Chapter 8

The phone slipped from his hand as he dropped beside her.

“Anna… Anna, stay with me.”

She was curled on his desk, clutching her stomach, trembling violently. Her mouth opened in silent gasps, but no air seemed to reach her lungs. Pain twisted her face, tears sliding down her temples.

“Breathe… please breathe,” he whispered, panic breaking through his voice.

Her fingers tightened weakly around his sleeve.

Then—

Her body went limp.

“Anna?”

Her head rolled to the side, eyes closing, breath shallow… fading.

“No, no, no—Anna!”

He pulled her into his arms, heart pounding, fear clawing up his throat.

“Stay with me. Don’t you dare leave.”

Distant sirens began to echo through the building.

The sirens screamed through the afternoon.

Paramedics rushed in, voices sharp and fast.

“Step back, sir.”

“She’s unconscious,” he said, refusing to let go. “Abdominal trauma. She couldn’t breathe.”

They checked her pulse. Weak.

“Pulse thready. Possible internal bleeding. Get the stretcher.”

Anna didn’t move as they lifted her. Her head lolled slightly, face pale, lips colorless.

“Stay with us, ma’am. Can you hear me?”

Nothing.

The ambulance doors slammed shut.

They arrived the city hospital.

Bright lights. Fast footsteps. Controlled chaos.

“BP dropping.”

“Prep IV.”

“Abdominal trauma — monitor for internal hemorrhage.”

He stood frozen outside the treatment room, hands shaking, shirt stained with her tears.

Then after several minutes.

The doctor stepped out.

“She has internal bruising and possible bleeding around the abdomen. We’ve stabilized her for now, but she fainted from shock and lack of oxygen. We need to observe her closely tonight.”

“Is she… going to wake up?” His voice cracked.

“Yes. But she needs rest. No stress. No pain.”

Relief hit — but only slightly.

Because then—

Footsteps.

Jennie appeared at the hospital entrance, supported by her mother — tall, elegant, beautiful, yet trembling. Two police officers followed behind them.

Blood soaked the bandages wrapped around Jennie’s wrists. Tears streamed down her pale face.

Mrs. Lorien pointed toward Anna’s ward.

“Arrest her. She tried to kill my daughter.”

Inside the room, Anna was awake — weak, confused, in pain. Unsure if those words where meant for her.

Ethan stepped forward instantly. “You can’t arrest her.”

“There was no blood when I was in the office, Mrs. Lorien.” Anger vibrated in his voice.

“How would you notice,” Jennie whispered weakly, “when your eyes were only on that animal—”

Her voice broke. Her body collapsed.

“Jennie!” Mrs. Lorien screamed. “Help! She’s losing blood!”

Nurses rushed forward, lifting Jennie onto a stretcher and rushing her away.

Mrs. Lorien turned back to Ethan, eyes burning with fury.

“You failed to protect your sister. You chose that homeless pig over her. How dare you, Ethan? What has come over you?”

Ethan let out a quiet breath.

“Last I checked, we are not siblings… and there are many things you don’t know going on between Jennie and my twin. There was no blood, Mrs. Lorien. There was no need to call the police.”

“So what if something is going on between them? If they get married, I’ll be a part of it. And you said no blood? You’re saying my only child cut herself? You’re calling her crazy?”

“I know Jennie more than you think. She’s full of surprises.”

Mrs. Lorien’s expression hardened.

“I am disappointed in you. I will tell your parents. That is why I will always choose Eden over you.”

Ethan chuckled softly, hands on his waist.

“No surprise there. They can even get married. I’ll be his best man.”

A faint moan came from Anna’s ward.

Ethan turned instantly and rushed inside, leaving Mrs. Lorien stunned.

Anna sat weakly on the bed, her oxygen mask still on, her blonde hair falling softly around her face, one hand pressed against her stomach.

He froze for a second… staring.

Even in a hospital gown, his foolish heart betrayed him. How can someone be so beautiful in a hospital dress, he thought.

He shook his head, sweeping the thought away, and walked toward her..

“Lie down,” he commanded.

Her sea‑foam eyes lifted slowly to meet his.

“Ethan… you’re here…” Her voice was dry, cracked, barely a whisper.

He poured water into a cup and walked back slowly.

“Lie down, Anna. Now.”

She obeyed without resistance.

He gently removed the oxygen mask and tilted the cup to her lips, letting her drink small sips.

He tried to pull his hand away, but she held him.

“Thank you.”

A faint smirk touched his lips — then vanished.

His eyes dropped to her hand.

Blood.

“Anna…”

“Hm?”

“What happened to your hand?”

Her eyes followed his gaze. Blood stains on her palms.

“I… I don’t know…”

His mind flashed back.

Jennie. Blood. Slit wrists.

Was he wrong?

He stood abruptly.

“Ethan? Is everything okay?”

No answer.

He walked to the door, opened it— and stopped.

His mother stood there.

SLAP.

The sound echoed.

Anna gasped, hand covering her mouth.

“I am deeply disappointed in you,” she said coldly, walking away.

Ethan stood frozen, fists clenched.

How dare she. Anna… how could you…

He turned and walked back inside.

