Why Did You Save Me?

Chapter 3

Why Did You Save Me?

Elara Winterfell.

“Be careful, ma'am,” I heard a warm voice filter through my hazy senses, and my blurry vision cleared for a few seconds to see an old man in white coat peering over me.

“Who are you?” I tried to ask. My body was so numb that I could barely feel my limbs.

“I'm Dr. Colton, and you're in the hospital…” He said slowly in his calm tone which strangely comforted me.

“H–hospital?” I stuttered confused. “What happened? How did I get here?”

“Whatever it is you went through, you're one lucky woman that you haven't lost the children…” He continued while checking my pulse. “Your vitals are strong, and you will be discharged anytime soon.”

Then, the memories started rushing back into my head and I unconsciously gripped the sheets of the hospital bed tightly, a stinging pain in my chest. Connor had really removed me from his life? Was it that easy to let me go? I remembered passing out after I fell, who could have brought me to the hospital?

“Doctor…?” My voice was scratchy as I called out to the doctor, she had forgotten his name.

“Colton. Dr. Colton,” His eyes were as warm as his voice and I wondered why he was soft and easygoing with me.

“Dr. Colton, I'm sorry. But, I have a question,” I paused for a few seconds while trying to wet my dry mouth. “Who brought me to the hospital? And which hospital is this?”

“Oh, about that!” He chuckled ever so slightly. “Your husband brought you in this afternoon in a rush. He said you had a nasty fall, and we had to check your wounds immediately.”

“My husband?” I was dumbfounded at his reply. When did I get married to have a husband? Or was Connor pranking me all these while?

“Yes…” The doctor nodded, his eyes shining this time. “I always thought the boss was single with his harsh and fierce demeanor. We didn't know he had someone as beautiful as you by his side. And he dotes on you so much, it's sweet.”

“Huh?” I was further stunned as I struggled to sit up. “I'm not following your explanations, doctor.”

“Oh, silly me!” His eyes shone as he smacked his forehead. “You had a terrible concussion, so it's easy for things to skip your mind. You're in the Nightshade hospital…"

“The Nightshade?” My heart skipped a beat almost immediately. My boss' hospital?

“Yes…” The doctor nodded vigorously. “Your husband, Rowan Nightshade, brought you in not quite long ago. He just stepped out to make a few calls, and he will be back soon. I know you're worried too. But, ma'am, you need to take care of yourself. You're three months gone already, and your babies are strong and kicking…"

“Babies?”

“You didn't know?” Dr. Colton leaned in closer to her. “You are carrying twins. Don't worry, I wouldn't tell Rowan. You can keep it a secret from him until you're ready to surprise him.”

“Is everything done here?” A cold voice came in from behind them, and the doctor's back stiffened.

The atmosphere in the room had changed almost instantly as Rowan Nightshade made his way into the VIP hospital room, his gait tall and poised with an expressionless face.

“Y-y-yes… Everything is done. S-sh-she is fine…" The doctor stuttered and bent low towards Rowan whose eyes had settled on my small and frightened figure.

“Get out.” His voice was deep and hard, and he did not even look at the doctor as his eyes still held me in place.

The doctor knew he was the one referred to as he scurried out of the office in a jiffy, and the room was filled with a tense silence as Rowan's brown made cautious steps towards me, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Are you ready to leave?” He asked without any emotion in his voice. “If you're well, you should talk so you can get discharged immediately. Every single minute in this hospital should be adding money to my pocket. This place is not a charity case.”

I gulped in fear under the deep gaze of my boss. He stood tall and menacing as he paused a few feet away from my bed, his strong and manly perfume filling my nose.

“I understand, sir…” I managed to breathe out. My heart was hammering, and my hands were shaking as I bowed my head and started taking off the needles that were attached to my skin.

“Did I ask you to do that?” There was anger in his voice and I shivered at its intensity, my eyes snapping to meet his almost instantly. “The question I asked you was basic. Is this how you behave at work?”

