Chapter Ten- The Accident

Liora’s POV

I woke up to the sound of knocking on my door.

‘Who is it?’ I called out, my eyes still groggy.

I opened the door to see Sebastian already dressed for work.

‘But, it’s not even 7am yet. Isn’t it a bit too early to start leaving…’ I tried to argue but he cut me short.

‘I’m leaving without you,’ he said. ‘The Forsters are agreeing to our deal and I have to close it with them immediately.’

‘Oh,’ I sighed.

‘My mother called. Said she wants to meet up with you this morning.’

‘Oh!’ All traces of sleep vanished.

‘She’ll call later. So just get ready.’

He walked away without another word. I couldn’t help wondering why she’d want to see me. Did I do something wrong? What had Sebastian told her?

True to his word, a maid called to hand me the phone an hour later while I was brushing my hair.

It was the same maid who had given me the dress the other night, and she still had that smile on her face- a pleasant smile

Which I also returned.

‘Liora,’ his mother’s voice sounded happy.

‘Good day ma’am,’ my heart began to beat faster.

‘Shall we meet up at the Grand café? I’m in the mood for some coffee and a chitchat with you.’

‘Sure,‘ I swallowed. Was it just chitchat or an interview disguised as one?

‘See you by ten,’ she cut the call immediately.

I glanced at the clock then hurried to get dressed.

His mother and I had never spoken one on one before. Hell, I never got to chitchat with any member of the Carvers family. And now she wanted to hang?

Maybe I was just making a big deal out of this. I resigned myself to whatever would happen as I got in the car and headed to the café.

The Café was already buzzing when I arrived. Soft music played in the background, with the scent of freshly brewed coffee hanging in the air.

I spotted her immediately.

Mrs Carvers sat by the window, elegant, her hands wrapped around a porcelain cup. She gave a genuine smile when she saw me, and seeing that eased something tight in my chest.

‘Liora,’ she stood slightly as I approached. ‘You look well.’

‘Thank you ma’am,’ I smiled back, settling into the chair across for her.

‘Please,’ she waved her hand. ‘If you keep calling me that I’ll feel ancient. Call me Eleanor.’

‘All right, Eleanor,’ the name felt strange to say but not unpleasant.

She studied me for a moment. ‘Sebastian tells me you’ve been spending a lot of time at the office.’

‘Yes,’ I nodded. ‘I’m…learning.’

Her lips curved. ‘That sounds like my son’s idea of generosity.’

I couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped from my mouth. ‘He has his ways,’ I admitted carefully.

Eleanor took a sip of her coffee. ‘Marriage into this family isn’t easy. Especially not under the circumstances yours began. But I didn’t call you here to judge, or to pry. I just wanted to know how you’re holding up.’

The question caught me off guard.

‘I’m…managing,’ I replied after a pause. ‘Some days are harder than others.’

‘I know what it’s like,’ she nodded, ‘to love someone who doesn’t know how to be gentle.’

My heart skipped. Was she talking about Sebastian? I wasn't in love with him, but I wasn't going to correct her either.

‘Sebastian has always believed strength means control,’ she continued. ‘His father taught him that. But strength can look different, Liora. Sometimes, it’s endurance. And I can see you have plenty of that.’

As her eyes met mine, warm and steady, I tried to blink away the tears that threatened to fall.

‘Thank you,’ I whispered.

She reached across the table to hold my hand. ‘Whatever happens, don’t lose yourself trying to survive this family.’

Before I could respond my phone rang. It was an unknown number.

I stared at the screen for a while before picking it up.

‘Mrs Carvers?’ A man’s voice asked. ‘This is St. Vincent Hospital. There has been an accident involving someone and Mr Sebastian Carvers. We'd need you down here immediately.’

My heart felt like it could plunge out of my chest.

‘What’s wrong?’ Eleanor looked in askance.

‘Sebastian and his driver has had an accident. He’s at St. Vincent Hospital,’ I stood up in a hurry, my senses already feeling disoriented.

