Chapter 2: Saved by the billionaire

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Maybe because that was the easiest thing I could do. I waited for the impact. But it never came.

Instead, the screeching sound of tires and the splash of water was what I heard.

I opened my eyes.

Then I saw it_an ocean-blue BMW M5

The door opened.

Then a man stepped out, with an umbrella that snapped open above him. It kept him dry while I sat there shivering like a stray dog.

He walked towards me, slow and calm. Then he crouched in front of me.

My breath caught as our eyes met.

Greco?

Greco… Ashworth. The billionaire everyone in LA talked about. Standing right in front of me.

I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand to be sure I wasn't dreaming. His grey eyes bore into my soul, searching for something hidden. His black hair was sleek and styled back, accentuating the sharp angles of his face.

“You trying to die tonight?” His voice was low, calm, almost bored.

I couldn’t answer. My teeth chattered too hard. Droplets of tears and rain mixed on my face.

He sighed, then shrugged off his coat and dropped it over my shoulders without asking

I should have thrown it off. Told him to fuck off and let me finish what I started.

But I was so cold.

He held out his hand.

I stared at it. Part of me wanted to slap it away. The bigger part…the exhausted, broken part…took it.

My knees buckled.

I expected my face to come in contact with the cold asphalt. But it didn't.

Instead a strong pair of arms caught me, pulling me against a solid chest.

“Uhhmm….Thanks,” I heard myself say, but it came out like a whisper, barely audible over the rain.

"You're going to the hospital."

I blinked. Not once but twice.

Why was he helping me?

Was this what he did? Pick up broken girls in the rain and play hero?

I stepped back and forced a smile.

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not.” he said, his voice slightly rough. “I won't hurt you. You have my word. Just take it as an apology for almost bumping into you”

I wanted to refuse. Really, I did.

But my head felt heavy. My body ached. And the thought of going home…to my stepmother…made my stomach twist.

He turned and walked back to his ocean-blue BMW M5, and I followed.

A man stood beside the car. He was tall and a bit huge.

Greco opened the passenger door for me.

The other man froze. Just for a split second. Like he'd witnessed something impossible.

Then he quickly masked his emotions and slipped into the driver's seat.

“Liam.”

I stiffened.

“Take us to the hospital.”

“Yes, sir.”

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

Of course.

It was just a coincidence. He happened to just bear the same name as my ex.

The ride to the hospital was the most quiet and longest ride of my life.

I forced myself to look out of the window unable to think straight with Greco sitting right next to me.

When we finally pulled up, I reached for the door handle.

I tugged at it once, but it didn't open. I frowned and pulled again, but still it didn't even open.

Greco leaned in. His face, just a few inches from mine.

My breath caught in my throat. And I actually closed my eyes, waiting.

A second later, the lock clicked.

“Oh.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

I stepped out before he could notice. I couldn't risk embarrassing myself any further.

The moment we entered the hospital, a woman behind the reception desk hurried over.

“Sir, I can call your personal doctor—”

“I'm fine,” Greco said. “But she isn't.”

The woman glanced at me. Like she was trying to figure out why I was standing beside Greco Ashworth.

“Follow me.”

I wanted to argue because I didn't need a hospital. I needed sleep.

But my body felt too weak to argue with anyone, so I followed her down the hallway. And Greco came too. I wasn't sure why.

Greco stayed with me the whole time; while I was examined, when nurses came and went.

He still stayed even while I sat there feeling awkward and exhausted.

Eventually, a doctor walked in.

He was tall and young. And he had a friendly smile placed on his lips.

The kind that suggested he and Greco went way back.

“Greco,” he said with a grin. “Didn't expect to see you here.”

“Hey, Ethan.”

The doctor looked between us.

I could practically see the questions forming in his head.

“Just check on her,” Greco said.

Ethan laughed under his breath but got to work.

A few minutes later, he straightened up and scribbled something onto a prescription pad.

“Nothing serious. Fever, exhaustion, dehydration. She needs rest.”

That was it.

It wasn't a dramatic diagnosis, nor a life-threatening illness. It was just my body finally giving up after all the struggles I've been through.

I expected Greco to leave once the doctor finished. Instead, he pulled a chair closer and sat down.

I looked at him, waiting for a reason for all of this, but it never came. He just looked back at me. And neither of us said anything.

Eventually, I gave up waiting for an explanation.

I let my head fall back against the pillow and stared at the ceiling.

Because I didn’t have the energy to figure out rich men or their motivations.

My eyes grew heavy.

The last thing I remembered was the tapping sound of rain against the window and the warmth of his coat still wrapped around me

Before the darkness consumed me.