re still young, and it''s only natural for your family to be concerned when you''re out in the world on your own.


    Trust me, I only reached out to my grandfather—and had him notify Chairman Emeric-after I was sure you were out of danger."


    "Mr. Chad, you''re meddling in my business way too much!" Evadne bit her lip, her emotions ring.


    She struggled, trying to push her trembling body upright, and swung her legs over the side of the bed.


    But her legs refused to cooperate. Suddenly, she lost all strength and toppled helplessly off the edge.


    "Careful!"


    A deep, maic voice-urgent, worried-called out right by her ear.


    The next moment, she crashed straight into Chad''s arms. Beneath his crisp suit, his muscles were firm and defined, his arms tightening around her instinctively.


    The faint smell of antiseptic mixed with his own muted, masculine scent filled her


    senses.


    Familiar... so familiar...


    This was only the second time they''d touched, the first being when she''d stopped his wheelchair from rolling dangerously downhill. But this time, the contact was far more intimate.  s


    "Ms. Evadne, you really can''t get up and walk around yet. Please, just rest," Chad said, his voice rougher than before as he gazed down into her tear-bright eyes.


    He sat tall andposed in his


    wheelchair, while Evadne found herself perched on hisp, her head resting against his broad chest, listening to the heavy, steadyrhythm of his heartbeat.  s


    The scene was charged, ambiguous.


    Yet Evadne''s eyes were cold, her face pale and fragile, but inside she was sharp, suspicious.


    She was a doctor herself-trained in both surgery and a little holistic medicine.


    How could a man who''d spent years relying on medication, who''d suffered organ failure, have such a strong, steady heartbeat?


    Never mind how hard it is to recover from organ failure; even if he had, after more than a decade in a wheelchair, how could his muscles be this toned, this firm?


    She could clearly feel the defined muscle of his thigh pressing against her as she sat on him.


    She''d sat on her brothers''ps as a child, and as an adult, only on Thaddeus''s.


    Though Chad concealed his physique beneath the somber lines of his suit, she couldn''t shake the feeling-


    Compared to Thaddeus, this man''s build was just as impressive.


    It didn''t make sense.


    "Ms. Evadne, do you want to stay


    here in my arms, or would you rather


    lie back in bed?" Chad asked,


    Pen


    amused by how docile she seemed in his embrace His voice w teasing. I don''t mind either way. I just worry you might not be veryfortable." Content bétongs to s


    Evadne''s heart skipped, her thoughts scattering as she tried to move-


    The door to the hospital room swung open.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!