4.The other man

As Chase moved his lips to speak, his eyes darted to Jada, but he halted, a flicker of hesitation crossing his features. At that moment, she saw something in his eyes that sent a shiver down her spine. It was a mixture of pain, longing, and a hidden truth, desperately fighting to break free.

"Mr. Aniston," Leon's voice was laced with suspicion and accusation. "What exactly is your business with my wife?"

It took a minute for Chase to tear his eyes away from Jada. Then his gaze hardened, and he turned to face Leon. "I think there's more to Jada's accident than meets the eye,"

Sensing the tension in the room, Dr. Matthews stepped forward, his voice calm. "Gentlemen, let's try to keep this conversation for another day. Jada needs rest and time to recover."

For a second, Leon said nothing as his jaw tightened, and his gaze never left Chase's. In silence, Jada watched the look he held in his eyes, such coldness that it sent a chill down her spine. There was something unspoken between Chase and Leon, an invisible tension that hung heavy in the air. She couldn't help but feel like a pawn caught in a dangerous game.

As the seconds ticked by, Leon finally broke his gaze with Chase and turned his attention to Jada. His features softened, a facade of concern taking over, and he mumbled, "Jada, my love, I'm just glad you're awake. I've been worried sick."

Jada's heart fluttered in her chest as she watched Leon's approach, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions. 

Hesitantly, Leon gently took Jada's hand. His eyes searched hers, and then he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. "We'll figure this out, Little butterfly. I won't let anything or anyone come between us."

Rolling his tongue in his jaw, Chase observed them. His gaze never wavered from Jada and Leon, his features a mask of unreadable thoughts. 

Studying Jada's eyes, he saw the flicker of uncertainty, the longing for answers. Without a word, he stepped forward, breaking the intimate moment between Jada and Leon. His voice was soft yet commanding as he addressed them both. 

"Jada... Leon, I know this is a difficult time for both of you. But we can't ignore that there might be more to Jada's accident than meets the eye, and the person who shot her is still out there. She's not safe, especially now that she's awake."

Looking away from her, Leon's eyes narrowed, his grip on Jada's hand tightening. "And what makes you so sure of that, Mr. Aniston?" he challenged.

Chase met Leon's gaze head-on, his eyes filled with defiance. "Because I care about Jada too," he stated firmly. "And I won't rest until we find out what happened to her."

The room seemed to grow colder, the atmosphere thick with tension. Jada watched Chase's jaw clenched, his gaze narrowing as he locked eyes with Leon. The intensity in their stares was palpable, a silent battle of wills that neither was willing to back down from.

Chase took a step forward, saying as his eyes hardened. "Look, Leon, I understand your concern, but I can't just walk away. Jada's safety is at stake here. We need to find out who did this to her."

Leon's grip on Jada's hand tightened, his face contorting with anger. "I am her husband, Chase. I will protect her. I don't need another man taking care of my wife. Get out."

"Jada, is that what you want... me to leave?" Chase asked, his eyes meeting hers.

The room fell into an eerie silence, and Jada's gaze shifted between Leon and Chase as she leaned back against her pillows. She took a deep breath, desperately trying to gather her thoughts. 

The sterile smell of the hospital mingled with the tension in the room, suffocating her senses. The walls, painted a stark white, seemed to close around her.

Sensing the growing unease, Dr. Matthews stepped forward, breaking the heavy silence. "I know emotions are running high, but we must focus on Jada's recovery and safety."

"Who brought me to the hospital?" Jada asked, looking at him.

Dr. Matthews hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting between Leon and Chase, knowing that the tension in the room was reaching its breaking point.

"Well, umm, huh... It was... It was Mr. Aniston, Mrs. Kingsley. That night, he came running through the hospital door with you in his arms."

Squeezing her brows together, Jada gazes into the distance, staring hard at nothing.

Walking back to her side, Leon took her hand, drawing her eyes to him.

"What? Do you remember something?" Leon asked, worry dripping in his every word. His grip on Jada's hand tightened even further as if trying to anchor her back to the present.

"I...I don't know," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. "Everything is hazy, like a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. I can't remember anything before waking up in this hospital."

"It's okay, honey. Your memory will come back with time. We just need to be patient."

Slowly, she nodded at him, then glanced over at Chase. "Do you remember anything about that night?" she asked, desperation creeping into her voice.

"I...I wish I could say yes, Jada," he replied. "That night, I came to your house to... Well, I found you at home, lying on the hall floor, with no workers around, like everyone had abandoned the place... But we will figure this out, Jada," he said. "We will find the answers together."

A mad look spiked inside Leon's eyes again, and this time, his voice was harsher, "Mr. Aniston, are you working with the police, the FBI... Are you a law enforcer? No! No, you are not. You are a business men. So why don't you get out of here and leave my wife the hell alone?!"

Meeting his gaze, Chase's jaw tightened, his knuckles turning white as his hands balled into fists. But he took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. "I understand your concern, Leon. But I'm not here to harm Jada. I'm here to help her. I have resources and connections. I want to find out who did this to her just as much as you do-"

"Jada didn't want you then, and she won't need you now, so get out before I call the authorities." Leon lashed out.