Free Web NovelChapter 131: Why are you in my room
As Julian walked inside, Emily slipped out into the hallway. She saw Ethan and ran into his arms, kissing him. The stress of the day finally broke, and she needed to feel his arms around her.
Inside the room, Lyvana was asleep, her face looking pale against the pillows. Julian sat beside her, his heart heavy. He reached out and gently moved a strand of hair away from her face.
His touch was light, but her eyes snapped open and she pulled back, looking at him.
"Who are you?" she asked, softly. "Why are you in my room?"
Julian froze. He wanted to tell her he was the man who loved her. He wanted to tell her they were going to be a family. But seeing the confusion in her eyes, he knew the truth would only scare her more.
"I’m a friend," Julian said instead. "I helped bring you here. You’re safe now, Lyvana."
She nodded, then drifted off to sleep. Julian watched her sleep.
Later, Lyvana blinked against the harsh fluorescent lights overhead. She tried to sit up, but her head spun.
"Don’t," a deep voice said beside her. It was low and firm.
She turned her head. A man sat in the chair beside her bed. He had disheveled hair and a handsome face, but there was a bruise blossoming high on his cheekbone. He looked like he’d been through hell and dragged someone back with him.
Just then, a nurse stepped into the room. She checked the monitors and smiled gently. "Glad to see you’re awake. The doctor will be in to see you shortly."
The nurse stepped closer to the bedside. "Can you tell me your name?" she asked, checking Lyvana’s wristband.
"Lyvana," she said hoarsely.
"Good. And do you know what day it is?"
Lyvana blinked, her mind slow to catch up. "Um... no. Not really."
"That’s okay," the nurse said kindly. "You’ve been through a lot. Do you feel any dizziness? Nausea? Pain anywhere?"
"A little dizzy," Lyvana mumbled.
The nurse nodded and made a note. "I’ll let the doctor know. Just rest for now and try to keep your head still."
Lyvana looked back at the man in the chair. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her even once.
When the nurse left, Julian got up and walked to the bed. He noticed her leaning uncomfortably against the hard plastic of the headboard. Without a word, he reached behind her, his large hands gently lifting her shoulders so he could fluff the pillow and reset it.
As he lowered her back down, his face was just inches from hers. Everything else seemed to disappear. Lyvana looked into his dark eyes and felt his warm breath on her cheek.
She felt her face get hot. She looked away quickly, blushing deeply. It was strange, she didn’t know this man, but her body was reacting to him like they were very close.
"Thank you..." she mumbled. "I don’t even know your name."
"Julian."
"Thank you, Julian. My grandma said, you found me."
He gave a small nod.
"Do you know who kidnapped you?" fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
She shook her head slowly, a crease forming between her brows.
"Everything is blank."
She looked up at him. Every part of his face was sharp and perfect. There were shadows under his eyes, showing he hadn’t slept all night.
He was tall, definitely like six feet, with a strong, lean body. He looked like he could be a model... or someone much more dangerous.
Lyvana felt her heart skip a beat.
You’re engaged, stop this. She told herself.
"I need to go. I will see you when you get home."
Lyvana nodded, watching him walk away. Even though she was confused, she felt a strange sense of loss as he closed the door.
At that same time, at the Grant estate, something unexpected was happening.
A black car pulled up to the front of the massive house. A woman stepped out, smoothing her expensive coat. She looked at the building with a cold, triumphant smile. She had been gone for years, and the world, including her former husband, thought she was in a grave.
Zara had arrived at the front doors.
The head butler opened the door and froze. "M—Madam? It can’t be."
Zara didn’t wait for an invitation. She stepped into the grand marble foyer, her heels clicking loudly against the floor.
"Is the Chairman in?" she asked. "Tell him his wife has come home."
"Zara?"
The voice belonged to Eleanor, who had just stepped into the foyer. She froze, her hand flying to her mouth in shock.
Zara turned slowly, her eyes raking over Eleanor with pure disdain. "Eleanor. Fancy seeing you after all these years. I see you’ve been busy enjoying my husband’s wealth."
Eleanor’s face went pale, but she found her voice. "Your ex-husband, Zara. He searched for you everywhere... we all did. You were gone."
"Searched?" Zara’s laugh was cold and sharp. She took a step closer, invading Eleanor’s space. "Or did he just stop looking the moment it became easier to pretend I was dead?"
Eleanor’s face stayed pale, but her eyes sparked with anger. "You made everyone believe it, Zara. You left us with nothing but questions. What do you want? Why come back after all these years?"
"I came back because I want the Chairman to explain why he tried to have me killed."
"He never tried to kill you!" Eleanor said. "He cared about you. It nearly destroyed him when you disappeared."
"Well, someone did," Zara countered. She tilted her head, her gaze raking over Eleanor’s expensive jewelry. "If it wasn’t my husband... then perhaps it was you."
"That’s ridiculous," Eleanor said frowning. "Why would I ever want to kill you?"
Zara’s lips curled into a slow, mocking smile.
"Because as long as I was breathing, there was always the possibility I would get back together with my husband. You wanted my life, Eleanor. You wanted my husband, my title, and my bed." Zara leaned in closer, her eyes turning ice-cold. "And looking at you now, it seems you were the only one who truly profited from my death."
"Need I remind you, that I was already married to the chairman before you disappeared."
Zara only shrugged. "Wife, mistress, caretaker... call yourself what you like. Either way, I’m back. And I need to speak with him, about his son Andrew Thorne."
