Twist Of Fate

Laura

The sharp smell of antiseptic burned my nostrils as I squinted against the fluorescent light; its blinding glare making my head spin.

My pulse spiked.

I made it to heaven?! I knew it.

No, no, God please take me back. I can't be here; I have unfinished business that requires my attention.

You don't just halt my plans and leave me stranded. With all due respect, do your voodoo now!

I closed my eyes and blinked open— light.

Damn it!

How was I supposed to get revenge against those demons while stuck in paradise, without breaking the rules?

The white lights say it all: only love, no vengeance.

I grumbled, clenching my fists, and a sharp pain pinched through my veins.

It took me two seconds to notice I was in a hospital gown, with my arm tethered to an IV.

Holy snakes! I'm not dead yet.

My eyes darted around the room. Someone was pacing back and forth.

I blinked twice. “Aria?” My voice wobbled with disbelief.

“Sista! You're awake!” she cried, throwing her arms around me. “I thought I had lost you.”

I winced, inhaling her citrusy perfume. “You might as well crush my bones,” I choked out, and she broke the hug, laughing through the tears.

Aria and I were childhood friends. We haven't seen each other since my marriage. She'd become a travel nurse, and we only spoke through LotusChat. Seeing her brought back a part of me I thought I had lost.

I returned her smile, nostalgia cutting deeper than the razored pin.

I groggily sat up, rubbing my neck. “What happened?”

Her face fell, and her lips twitched, but a manly voice cut in from behind,

“We found high doses of Dong Quai in your blood sample,“ his monotonous voice was distinct, familiar even.

His languid steps drew closer. “Your blood was thinning. That's why you bled through your nose. You were lucky he brought you in on time.”

“Dong… what's that?” I mulled, the words sounding foreign to my ears.

My gaze locked onto him in disbelief— Lucian; Leila's fiancé.

Hunger swirled in my tongue, the words begging to eat the free air.

Should I tell him? Or maybe they broke up, and he wouldn't care?

From his robotic aura and forwardness, I'm sure it's the latter If not that snitch wouldn't dare do what she did.

I sealed my lips shut, quenching the urge to spill.

Shifting his glasses in place, he began, “It's a Chinese herb containing phytoestrogens and coumarins, which act like estrogen and can thin blood. Women in their first trimester are mostly at higher risk of miscarriage.”

He paused, sensing the confusion in my face. Aria sat unfazed, rubbing my back; of course she was a nurse.

“Forget all the jargon I just said,” he placed a hand on my shoulder, eyes tense. “It weakened your womb after the fall. I’m sorry, Laura. You lost one of the twins.”

What?!

I jerked up from the bed, tugging at his sleeve. “I-I’m still pregnant?”

Aria gently pulled me back, and Lucian straightened his scrub, nodding. “I'm as surprised as you are. It's very rare.”

Relief flooded me, soaking through every nerve, still a pang dotted my chest— I lost one.

I placed a hand on my belly, rubbing gently. “We’ll get revenge, baby. I promise.”

“Come here,” Aria pulled me into a hug, whispering hopeful words to my ears.

I went into details, telling them how it all happened. Aria went ballistic, threatening to kill Leila herself. Lucian's eyes went teary, he couldn't believe what Leila had done, and later confirmed they've broken up.

Aria and I cried, laughed bitterly, and Lucian offered some medical advice.

My sixth sense kicked in, and my nape prickled, the scent from last night sweeping through the room like a dense fog.

He hadn't spoken, but his gaze held the intensity of a thousand eyes.

I craned my neck. My eyes locked onto crystal ones, gleaming like a lone wolf. He stood there, hands crossed, leaning on the door, his hair grazing the doorframe.

Christ! What was he? Some ostrich in tuxedo? Giraffe wannabe? Ugh.

I shuddered, swallowing, as I dragged my eyes away from him.

He padded into the room, oozing predatory aura. Aria and Lucian nodded, as if they knew who he was?

The hospital owner, perhaps?

The door clicked shut. Aria should be punished for that.

The grinding of the chair against the tile scraped against my already frazzled nerves, making my head drop with anxiety. I could feel his gaze searing into me, making me want to break out in hives.

“Look at me,” he demanded, his tenor authoritative.

Gently raising my head, I trained my gaze to meet his eyes, my heart pumping with every blink.

Why was I scared? Guilt definitely? Stomping in front of his car like a deer caught in headlights? Did I ruin anything? Stain his car with blood?

