CHAPTER 3: The Mysterious Stranger.

Evelyn.

I groaned as I opened my eyes to the soft morning light streaming through the windows. This wasn’t my room, I noticed.

My eyes tracked from the white ceiling to the drip fixed on my wrist.

What happened? Did Victor finally bring me to the hospital? And why can’t I remember anything?

Just then, a nurse came in.

“Hi, you’re awake,” she beamed. “I hope you’re feeling better.”

“Where’s my husband?” I asked her.

“It wasn’t your husband that brought you here, Mrs Blackthorn.” I wasn’t surprised she knew my name. Victor made sure to keep the social media well informed of his private life.

After adjusting my drip, the nurse handed me a cup of water with a straw and asked, “Do you need anything else?”

I shook my head as I drained the water in the cup. There was a TV hung on the wall opposite the bed and my eyes were glued to it, because they were showing the events of last night’s banquet.

“On second thought, can you please increase the volume for me?”

She nodded and did so, walking out soon after.

“…fainted on stage and was rescued by a mysterious stranger. Rumors have been circulating that he is a member of the mafia, but due to the fact that his face wasn’t captured, we aren’t able to prove anything yet.”

My heart thumped as I watched the news. The way I slumped on the stage was unflattering and Victor would be sure to point that out when he comes.

But that was the least of my worries now. I needed to leave before the mysterious stranger came back, or worse, my husband.

“Public opinions, however, are divided at this point. Some people are in support of the Blackthorn bride, insisting that Mr. Blackthorn has taken it too far…”

My heart swelled, knowing that not everyone took his side like they always do. After all, he was a huge celebrity to the people and also on the Forbes list.

“…but the majority support Mr. Blackthorn, more so because of the statement he released this morning saying the mysterious stranger was actually Mrs. Blackthorn's lover, and the reason for her miscarriage.”

For the first time in a very long time, anger fueled inside me against Victor. Grabbing the remote on the bed stand, I turned the TV off and got to work on removing the drip connected to my wrist.

If I stay here any longer, I risk someone seeing me and calling Victor. Or worse, someone calling the paparazzi.

I couldn’t wait for the doctor to come in either, because I wasn’t sure they'd discharge me without alerting anyone.

When I was done removing everything, I made my way to the door slowly. I was in pain, but I had already endured worse while living with Victor.

However, my plan was thwarted when I got to the door. I broke into a run for the elevator, only to collide with a hard body.

I groaned as pain wracked through my entire body, but thankfully, I was still on my feet and I realized that the person I ran into was holding me up.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized as I looked up to see Liam Kingsley, the king of the corporate world; at least, according to the media.

Quickly, I scurried out of his embrace. He was Victor’s rival, being number one on the Forbes list, and I didn’t need anyone to remind me that rich men were cruel.

I was a living proof of that, but dang, he’s handsome. His blond hair was gelled back, and his green eyes pierced into my honey ones.

“Do I know you?” He asked, effectively snapping me out of my thoughts. “You look familiar.”

Shaking my head vigorously, I replied, “No, I’m sure you don’t.”

Without wasting time, I tried to bypass him but he held me back. Goosebumps erupted from my body due to the contact and I gasped.

I’m sure he felt it too because his lips slightly parted, and I couldn’t help but notice them.

Snap out of it, Evelyn.

“It was nice to meet you, but I’ve really got to go.”

But instead of releasing me from his grip, he just tilted his head like he was studying me. The ding of the elevator sounded behind him, just as a man stepped out.

He looked at me, and my heart hammered in my throat as I took in his hoodie.

“Get away from her,” he barked as he pulled me away from Liam’s grip.

In confusion, I turned to him and asked, “Do I know you?”

Liam let out a short laugh and remarked, “The irony. Guess I’ll be seeing you around, little angel.”

My eyes widened. Little angel?

“Let’s go,” the man holding me said.

But I pushed him away. “I’m not going anywhere with you. For all I know, Victor sent you to kill me.”

That made him chuckle.

“Well, unless you want the doctors to discover that you’re missing and call your husband, I’ll advise you to follow me.”

How did he know that I was running from the doctors?

As if reading my mind, he answered, “If you were properly discharged, they would call the person who brought you in, no?”

“You’re the one that brought me in? You’re the mysterious stranger?” I asked, surprised and extremely grateful.

“No, I’m not. But I’m taking you to see him now.” He replied and pulled me over to the elevator just as the doctor entered my room.

***

We pulled into an estate, bigger than the Blackthorn Estate. And that’s saying a lot, because the Blackthorns loved to showcase their wealth.

This one, however, looked old but still elegant. Getting in, I was nervous to meet the Good Samaritan who came to my aid yesterday.

“Don, she’s here,” the man who brought me here said.

“Thank you, Marco. You may leave.”

I followed the voice I clearly remembered from last night, to see a man in a hoodie coming towards me. My first instinct was to run, because I had always associated hoodies with assassins.

But instead, I stood my ground and said, “Thank you so much for saving me yesterday.”

“It’s nice to have your acquaintance, Evelyn. I’m Dominic,” he replied, pulling off his hood.

And for the second time today, I came face to face with a hot man that could make any woman wet her panties, and I was no exception.

Apart from the fact that my savior had dark hair and even darker eyes, he also had piercings and tattoos. I gulped as he moved closer, but I couldn’t move as fear kept me frozen.