CHAPTER 5: “THE HOSPITAL LIE”

The car ride to the hospital was suffocating.

Not because of silence—Chen Lu wasn’t the type to fill empty space with unnecessary words—but because every minute felt like a countdown toward disaster.

Panni pressed her palms together tightly, trying to steady her breathing.

Annie, what did you do? Why didn’t you tell me you were going to the hospital?

Beside her, Chen Lu sat rigid, jaw sharp with tension, one hand gripping the armrest as city lights flickered across his icy expression. Panni stole a glance. He wasn’t just irritated.

He was suspicious.

“Is your sister sick?” he asked finally.

Panni flinched. “I… I’m not sure.”

“You’re not sure?” His voice darkened. “You two typically hide everything, don’t you?”

Heat rose in her chest—part guilt, part fear.

“Our relationship is complicated,” she managed.

“That much is obvious.”

His phone buzzed. A message flashed. His eyes narrowed.

“The witness says she saw Annie arrive at the hospital in a hood, accompanied by a man.”

The words stabbed her straight to the core.

A man?

Annie brought someone with her?

Who?

Before she could react, Chen Lu leaned closer, gaze sharp.

“Is there something you want to tell me?”

Her breath hitched.

“No. I swear—no.”

But doubt shadowed his eyes.

The car pulled up to the ER entrance. The sliding doors lit the curb with harsh white light. Paramedics moved swiftly, relatives cried in corners, nurses rushed past—the smell of antiseptic heavy in the air.

Panni jumped out the moment the door opened. “I need to find her.”

“Slow down,” Chen Lu warned, stepping beside her. “If she’s here, we’ll locate her.”

She nodded, though every second felt like a blade against her throat.

As they entered the hospital, whispers followed them instantly.

“That’s the CEO of Lu Group—”

“Is that the fiancée?”

“They look tense…”

Chen Lu ignored everything. He approached the nearest nurse’s station with cold precision.

“My fiancée’s sister, Su Annie, was seen entering the hospital earlier. We need to know her location immediately.”

The nurse typed into her computer. Panni held her breath.

“Su Annie… admitted? Hm… I don’t see—”

“Wait!” A second nurse tapped the screen. “There was a Miss Su who came in. But she wasn’t admitted.”

Panni’s chest tightened.

“Was she hurt?”

“No. She was… in a consultation room for a few minutes. But she left shortly after.”

“Left?” Chen Lu’s voice chilled. “Where did she go?”

The nurse hesitated. “She didn’t say. But… she looked distressed.”

Distressed.

The word hammered into Panni like a punch.

“What man was she with?” Chen Lu asked.

The nurse blinked. “Man? No, she came alone.”

Panni’s blood ran cold.

Witness wrong.

Or lying.

Or saw someone else.

But it didn’t matter. Even this was bad enough.

If Annie had truly been here…

If she had walked these same hallways only an hour ago…

Then the thin line between truth and exposure had just cracked.

Chen Lu turned to her.

“Why didn’t she call you?”

“I—I don’t know.”

“Why didn’t you know she was here?”

“Because she didn’t tell me!”

The words burst out louder than intended. A few people stared.

Chen Lu’s jaw tightened. Something dark flickered in his eyes—anger? No. Something worse.

Worry.

But not for Panni.

For Annie. The woman he believed was standing before him.

“Annie doesn’t hide things without a reason,” he said quietly. “Not like this. Not from me.”

Panni’s heart clenched painfully.

He sounded… hurt.

She looked away.

“I’m sorry.”

Her apology hung in the air, strange and heavy.

Chen Lu exhaled slowly, then touched her arm lightly.

“Let’s search the CCTV.”

Her pulse stumbled.

CCTV?

“Mr. Lu— that’s not necessary—”

He raised a brow.

“You think I wouldn’t investigate? When it concerns someone tied to my name?”

Her stomach dropped.

If he saw the cameras—

If he realized Annie wasn’t the one walking out of the memorial hall minutes ago—

Everything would collapse.

As they approached the security office, Panni’s steps faltered.

Chen Lu noticed immediately.

“What is it?” His voice sharpened. “You look pale.”

“I… just feel dizzy,” she whispered.

Without hesitation, he reached for her elbow, supporting her weight.

“Sit,” he ordered softly. “You’re not well.”

She shook her head. “I can walk.”

“You’re shaking,” he countered. “I’m not blind.”

He guided her to a bench, surprisingly gentle. His hand didn’t leave her arm until she was steady.

The warmth of his touch crawled up her skin, unsettling and dangerous.

“Stay here,” he said. “I’ll handle the cameras.”

Panni’s eyes widened. “No— I mean— let’s just go home. Annie probably left because she didn’t want trouble. Maybe she just needed medication, or—”

“Or she needed help,” Chen Lu interrupted. “Which makes it even worse that she concealed it.”

He turned, determined.

“Don’t move,” he commanded. “I’ll be back.”

And he walked straight toward the security room.

Panic exploded inside her.

She jumped to her feet.

I need to stop him—

She took one step—

“Miss? Are you Su Annie?”

The voice froze her in place.

A doctor stood nearby, holding a clipboard. Mid-50s, calm but observant. He looked at her with recognition.

Her heart slammed.

“Yes?” she whispered.

The doctor walked closer.

“You forgot your test results.”

Her blood went cold.

Annie had medical tests? Why? What kind?

“I— what results?”

The doctor smiled gently. “Come with me. I’ll explain everything.”

Her legs turned to jelly.

“I think… there’s been a misunderstanding—”

“No misunderstanding,” the doctor said firmly. “You’re Su Annie. You came for testing earlier, correct?”

Her vision blurred.

Annie… what did you do?

She shook her head. “I didn’t—”

But the doctor cut her off. “It’s confidential. If you prefer, we can discuss in private.”

Her pulse hammered in her ears.

If she followed the doctor, and Chen Lu returned to find her gone—

Suspicion.

Exposure.

Ruination.

If she refused—

The doctor might call the name “Su Annie” again.

In public.

Drawing attention.

She stood frozen, trapped between two collapsing walls.

“Miss Su,” the doctor said softly, “your situation is sensitive. You shouldn't ignore this.”

Her breath stopped.

Sensitive.

“What… What situation?” she whispered.

The doctor lowered his voice, eyes softening with concern.

“Your pregnancy, of course.”

The world spun violently.

Pregnant.

Annie… was pregnant?

Panni stumbled back, gripping the wall.

A baby.

Her sister—pregnant.

And no one told her.

Across the hall, the security room door opened—

Chen Lu stepping out.

His eyes landed on Panni immediately.

Then the doctor.

Then the clipboard.

He approached, slow, controlled—danger radiating from his every step.

“What’s going on?” he asked, voice like ice.

The doctor smiled politely. “Mr. Lu? Perfect timing. Your fiancée came earlier for some tests. As I was telling her—”

Panni’s heart stopped.

“—her pregnancy looks stable so far, but she needs regular monitoring.”

Silence.

Absolute, deadly silence.

The hospital lights seemed to flicker.

Chen Lu’s face drained of color—then hardened into something terrifyingly unreadable.

He turned his gaze on Panni, eyes sharp as glass.

“Annie,” he said quietly, dangerously,

“Is there something you want to tell me?”

~~~“As a forgotten truth begins to surface, Panni and Annie are pulled into a night where desire blurs into danger, trust trembles at the edge of betrayal, and one revelation threatens to ignite a storm that could shatter them both.”~~~