“No, sir. I'm sorry, sir.” I bowed my head again in shame. Rowan Nightshade scared me, with his brooding brown eyes. Hell, he scared everyone. This was a delicate period in my life, and I wouldn't want to lose my job for any reason at this point. I had to obey him as if my life depended on it– my life actually depended on it.

“I will have the doctors discharge you and give you the bill…” He said simply and turned to walk away.

“Bill?” I was stunned at that. “What bill?” My heart had begun racing. How would I pay off the bill in the Nightshade's hospital? Everyone who came here to get treated was either a top politician or the wealthiest people in the country. The bills here cost more than an arm and leg.

Rowan turned slightly towards me, his muscles tensing his expensive suit. “You didn't hear what I said clearly? Is that how you work with your clients? Perhaps, is it a part of what I said that you don't understand? We don't do charity here, Elara."

His deep voice calling my name sent shivers down my spine as it even reverberated in my bones. I gulped and tried to focus on the issue in front of me.

“But…” I struggled to say. “I didn't ask to be put here. You could have just dropped me off at a general hospital.”

This time, Rowan Nightshade turned to fully face me. “Really? The owner of the Nightshade's hospital being seen in a general hospital? How will that look on my reputation?”

That shut me up, but I quickly spoke again.

“How much are we talking about?” I asked, this time in a small voice and Rowan's eyes snapped to me with humor dancing in his eyes. I knew what he was thinking.

How was I going to be able to pay him back? I did not even have any money at all, for all he knew, I never kept any savings and was directly depending on Connor for survival.

Rowan shrugged. “That's roughly a quarter of a million dollars.”

“A what?” My voice rang out in the quiet ward, almost startling Rowan, but he was able to keep his cool.

“That's just for the hospital bills. There are other bills you would have to pay.” He said quietly as he trained his eyes on me. “For my empathy, fuelling the car and driving you down here, that would be another hundred thousand dollars.”

“That's absurd!” I could not help but counter in frustration. Was he trying to rip me off my whole life? Where would I slave away to get that amount of money? Even my salary was just five thousand dollars a month, how would I get three hundred and fifty dollars to pay him off?

“Is it?” His eyes never left mine as the corner of his mouth curled up into a cold and cruel smile. “Everything about the Nightshades is quality, I hope you didn't expect any less.”

“How will I get such a huge amount of money to pay you off?”

“Your problem, not mine…”

Suddenly, my eyes widened in realization. Was he doing this for revenge?

“Are you doing this as revenge?”

Rowan's brows raised confused, and he leaned against the door of the ward, his annoyingly handsome face being as expressionless as ever. “I don't do things as petty as revenge. I'm a businessman, Elara. You should know that by now.”

I shook my head, trying to calm my beating heart that had started racing. “You want revenge because you think I cheated on your best friend. But, I did not cheat on him at all! He is the father of my children!”

“Children?” Rowan's eyes flew slightly open in surprise. “You're having more than one?”

“That's beside the point! It's not like it actually matters, does it?” I was suddenly overwhelmed by countless emotions as I felt the tears prickle at the corner of her eyes.

“How long is the pregnancy?”

“Three months gone…” I replied in a small voice, silently cleaning the stray tear that fell from my eyes.

“In the next six months, after the children have been born, I will personally have a DNA test conducted. If the children belong to Connor, then, I'll forgive you of your debt. But, if not, you would have to refund everything plus a high monthly interest.”

I was silent for a few seconds, but I nodded. This was much more relieving. “No problem. No problem!” I wasn't scared, in fact, I was more than certain my children belonged to Connor.

My children…

“Good.” Rowan finally said and turned to go when a question jumped out of my mouth.

“Why did you stop to save me?”

It wasn't clear to me why I asked, but something about his compassion nagged me. Rowan Nightshade was cold-hearted to care about anyone else but himself…

There was a tense silence for a few seconds before Rowan finally replied in a raw voice. "I don't even know."