Free Web NovelChapter 39: Chapter 39
Riley’s POV
Everything rings in my ears loudly.
It feels like there is a sharp buzzing inside my head that won’t stop no matter how hard I try to focus. I don’t know where I am. I don’t know how long I’ve been out. My body feels heavy like it’s sunk deep into something soft, and when I try to move, nothing responds the way it should.
I struggle to open my eyes.
My eyelids feel too heavy, like they’ve been glued shut.
Voices float around me, distant and unclear.
"She’ll be fine."
"She just needs a little more sleep."
"She’ll be fine."
The words come and go like they’re not meant for me, like I’m listening through a wall.
I try again.
This time, I manage to move my fingers just a little.
The sound around me changes immediately.
"She’s moving."
A tiny voice suddenly shouts, sharp and full of relief.
"She’s waking up!"
There’s movement near me, quick footsteps, and then small hands grab onto my arm carefully, like whoever it is is afraid to hurt me.
I force my eyes open.
The light hits me hard, and I squeeze them shut again before slowly opening them once more.
The first face I see is Summer’s.
Her eyes are wide, her face bright, and she looks so relieved it almost hurts to look at her. She’s right there beside me, holding my arm like she’s afraid I’ll disappear if she lets go.
"You’re awake," she says quickly, smiling. "Thank the Goddess, you’re awake."
My throat feels dry when I try to speak.
"What... happened?" I ask, my voice coming out rough and weak.
Summer’s smile grows wider. "You’re fine. Everything’s okay now. We were quick enough to stop the accident."
Quick enough for what?
"Accident?" I repeat slowly. "What accident?"
I try to think. I try to remember the road. The car. The sound.
But the moment I push my mind too hard, a sharp pain explodes in my head.
I hiss and squeeze my eyes shut, my hand lifting instinctively to my temple.
Summer panics immediately. "Hey, hey, don’t do that. Don’t try to remember yet. The doctor said you need to take it easy."
I open my eyes again and look at her. "Where am I?"
She hesitates for half a second before answering. "You’re in the hospital." freewebnσvel.cøm
That makes my chest tighten.
"What are you doing here?" I ask her. "How did you even—"
Someone steps into my line of sight.
I look up. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Daphne.
She stands there with her arms crossed, leaning slightly against the wall, looking like she owns the entire place. Her eyes flick over me slowly, sharp and assessing, like she’s checking to see if I’m really alive.
Then she smiles.
It’s not warm. It’s not kind.
"Welcome to the fucking land of the living, Riley," she says casually. "You’ve got massive luck. I was able to save your fucking ass from your dumbshit husband."
My stomach drops.
I swallow hard and turn my head slightly away from her.
Why is she here?
Why would she save me?
As far as I know, Daphne is a monster. A killer. Someone who enjoys blood and chaos and doesn’t care who gets hurt in the process.
She notices my reaction immediately.
"Cat got your tongue?" she says, pushing herself off the wall and stepping closer. "Didn’t expect me to be the one pulling you out of that mess, did you?"
I clench my jaw.
"Well," I snap back, my voice suddenly stronger despite the pain, "you shouldn’t have saved me either. You should’ve saved yourself the fucking strength."
Summer gasps softly. "Riley—"
But I don’t stop.
I push my hands against the bed and start to sit up.
My head spins, my vision blurs for a moment, but I force myself upright anyway.
Summer immediately moves closer. "Easy," she says, her voice gentle and worried. "Please, don’t push yourself."
I look at her and manage a small smile. "I’m fine."
It’s a lie, but I don’t want her scared.
She really is beautiful. Not just in the way people usually mean it, but in a way that feels clean and untouched. Innocent. It makes me wonder what kind of world she’s grown up in to still look like this. And it makes me wonder what her connection is to the CCG brothers. And to Daphne.
"I’m really happy nothing happened to you," Summer says softly.
Daphne snorts. "How touching."
Before I can say anything else, a phone rings.
Daphne pulls her phone out of her pocket, glances at the screen, and answers it without stepping away.
"Yeah," she says. "She’s right here with me."
She pauses, listening.
"She’s good. Awake. Mouth still works."
Another pause.
"No, she doesn’t know everything yet."
My chest tightens.
She ends the call and slips the phone back into her pocket.
I lose my patience.
"Can someone explain what the actual fuck happened to me," I snap, "and why I’m in a fucking hospital?"
The room goes quiet.
Summer looks between me and Daphne, nervous.
Daphne sighs like she’s bored already. "Relax. Yelling isn’t going to knock your memories back into place."
"Then talk," I shoot back. "Because right now none of this makes sense."
She studies me for a moment, then pulls a chair closer and sits down like she’s settling in for a story.
"The car you were in got hit," she says bluntly. "Hard."
My stomach twists.
"By who?"
She tilts her head. "Take a wild guess."
I don’t want to say it.
But my silence is answer enough.
"Yes," she confirms. "Ethan."
My hands curl into fists.
"That’s not possible," I say. "He wouldn’t—"
"He would," Daphne cuts in. "And he did."
My breathing speeds up.
"He followed you," she continues. "He waited. And when he had the chance, he rammed straight into your car."
Summer speaks up quietly. "They said if it had been even a few seconds later..."
She trails off.
I feel sick.
"So why am I alive?" I ask hoarsely.
Daphne’s eyes darken slightly. "Because someone saved your damn ass by informing me."
I look at her sharply. "Who?"
She doesn’t answer right away.
Instead, she leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees.
"Let’s just say," she says slowly, "your life is way more interesting to certain people than you think."
My heart starts pounding again.
"Who?" I repeat.
She smiles again, sharp and knowing. "You really don’t want me to answer that yet."She laughs softly. "Too bad."
I swing my legs over the side of the bed, ignoring the dizziness.
"I’m leaving," I say.
Summer panics. "You can’t! The doctor—"
"I don’t care," I say. "I’m not staying here."
Daphne stands too."You’re not going anywhere without an escort," she says. "Not after that stunt."
"What stunt?" I demand.
She steps closer, lowering her voice. "Ethan didn’t miss crushing into you by accident."
The words settle heavy in my chest.
"You think he’ll try again?"
"I know he will," she says. "And next time, he won’t be sloppy."
I look away, my jaw tight.
"Why do you care so suddenly about me?" I ask quietly.
She doesn’t answer right away. When she does, her voice is different. Less sharp. Less mocking.
"Because," she says, "whether you like it or not, you’re already involved with my fucking brothers."
My skin prickles."Involved with them in what way? Look I don’t understand all these shits, I am going back to my company"
She straightens. "Well this conversation isn’t happening in a hospital room."
Summer looks between us. "Is she in danger?"
Daphne looks at her and nods once. "Yes."
Summer’s face pales.
I take a slow breath.
"Then stop talking around me," I say. "And tell me the fucking truth."
Daphne meets my gaze.
And for the first time since I met her, she looks serious.
"Alright," she says. "But once you hear it, don’t blame anyone for your fate do you understand?."
My heart pounds."I’m listening."
