Seventy Seven

Chapter 77

"Call for the backup car now!" Ben spoke firmly over the phone, his voice echoing amidst the chaos. He stood tall at the scene of the accident, his eyes fixed sharply on the black car speeding away in the distance. It didn’t take long before two other black cars arrived, speeding and stopping right in front of them.

“Mr. Antonio, Miss Cassandra, please get into the first car. I’ll go after that vehicle,” Ben said, swiftly opening the car door.

Antonio helped Cassandra, who still looked a bit shaken. “Cass, let’s go. We need to get to the hospital,” he said, his tone both firm and gentle. He ensured Cassandra got into the car safely before turning to Ben. “Be careful, Ben. Don’t let anything happen to you.”

Ben nodded confidently. “Don’t worry, sir. I’ll make sure they don’t get away.” With that, he got into the second car and sped off, following the trail of the car that had hit them.

Inside the car, Cassandra held Antonio’s hand tightly. “Antonio, are you sure we need to go to the hospital? I feel fine,” she said, trying to calm the situation.

“Cass, I’m not taking any chances. I need to know you and our baby are completely okay,” Antonio replied with a serious tone. His face was full of concern, which touched Cassandra deeply.

“I just... I don’t want to trouble you,” Cassandra whispered, her eyes beginning to water.

Antonio gazed at her intensely. “Cass, you never trouble me. You are my top priority now. Please, trust me.”

Cassandra remained silent, letting her tears fall. In her heart, she felt conflicted. How could she fall for the man she had hated for so long? Yet, Antonio’s genuine care was slowly breaking down the walls around her heart.

When they arrived at the hospital, Antonio immediately got out of the car and called for medical staff. “My wife needs to be examined immediately,” he said as he helped Cassandra out.

A nurse approached them with a wheelchair. “Please, ma’am. We’ll examine you right away.”

Cassandra, though feeling awkward, followed the procedure. She turned to Antonio before being taken inside. “You’ll wait for me here, won’t you?”

“I won’t go anywhere,” Antonio replied firmly. “I’ll be here when you’re done.”

In the waiting room, Antonio paced back and forth anxiously. Every time a nurse passed by, he looked at them with hope. The tension on his face was unmistakable.

After some time, the examination room door opened. Cassandra came out, accompanied by a nurse. Antonio immediately approached and supported her. “How are the results?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.

“Everything is fine. There are no serious injuries, and the baby is stable,” the nurse replied with a reassuring smile.

Antonio exhaled deeply with relief. “Thank you,” he said before turning to Cassandra. “I told you, you’d be fine. But still, I couldn’t relax until I was sure myself.”

Cassandra gave a faint smile. “You really didn’t need to worry so much, Antonio. But... thank you.” She felt her emotions swell but tried to hold them back.

However, the atmosphere turned tense as they walked toward the hospital exit. A man stood there, dressed in a police uniform. His eyes immediately locked on Antonio, his face showing an expression that was hard to decipher. The man was Alexander.

Cassandra froze in place, her body stiffening. Antonio, sensing the man’s presence, also stopped. They exchanged an intense gaze, as if time had stopped between them.

“Antonio,” Alexander finally spoke, his voice laced with suspicion. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Antonio showed no sign of nervousness. Instead, he met Alexander’s gaze with a cold stare. “I didn’t know you frequented hospitals, Alexander. Is there something important?”

Cassandra turned to Alexander, her eyes trying to read the situation. She knew Alexander was the police officer who had been pursuing Antonio, but she never imagined they would meet under such circumstances.

“I could ask you the same thing,” Alexander replied, his eyes occasionally glancing at Cassandra, who was still being supported by Antonio. “What are you doing here, Antonio?”

“I brought her here for a check-up,” Antonio replied calmly, though his body seemed slightly tense.

Cassandra looked at Alexander nervously, feeling as though there was something she couldn’t hide. Alexander’s gaze felt like a sharp blade demanding answers. But before Alexander could speak further, Antonio stepped forward, positioning his body between Cassandra and Alexander, physically and emotionally shielding her.

“If you want to talk, Alexander, do it somewhere more appropriate,” Antonio said coldly. “My wife just had an accident. I won’t let anyone bother her right now.”

Alexander narrowed his eyes, disbelief evident in his expression. “Your wife, huh?” he muttered, as if trying to confirm something. His gaze shifted to Cassandra, and he continued, “Cassandra, are you alright? This accident doesn’t seem ordinary.”

Cassandra nodded slowly, her voice barely audible. “I’m fine, Alexander. Thank you for your concern.”

However, Cassandra’s answer only made the atmosphere more tense. Alexander knew something was being hidden. But before he could say more, Antonio pulled Cassandra closer, wrapping his arm protectively around her.

“We don’t have time for chit-chat,” Antonio said firmly. “I need to make sure my wife gets some rest.”

Antonio led Cassandra away without waiting for Alexander’s response. However, Cassandra couldn’t stop herself from glancing back. Alexander was still standing there, watching them with a look of disappointment, as if there were many things he wanted to say but couldn’t.

As they got into the car, Cassandra tried to steady her breathing. But the situation inside the vehicle only heightened her unease.

“Cassandra,” Antonio’s voice broke the silence, soft but sharp, “do you really know Alexander?”

Cassandra turned, trying to read Antonio’s expression. But as usual, the man was skilled at hiding his emotions. “He’s... just an old friend. We’ve met a few times in the past,” she replied cautiously, though her heart was pounding.

Antonio nodded, seeming to accept the answer without many questions. But Cassandra knew, deep down, he likely harbored doubts.

“Alright,” Antonio finally said. “I just want you to be honest with me, Cass.”

Cassandra lowered her head, unable to meet Antonio’s eyes. Her heart felt heavy. She felt like someone caught in an affair, even though the reality was far more complicated.

The car moved slowly, leaving the hospital behind. Cassandra stared out the window, trying to calm her thoughts. But when she glanced back, she saw Alexander still standing in front of the hospital, his gaze fixed on their departing car. Guilt gnawed at her heart, but she didn’t know what to do.

Deep down, Cassandra knew tonight was just the beginning of a much bigger conflict.