Oh, God, Laura, what didn't you do?

His lips pulled into a smile, calm yet menacing. “Pardon my manners,” he offered his hand. “Kaida Crawford.”

“Thank you for saving my life, sir. I-I—” the words died flat, and I snatched my hand away from his, shifting on the bed.

Terror lodged in my veins, my skin pebbling like I had shaken a demon.

Kaida Crawford; CEO of Caford Group. The five-star cold-hearted- inferno made flesh. He wore his smile like a shield, yet had malice with warmth.

Rumors had it: ‘White veneers under thin lips— don't let that smile fool you. One word from that dragon and your world catches fire.’

He chuckled, the sound terrifying like a snarl. “Don’t worry. I won't bite.”

“Your name,” he urged, smiling.

“Laura, Laura DeVille, sir,” I replied, voice shaky.

He nodded, scratching his left brow. “So… mind telling me why you shot into the road like a cannon ball?”

The question sounded more like a judge demanding a million reasons why I shouldn't go to jail.

He continued. “Do you sell heart attacks? Or were you trying to frame me for murder?”

What?!

He folded his arms, leaning back on the chair. “What happened, Cute Bug?”

Cute what?

The memories churned in my mind like a tidal wave.

Those demons. They conspired to see my world burn, even going extra miles to end me and my babies.

My jaw tightened, my molars almost crushing from the force.

They made a mistake— letting me live. One they'd regret for the rest of their lives.

And Kaida Crawford, saving my life? Hmph, hell would freeze. Men only value something new, when it gets old, they discard it.

I replied in a shaky voice. “With all due respect, sir, I'll rather not talk about it.”

His eyes glazed over my belly. “The father? Family?”

I pressed my lips tight, unyielding. Trust landed me in this situation, not anymore.

He shook his head, nibbling on his bottom lip. “Is okay. You don't have to share.”

He glanced at the window, then back to me. “It's late. You're discharged, let's get you home.”

Dread strangled me. Home or hell?

I shook my head. “I’ll wait for Aria.”

He scoffed, his breath minty. “I do legitimate business, so no need to fear. And besides, Aria is on night shift, she just resumed this morning.”

My eyes widened, but he cut in. “I own this hospital. Better now?”

Hesitation stood in front of my mind.

Rumored to be cold, yet kind. Ruthless, yet calm. His demeanor contrasts public opinion. But he saved my life; Aria's on duty, and Lotus City can be grave at night.

Ten minutes later, I had changed into Aria's clothes, casual black jeans and yellow blouse, tight yet fitting.

I snuck a scalpel inside the back of my jeans, my instincts on high alert.

“You first,” I urged, voice clipped.

He bit down on his lip, grinning as he exited the door, and I followed suit.

.

.

.

.

Thirty minutes later, we arrived at Xavier Gardens. The epitome of serenity and old-world charm. But it was as if some of its buildings had vanished into thin air.

I quickly opened the car door, but he grabbed my wrist, his voice urgent. “Laura DeVille.”

“Here,” he handed me his business card. “Call me if you need anything.”

I hastily took the card. “If I need anything?” I forced a smile and stepped out of the car.

He sped off, but I could feel his gaze lingering on me like a hawk watching its prey.

I glanced around— nothing.

My grandmother's grill was only a stone's throw from the bus stop, right in plain sight. Now it’s gone, along with other buildings beside it.

I fumbled for my phone, my hands trembling as I dialed Aria's number. “Where's grandma's grill?” I blurted out before she could speak.

The other end was silent; I knew this silence of hers’ wasn't a good sign.

“Where's grandma's—”

“It's gone!” her voice was quieter now. “I'm sorry… It was part of the clearance project. I wanted to–”

I hung up, agony tearing through me.

Just one night, and my world turned into a nightmare.

Tears flooded my face as I stared at the empty space where my grandma and I would sell tirelessly until midnight.

I can't just sit at Aria's house, doing nothing.

My brain buzzed, confusion and defeat clashing ferociously.

The card!

The edges tugged at my palm. The numbers on it dared me, hungry to be dialed.

I took a shaky breath. I dialed, then deleted. I needed his help, but the fear of being broken again had become my wisdom.

With all the willpower in me, I tossed it in the bin, blinking back the sting in my eyes.

“If my life's a damn Pandora's box, let chaos reign.”

I walked away, but deep down, I knew the box was already open.