Chapter 004

Lawson's blood ran cold. The image of Camila's car crumpled on the highway flooded his mind. The nonchalant dismissal he'd felt moments ago towards the accident vanished, replaced by a sickening dread.

"Who found the car?" he barked at Madison, his voice tight with a sudden urgency he hadn't felt all day.

He ignored Diane, who stood frozen in the doorway, her smug expression wiped clean by a flicker of curiosity.

Madison, panic plastered on her face, nodded curtly. "One of your men, but who found the car isn't important right now. She must be at City General Hospital."

Lawson didn't waste another second. He practically sprinted past Diane, who scrambled after him, her heels clicking frantically on the floor as she tried to keep up with the pace.

The car ride to the hospital was a blur of tense silence. Lawson gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white, his mind replaying their argument, Camila's tear-stained face. Had his harsh words pushed her to this point? To be impulsive and irrational? She shouldn't have left like that.

Lawson's eyes remained fixed on the road, his jaw clenched. The city streets blurred together as he sped towards the hospital, his mind consumed by the thought of Camila.

Diane's voice cut through the silence, her tone hesitant. "Lawson, maybe you should slow down. We don't want to—"

Lawson's gaze flicked towards her, his eyes flashing with anger. "Just be quiet, Diane. I never asked you to tag along."

Diane's face paled, but she remained silent and looked away.

When they finally pulled up to the bustling emergency room entrance of City General, Lawson was the first one out of the car. He leaped out, nearly knocking over a gurney in his haste.

He was met with the flashing lights of ambulances and the worried faces of family members sprinting into the hospital.

Despite the chaos, Lawson weaved through and rushed over to the receptionist's desk, crowded with people all firing off questions about their loved ones involved in the accident.

Lawson tried pushing through the crowd, his voice rising over the frantic voices. "Camila Miller! Where is she?"

The receptionist, a young woman with wide, frightened eyes, looked up from the chaos, startled by Lawson's booming voice.

"Camila Miller?" she repeated, her gaze darting over the crowd. "I... I'm not sure, sir. The accident was a major one. Many casualties..."

Lawson's heart hammered against his ribs. "Casualties? What does that mean?"

The receptionist, visibly shaken, avoided his gaze. "We're still triaging patients. If you can provide a description..."

"Blonde hair, blue eyes," Lawson said, his voice hoarse. "About five feet tall, slender build... she has long legs."

The receptionist nodded slowly, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "One moment, sir."

Lawson paced anxiously, his eyes scanning the faces of the people waiting—anxious parents, tearful siblings, friends clutching each other for support.

Lawson felt a shiver, a strange sensation he'd never felt before. He knew what it felt like to lose someone; his father had died, but this was different. He felt a wave of dizziness, the fluorescent lights of the hospital seeming to spin, mocking him with his fears.

"Find her faster," he urged as the receptionist's hands flew over the keyboard. But the noise from the crowd grew more intense as they shouted for her to also find their loved ones, dominating the space with their desperation.

"Have you found her?" Lawson urged again, his eyes fixed intently on the receptionist.

"I'm trying, sir. Please, just give me a minute," she replied, heaving a heavy sigh.

The crowd around them was growing more agitated by the second. A woman to their left was crying hysterically, while a man to their right was shouting at the receptionist, demanding to know where his son was.

As the noise level continued to escalate, Diane stepped forward and reached out a hand. "Lawson..."

Lawson brushed her hand away without sparing her a glance. "She's out there," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "She has to be."

He turned back to the receptionist, his voice now a low growl. "Find her. Now."

The receptionist, visibly shaken, nodded frantically and began typing again.

Meanwhile, as the chaos unfolded, Diane shifted to a corner and leaned against the wall. She never intended to tag along, but curiosity drove her. Taking out her phone, she dialed a number, her eyes scanning the entrance of the hospital for any incoming patients.

"Hello, Mom, Camila was involved in the accident on the highway," she informed, returning her gaze to Lawson. "And we haven't found her yet."

The voice from the other end came through expectantly. "Is she dead?"

Diane shook her head. "Didn't you hear me? I said she hasn't been found yet."

Her mother sighed in disappointment before responding. "I was hoping it was all over. You know how much of a nuisance Camila has been to our family," her mother said, her voice laced with malice.

Diane's eyes narrowed, her grip on the phone tightening. "Mother, this isn't the time. I'm more concerned about Lawson's behavior; he is losing it."

"Whatever. Keep me updated. And, Diane?" her mother's voice took on a sinister tone. "Make sure you're prepared for any outcome."

Diane's eyes locked onto Lawson, who was still frantically searching for Camila. With a deep breath, she replied, "I will, Mother."

As she hung up the phone, Diane's eyes never left Lawson's face. She knew she had to keep up the charade, at least for now. But she couldn't shake off the feeling that her mother's words had left her with—a sense of foreboding and a growing unease.

Meanwhile, at the receptionist's desk, the receptionist looked up from her computer, a sympathetic expression on her face. "Mr. Lawson, I'm sorry. I've checked the list of patients brought in from the accident, and we don't have anyone by the name of Camila Miller."

Lawson's face fell, his eyes widened in shock and disappointment. "What do you mean you don't have her? She has to be here. She was in the accident."

The receptionist's expression turned somber. "I understand, sir. But we've had multiple casualties from the accident, and some of the victims... weren't identifiable. We're doing our best to match the victims with their identities, but it's a slow process."

Lawson's eyes narrowed, his voice taking on a desperate tone. "What are you saying? That she might be here, but you don't know who she is?"

The receptionist nodded hesitantly. "I'm afraid that's possible, sir. We'll need to take your contact information and let you know if... if we find anyone matching her description."

Lawson's face twisted in anguish as he realized the truth. Camila might be dead, her body unidentifiable among the wreckage. For a moment, he thought he might collapse.

The receptionist's voice cut through the chaos in his mind. "Sir, I think it would be best if you went home and waited for us to contact you. We'll do everything we can to find out what happened to your wife."

Lawson's mind was racing, but he knew he had to take action. He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"Austin, I need you to drop everything and get to City General Hospital. Camila's been in an accident, and I need you to handle things."

His assistant, Austin, was calm and efficient. "Right away, sir. What's the situation?"

Lawson took a deep breath, trying to process the chaos around him. "I'm not sure. The hospital is overwhelmed, and they can't seem to find her. I need you to use our resources to get to the bottom of this. Find out what happened, and where Camila is."

"I'm on it, sir," Austin replied. "I'll get our team on it right away. Do you want me to meet you at the hospital?"

Lawson nodded, even though Austin couldn't see him. "Yes, get here as soon as possible. I need someone I can trust to handle this."

As he hung up the phone, Lawson felt a sense of relief wash over him.

He turned to Diane, who was still standing nearby, watching him with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "I need to go," he said, his voice firm. "I have people who can help me find Camila."

Diane nodded, taking a step back. "I'll let you handle it, then," she said, her voice dripping with insincerity.

Lawson's eyes narrowed, but he didn't have time to deal with Diane's games. He turned and pushed through the crowd, determined to find Camila and get answers.