Chapter 8: Four in the Morning

[Giana’s POV]

—

A week later.

“Are you seriously going to take me to the airport? Aren’t you sleepy?” I asked as I dragged my suitcase behind her car.

“Let me do it! Pregnant women shouldn’t be carrying heavy things,” she said with a smile.

Mel opened the trunk and put my suitcase inside. She yawned widely, then checked the watch on her wrist.

“Of course I’m sleepy, but how could I let you leave on your own?”

I got into the car and sat beside her, fastening my seatbelt properly. Mel started the car, and we left at exactly four in the morning.

I had already taken some anti-nausea medicine so I wouldn’t feel too sick during the journey. The airport I was leaving from wasn’t actually that far, less than thirty minutes by car. The roads were still dark. Music played inside the car, filling the silence between us.

“Mel,” I tried to start a conversation to keep her awake, “about that case…”

“Ah, don’t worry. I’ll try to settle the dispute with your stepmother as quickly as possible so you can take back your late father’s house and return to this city soon,” she said while driving.

“Thanks.”

“But like I said yesterday, when I say as quickly as possible, don’t expect it to be resolved within a month or two. Inheritance disputes usually take a long time and involve a lot of delays. Usually, the opposing party will drag things out, file appeals, and use all kinds of strategies.”

“I know. Especially since I know exactly what Morgana is like.”

That wicked stepmother of mine. I still couldn’t believe Dad had left the house to her after only a few years of marriage.

I already have enough funds to cover attorney fees and a lengthy legal battle.

Plus, with the payment I’ll receive from Axel, even if all my plans fail, I’ll have enough money to buy it myself.

“By the way, Giana, do you recognize the car behind us?”

I reflexively turned around. The road was fairly empty because it was still early in the morning, but there was a black SUV driving not far behind Mel’s car. For a moment, I tried to remember whether I had seen it before.

“No. Why?”

“Maybe it’s just my imagination, but that car seems to be following us.”

“You’re sure? Since when?”

“Mm-hm, from the beginning?” Mel frowned.

My thoughts immediately went to Axel. He had done the same thing last week, parking his car near Mel’s house and waiting for me. But a mid-range SUV like that was clearly not his style. Still, I wanted to make sure for myself.

I took my phone and immediately searched for Axel’s number. It didn’t take long to find it, because this new phone and new number only had Mel and Axel’s numbers saved.

“Giana? What’s wrong? It’s unusual for you to call me first.”

I could hear his voice, still hoarse, and the sleepy tone in it.

“What are you doing?”

“Sleeping, obviously. You wouldn’t call me just to ask what I’m doing, would you?”

It wasn’t Axel.

“Giana, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. You sound sleepy, so go back to sle–”

“No, tell me. What’s going on?”

I bit my lip, wondering whether I should tell him about this. There was no proof that the black SUV following us was anything more than a coincidence, or that someone from the Windsor family was tailing me.

But besides Axel, who in the Windsor family would care about where I was now?

Jasper clearly wouldn’t, let alone his parents. Our business was over, and they had nothing to gain from following me.

I ended the call.

“Who did you call?” Mel asked.

“No one. I was just checking on something.”

I was starting to feel uneasy.

“Mel, can you drive a little faster?”

“Sure.” Mel stepped on the gas and sped up.

I noticed the black SUV behind us speeding up as well, maintaining the same distance. This was no coincidence. The black SUV was really following us.

I ignored my phone, which was showing an incoming call from Axel. I didn’t have time for that.

As we approached the underpass, Mel sped up even more. As if she understood what I was worried about. She wanted to get away from the car.

The streetlights disappeared one by one, replaced by the dim yellow glow of the concrete lights. The sound of the engine grew louder. In the rearview mirror, I saw the car getting closer, moving faster.

It was no longer maintaining its distance. As if it had been waiting for this moment, it rammed into our car.

The tires screeched loudly. The impact on the left side of the car nearly sent me flying out of my seat. Instinctively, I held onto my stomach.

“Damn it!” Mel cursed.

Her car spun slightly before stopping in the middle of the road. Mel rolled down the window and shouted at the black SUV as it drove away.

“Are you okay, Giana?” she asked, checking on me even though she also looked like she wasn’t doing well.

“I’m not hurt,” I said, trying to reassure her.

“Your stomach—I mean, the baby. How is the baby?”

“Just a little jolt. It seems fine.”

I held my stomach. No cramps. No sensation of blood flowing out. But my mind still wasn’t completely at ease.

Mel nodded, then got out of the car while answering her ringing phone, though I had no idea who was calling. She looked over the condition of the car, then got back inside.

“I’m sorry, Giana, but I don’t think I can take you to the airport.”

Of course. Her car was smoking and had broken down in the middle of the road.

“It’s okay. We’re almost there. There are plenty of taxis around. I’ll be fine.”

“Ah, Axel called me earlier. He said he couldn’t reach you.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I just told him I didn’t know. My car had just been hit, so I was busy, then I hung up.”

I nodded. Her answer was safe enough.

Mel took my suitcase out of the car, its side dented from the impact.

“Gosh. Sorry, your suitcase got damaged,” she said, looking guilty.

“It’s okay. I’m the one who should apologize, I think your car got hit because of me. I’m really sorry, Mel. I’ll cover the damage.”

“How is that your fault? Were you the one driving the hit-and-run car?” Mel scoffed. “I know this is highly suspicious. You don’t need to worry. I’m a lawyer, remember? I’ll report it to the police and ask them to investigate. There’s a dashcam, and I remember the car’s license plate. I won’t let them get away with it.”

I felt a little relieved hearing that.

Mel turned her face away, then flagged down a passing taxi. “Go. You’ll be late for your flight. Or do you want to go to the hospital first?”

I shook my head. I thought I didn’t need to rush to the hospital. What I needed to do was leave as quickly as possible. If this city was too dangerous, I needed to get away immediately.

The car began to move. I waved back at Mel as she waved at me. I took a deep breath before checking my phone. One message from Axel.

[You need to go to the hospital.]