Chapter 4

“Drive back!” Jackson shouted from behind, finally catching up.

But Noval was already shaken. Her hands trembled on the wheel.                                             ““I… I didn’t mean for this to happen…” she muttered.

Without thinking further, she reversed the car quickly.Tires screeched.

And in panic she turned the vehicle around, picked up Jackson and drove back toward the mansion.

*******

*Pinnacle International Medical Hospital ( PIM  Hospital)

PIM… PIM… PIM…A soft beep.

The steady sound of the heart monitor echoed faintly through the room.

Isabella’s eyes fluttered open slowly.

Her vision was blurry at first—white lights above her, the smell of antiseptic filling the air.

She blinked once. Then twice.

She tried to move. A sharp pain shot through her head.

“Ah…” she groaned softly, her fingers twitching slightly under the blanket.

hen her vision finally cleared—She froze.

She was in a hospital room.

But not just any room. Crystal lighting. Clean marble-like flooring. Soft curtains moving gently with air conditioning. A private VIP suite that looked more like a hotel than a hospital.

Machines beeped beside her. A drip was attached to her hand. Her head was wrapped in white bandages.

Then she saw them.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four. 

Five.

Five men All dressed in black.                  

They stood silently around the room, their faces expressionless.

Isabella's breathing became shallow.

She looked at one man.

Then another.

"Who are you?"

No answer.

She pushed herself slightly higher against the pillows.

"Where am I?"

One of the men finally stepped forward.

"You're safe, ma'am."

"Safe?" Isabella glanced at their dark suits. "How can I feel safe with you guys dressed like this?"

Her eyes narrowed.

The man said nothing.

Isabella's eyes moved around the room again.

Something about the men frightened her.

They didn't look like hospital security.

She could see the outline of something beneath one man's jacket.

Her heart began beating faster.

"Where is my sister?"

The men exchanged a quick glance.

"My sister," Isabella repeated. "Where is she?"

Before anyone could answer, the door opened.

A man in a white coat walked in.

He was in his late forties, with glasses resting low on his nose.

“Good morning, Miss...” He paused, looking at her expectantly.

“Isabella,” she answered softly.

Then he approached the bed and checked the monitor. 

“How are you feeling “ he asked 

Isabella stared at him.

"Oh…. Sorry my name is Dr. Cole. I'm your attending physician.

"What happened to me?" Isabelle asked 

"You were involved in an accident."

"An accident?"

"Yes."

She looked down at her bandaged hands.

"How long have I been here?"

"Three days."

Her eyes widened.

"Three days?"

Dr. Cole nodded.

"You suffered a serious head injury. Fortunately, you were brought here quickly."

Isabella swallowed.

"Who brought me here ?"

The doctor hesitated.

"Someone who happened to be at the scene."

She frowned.

"And who exactly was that ?"

"I'll explain that later. Right now, I need to ask you some questions. So are you ready?”

She nodded slowly while trying to sit up a little 

Dr. Cole pulled a chair beside the bed.

"What's your full name?"

"Isabella..."

She paused.

"Isabella Thomson “

"“Do you know where you are?”

“Hospital,” she replied.

“Do you know what year it is?” He asked while looking down his note

She answered.

Dr. Cole’s expression changed slightly.

He knew immediately.

The year she had given was five years behind. But he said nothing.

“Do you remember anything before the accident?” he asked carefully.

Isabella frowned, trying to remember.

“The accident…” she murmured.

Then she looked at him.

“I remember I was going to pick up my sister from the airport.”

Dr. Cole watched her silently for a moment.

“Your sister?”

“Yes. She went abroad to study. She was supposed to come back three days ago.”

Dr. Cole softened his voice. "We'll help you recover as much as possible. But you need to rest."

“Okay but what’s going on with me?” she asked, her voice filled with confusion. “When can I go back to my family?”

Dr. Cole gave her a calm look.

“You need to rest first. We still have a few tests to run before I can give you a proper answer.”

She glanced down at the bandages on her arm. “How long do I have to stay here and where is my phone ?”

“That depends on the results,” Dr. Cole replied. “For now, try not to worry. You’re safe, and you’re receiving the care you need.”

Before Isabella could ask another question —

The room suddenly went silent.

The five men standing around her straightened and lowered their heads slightly in a silent gesture of respect 

One of them moved toward the door.

Isabella noticed.

"What is it?"

No one answered.

The door swung open, and a man entered. He moved with an air of authority that made the room seem smaller, his presence commanding and undeniable.

 This was Adrian—a name whispered in the underworld, a man whose power stretched beyond borders, whose family controlled vast wealth and influence. He was known, feared, and respected in equal measure. 

The room seemed to change the moment he entered.

He was tall, dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit. His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, long enough to be tied at the back. A black dragon tattoo crawled up the side of his neck, its intricate design disappearing beneath the collar of his shirt.

 Another tattoo covered part of his chest, barely visible through the opening of his black shirt. The tattoos, combined with his cold expression and quiet confidence, gave him an intimidating presence.

Two men followed several steps behind him.

Nobody spoke.

Adrian acknowledged them with a small nod of his own before his eyes moved toward the bed.

He paused briefly when he saw Isabella awake and stared at her for a few seconds, which confused her.

How could she look so much like her?

The thought crossed Adrian's mind before he could stop it.