“Oh my God, Ethan, are you okay?” Anna asked softly.

He grabbed her wrist harshly. She winced.

“What the hell is this?” he growled, staring at the blood on her palm.

“I don’t know! Ethan.”

“It’s Sir. Sir Ethan!” he snapped. “How on earth did you get these blood stains, huh?”

She flinched violently. Tears spilled instantly.

“Please… please…” she cried.

“It won’t happen again… please… mum… please…"

Ethan froze.

“Mum?” Confusion crossed his face.

He slowly released her.

She curled into herself, trembling, crying, whispering apologies to someone who wasn’t there.

He stared at her — unsettled, conflicted.

Then he turned…

And walked out.

Leaving Anna alone in the prison of her own mind.

He didn’t want to be there at all. What was I thinking?

The moment he stepped outside, he released a huge sigh, realizing he had been holding his breath too long. He raked his fingers through his hair.

Jennie and I have been more than friends. Even though she and my brother mess around, I still see her as mine. And now I failed to protect her. I protected my assistant… not knowing she’s a psycho. A beautiful psycho I can’t stop looking at. Betraying everything I felt for Belle.

He walked to the driveway, entered his car, and sped off.

$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$$ $$$

Hours later, the air in Jennie’s ward was cool, but the tension burned like fire.

Jennie lay asleep from the sedative given after they stopped her bleeding and stitched her wounds.

Her mother, who earlier had been cheerfully imagining Eden’s wedding to her precious jewel, now looked broken — dried tears, smudged mascara, silent rage beneath calm skin.

One look at her face told everything.

She was ready to destroy Anna.

“If only he protected her,” she whispered, eyes fixed on her sleeping child.

“But he went to protect that thief instead.”

“I already gave him a warning,” Mrs. Rita Vilonia, her highschool best friend said calmly beside her.

Lorien looked up. “What do you mean?”

“I slapped him. I heard him asking that animal how she got blood on her hands.”

“No, you shouldn’t have. He’s your son,” Lorien said softly.

“At least I knocked some sense into him,” Rita replied, pulling out a designer bottle from her purse and taking a sip.

She handed it to Lorien.

“We should get rid of that slut,” Lorien murmured, drinking. “She doesn’t deserve to work in your husband’s company."

“I agree,” Rita said coldly. “The boys worked four years without an assistant. We don’t need her — especially now that she’s a threat.”

She took the bottle back.

“She will leave. I swear I will make that happen.”

then she sipped the drink staring at Jennie who laid motionles. Swearing to protect her soon to be daughter in-law.

$$$$$$"$$$$"$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

The Vilonia Corporate Tower stood tall in the quiet night, dark and silent — nothing like the chaos of morning.

Eden drank another shot, staring at the scattered files on the floor — files he had thrown himself.

Regret burned in his eyes.

Dried blood stained the floor where Jennie had struggled earlier.

He stared at it, drinking again.

Then he walked to Eden's desk, sat, and spun the chair toward the glass window overlooking the city of wealth and power.

If Dad finds out I didn’t protect her… or worse… Eden… he thought.

Damn. He’ll kill me.

Their father and his favorite son had disappeared again, no one knew where they went to. Only Ethan did. another secret mission in Mexico. Not business.

The door opened.

“You know Donald hates when anyone stays this late. He might tell your dad,” Jacob said, walking in with a faint smile.

Donald, the company watchman who's been working for Don vilonia ii.

Hated the fact that some workers lingered around the building after work hours. Back in the days , he witnessed several things that happened in that building and swore by the help of the twins father it won't happen again.

Jacob stopped beside Ethan.

“You can’t stop thinking about her either, huh? Your assistant… she’s dangerously hot.”

Ethan turned slowly.

“What do you mean ‘either’?”

“You know exactly what I mean. She’s hot. I felt fire when I held her before your psycho sister‑friend punched her in the gut.”

Ethan poured himself a drink.

“Fuck her.”

“Fuck who?” Jacob snatched the glass.

“She almost killed Jennie. There was blood on her hands.”

Jacob frowned. “No. There wasn’t. I held her myself.”

“That’s what I thought too. But we were distracted. I saw it.”

“Dude… you’re messed up right now.”

“Don’t call me crazy."

“I’m not,” Jacob sighed. “Jennie did it to herself."

“That’s nonsense.”

“I saw her.”

Silence fell

“What are you saying?”

“After you warned her, she ran throwing tantrums, scattering papers. I took her to my spot, gave her water. I heard sirens, went to check on you and Anna. When I returned, my glass was gone — and so was Jennie. Only blood remained.”

Ethan stared, waiting for him to continue.

“I searched everywhere. Then I saw blood drops leading to your office. She wanted you to see her.

 To help her.”

“Oh my God…”

“If you doubt me, we can check the cameras.”

“No. I believe you. But we still need the footage. For evidence.”

“Evidence for what?”

“Her mother wants Anna arrested when she wakes. And… I won’t let anything happen to her. She’s fragile.”

Jacob smirked. “Fine. Let’s do it… for my girl.”

Ethan shot him a deadly glare and walked away.

Now was not the time for arguments.

Right now, all he could think about…

Was Anna.

Only Anna.