‘Oh my gosh!’ Eleanor stood up too.

I dashed out of the café without responding. All I could think about was Sebastian… was he still breathing? Did he bleed much? How much pain was he in?

The smell of blood and and antiseptic hit me the moment I stepped into the hospital. It was the driver who met me at the lobby.

‘I thought you had an accident…?’ I began to ask because he looked well.

He shook his head. ‘Only Mr Carvers, ma’am. I didn’t drive him to work today.’

Maybe the doctors made a mistake, but I pushed that thought aside as he took me to where Sebastian was admitted.

Two doctors were there when I entered, with Sebastian lying unconscious on the bed. He had two IV lines attached to his arms, bandages and an oxygen tube attached to his nose.

I moved closer, my fingers curling against the metal rail of the bed to keep myself upright.

‘What happened?’ My voice came out barely above a whisper.

One of the doctors turned to me. ‘Are you family?’

‘I’m his wife,’ I answered without hesitating.

The doctor nodded. ‘Mr Carvers was involved in a collision on the expressway. He sustained a concussion, internal bruising and a fractured rib.’

‘Is he…’ I swallowed hard to relieve the tightness of my chest, ‘is he going to be okay?’

‘He’s stable,’ the second doctor responded. ‘But the next forty eight hours are going to be crucial. He needs complete rest; no work, no stress and no visitors besides his immediate family.’

I nodded rapidly even though my head felt light.

‘And he’ll need someone with him once he regains consciousness,’ the first doctor added. ‘Full-time care, at least for the next few days.’

Before I could reply, the door flew open and in came Vivienne.

‘Sebastian!’ She rushed in, her red bottom heels clickling loudly against the floor, flawless hair and perfect makeup- as usual.

Her eyes flicked to me first.

‘Why wasn’t I informed immediately?’ She snapped, turning to the nurse who had followed her in. ‘This is unacceptable.’

‘We contacted the next of kin-‘ the doctor began.

‘I am his fiancée!’ She interrupted harshly. ‘I should have been the first to know!’

I didn’t say anything as she rushed to Sebastian’s side, touching his arm dramatically.

‘Did the paparazzi get wind of this yet?’ She asked the doctors. ‘This is going to be bad for the company’s image; what would the press say?’

‘He could have died,’ I said quietly.

‘But he didn’t,’ she snapped at me.

She was about to continue her rambling when Eleanor and Reginald came in.

‘What happened to my son?’ Eleanor was close to tears, while Reginald was calm, his hands resting on her shoulders.

The doctors explained everything to them.

‘I suggest we transfer him to a private hospital,’ Vivienne chipped in, ‘preferrably overseas before rumors spreads.’

‘That won’t be necessary,’ the doctor countered. ‘After forty eight hours, he’ll be stable. He just needs someone to take care of him for the next few weeks.’

The room grew silent, as the doctors looked at Vivienne, holding out a consent form to her.

‘My schedule is insane,’ she shook her head, ‘and I’m not really good with the hospital stuff…’

‘I’ll do it,’ I stepped forward to sign the form.

No one argued or said anything, and within minutes Vivienne left for a press meeting.

That night was the longest night I ever had. I sat by Sebastian’s side, listening to the beeping and humming of the machines. The monitors read everything was stable, but Sebastian hadn’t blinked or moved ever since.

I touched his forehead, trying to feel his temperature. This was the man who had made people walk with fear, had made me walk with fear.

But he had also made me feel…something else.

‘You don’t get to leave yet,’ I whispered to him, not sure if he could hear me. ‘Not when I’m just starting to understand you.’

I held his free hand in mine and squeezed a little.

To my surprise, his hand squeezed around mine.

I gasped, but I didn’t pull away.

‘Liora,’ my name came as a whisper from him.

My breath hitched. He had never said my name like that before.

I smiled despite the tears in my eyes. He didn’t say my name like a command this time.

He said it like a need.