Chapter 2 A Marriage Proposal

ELAINE

A sharp ringing filled my ears, and I groaned softly, my eyelids fluttering as I struggled to open them. The light was blinding, and the air was thick with the sterile scent of antiseptic.

My body felt unbearably heavy, every limb stiff and exhausted, as though I had been buried for years and only just dug up.

Where was I?

“You’re awake,” a calm voice said clearly. “Thank God. Just stay still, okay? I’ll get the doctor.”

I shifted my eyes slightly and saw it was a nurse who had spoken. She hurried out of the room, and only then did it dawn on me that I was in a hospital.

But why?

How was I still alive?

The last thing I remembered was how Chad and Angelica had betrayed me, and judging by their actions, they never intended to keep me alive after they shot me.

Moments later, the nurse returned with the doctor; a middle-aged man, with tired eyes and a reassuring voice. He checked my pupils, took my pulse, then began asking questions.

“Do you remember what happened to you?” he asked.

I nodded slowly.

“Can you tell me your name?”

“Elaine,” I whispered hoarsely. “My name is Elaine.”

“And how old are you?”

“I’m twenty-five. I was born on August eleventh.”

He gave a small, reassuring smile and jotted something down. “You’ve been in a coma for three weeks, Elaine. You were found in a ditch on the outskirts of the city by a Good Samaritan. You were unconscious when you were brought in. You had no identification on you, and no missing persons report matched your description.”

My breath stopped for a moment. “Three… weeks?”

“Yes,” he replied gently. “You suffered a gunshot wound to the back and significant trauma to your head.”

My hand trembled as I lifted it to my head and saw that the entirety of it was covered in thick bandages.

“And my baby?” I inquired, because truly, that was all that mattered.

Immediately, the room fell silent and the doctor exchanged a glance with the nurse before looking back at me, his expression softening.

“I’m very sorry, Elaine,” he said carefully. “Your baby didn’t make it.”

“No.” I shook my head weakly. “That’s not possible. I waited three years. Three whole years! Doctor, please, tell me you’re joking. My baby can’t be gone.”

“I’m so sorry,” he repeated.

A raw, guttural sob tore out of my chest as tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. My body shook violently as grief consumed me, sharper and deeper than anything I’d ever known. The pain was suffocating, uncontrollable.

And then, through my tears, I heard the familiar voice of a news anchor coming from the television mounted on the wall.

“…breaking news this afternoon as billionaire businessman and CEO Chad Stevens announces his engagement to international supermodel Angelica Hayes. This comes just weeks after the highly publicised annulment of his marriage to Elaine Ferguson, a union that sources describe as greatly troubled. The couple were spotted earlier today—”

“No!” My eyes snapped to the screen, fury exploding in my chest as I saw Chad on the TV screen, smiling confidently at the cameras. And beside him was Angelica, dressed elegantly, her hand raised proudly to display the massive diamond ring on her finger.

The room spun and tears filled my eyes.

“They…” My voice cracked as I pointed weakly at the television. “They did this. They’re the reason my baby is gone.”

“I think you need to calm down,” the nurse pleaded, moving closer.

“No! Don’t tell me to calm down,” I screamed, ripping the IV drip from my arm as blood splattered all over.

“Miss Elaine—”

“They killed my baby. They’re the reason my baby is gone! I’ll destroy them, both of them!” I vowed, swinging my legs over the side of the bed, ignoring the dizziness, the weakness and the burning ache in my body.

“I have to go,” I said hysterically. “I have to find them.”

“You can’t leave!” the doctor shouted. “You’re not stable!”

I staggered toward the door, my vision blurry, my heart racing with rage and grief, determined to bring an end to Chad and Angelica for all they had done.

As I stepped outside, my foot caught on the edge of the tile floor, and I slipped, but just as I nearly hit the ground, a hand caught me.

I gasped as I was pulled forward, colliding with a solid chest that smelled faintly of expensive cologne. Strong arms wrapped around me, holding me upright as my knees threatened to give way.

“Easy,” a deep masculine voice said calmly.

I looked up, the haze giving way to a 6’4 man with broad shoulders, an athletic build, sharp jawline and icy grey eyes that seemed to be piercing right through my very soul.

I opened my mouth to thank him, but before I could say the words, he leaned closer to me, his voice dropping low in a deliberate fashion.

“Marry me,” he said.

I stared at him, puzzled.

“And I’ll help you destroy everyone who hurt you,” he concluded.