Chapter 2 The crash and the stranger
Mrs. Thorne watched with a satisfied expression. “Well, she drawled, lifting her teacup. “I suppose that settles that, the matter is closed you can go back to whatever you were doing before the anniversary. No need for drama.” She said, getting up from her chair. “Clean up this glass, before it injures me and tell the cook to make me a light breakfast.”
Elara didn't respond to her. She just turned and walked away. She needed air that wasn't as suffocating as this place. She took her car key, and ran out into the midnight rain. She entered into her car and drove off without a destination.
She was just driving without knowing where to go, her mind on the betrayal, humiliation, and wasted years. She was driving too fast when a shadow suddenly entered into the road, forcing her to pull the wheel. The car changed and ran sideways into a massive electric pole.
The world went black. Elara thorne crashed her car against the electric pole and lost consciousness.
The first thing Elara noticed was a continuous beeping sound close to her ear. It was insistent. She opened her eyes, but they felt heavy and they hurt.
The room was white and smelled of anticeptic. Her head pained her and she was laying in a hospital bed. Her left arm was bandaged and her right hand was taped to an IV drip.
A kind middle-aged woman adjusting the curtain noticed her waking. “Well, hello there, sleeping beauty,” the nurse said, coming closer and checking the iv line.
“You made us so scared. How are you feeling dear? Your vitals look steady”
Elara tried to talk, but her throat was dry. “Water” she rasped.
The nurse immediately gave her a straw and a cup of ice chips. “Better” she asked.
“What… What happened?”
“You had a little argument with a concrete electric pole dear.” The nurse explained, adjusting her pillow. “ You were unconscious when they brought you in.”
“It was a nasty accident, but you're quite the lucky girl. Just a severe concussion a few cracked ribs and some deep bruising. Everything else is mostly bumps and scrapes.”
“How…How long?” Elara asked her voice still weak.
“You have been out for about seven hours. It's almost 10 am. You are at Crestview's private. We managed to locate your emergency contacts very quickly.”
Elara's mind immediately jumped to Damien. He must be here. He must have rushed down even if he was still annoyed by her call he came.
“And my husband,” Elara, searched the room desperately. “Did he arrive?”
The nurse paused her expression, changing to pity. “No, honey, nobody matching that description has checked in.
We have only one visitor early this morning. He has been waiting for you to wake up.”
Elara looked at the Visitor's chair in the corner of the room. A man sat there reading a magazine. He looked completely at ease, wearing a designer suit, but looked out of place in the hospital.
The nurse leaned, closed, and whispered,“That's Mr. Hayes. He's the one who saw you and brought you in. He insisted on waiting until you were conscious. I told him he should go home, but he disagreed.”
The nurse left to check the vitals monitor. Elara watched the man. He was a stranger who stayed to check on her. The nurse's movement attracted his attention.
Julian Hayes closed the magazine and stood up, moving towards the bedside with smooth grace. “Miss Vance,” he said, his voice deep, polite, and authoritative.
Elara stared, “You…you brought me here.”
“I did,” Julian replied, stopping a respectable distance from the bed.
“I was driving the other way when the accident occurred. It was very violent. I'm glad to see you awake.”
“I didn't understand why you…you stayed.”
Julian smiled briefly. “Well, yes, I did. After making sure that the police report was handled and the insurance details submitted, it seemed right to wait until were fully checked. I didn't want you to wake up in a strange place alone.”
“I…I must thank you.” Elara murmured. “You're very kind.”
“It was just the right thing to do, Miss. Vance,” he said. “The staff here is excellent. You are in good hands.”
Immediately, the door opened with a sudden force.
“Elara!” Alexander Vance came into the room, followed by a worried nurse. Alexander ignored the nurse, his eyes on his sister, relief washing over his face.
“Thank God,” Alexander exhaled immediately, coming to the bed. “I flew in immediately Father called me. Are you alright? What kind of idiot drives into a pole?”
Elara managed a weak smile. “The very best kind, Alex. I'm sorry." Alex held her hand tightly. "Don't apologize. You need to focus on healing, now.”
“Who is this?” Alexander looked up and recognized Julian.
“Julian, Hayes?”Alexander stepped back, extending a hand.
“I didn't realize. What a coincidence. Julian, this is my sister, Elara.” Julian shook Alex's hand firmly.
“Alex, it's good to see you, although I wish it were under a good circumstances. I was just leaving. I found your sister unconscious at the accident site and brought her here.”
Alex's face darkened, but his voice was calm. “You have my earnest gratitude. Julian, we owe you a huge debt.”
“Nonsense, Julian replied. “I was just lucky to be at the scene. Elara needs rest. Please take care of yourself, Miss Vance and Alex. I look forward to seeing more of you now that I'm back in the country.”
Julian nodded once to Elara. Then turned and left the room. Alex sat on the visitor's chair in the room.
“You were more than lucky, Elara. That man is Julian Hayes, one of the few brilliant minds in this country who hasn't been bought out by the old families. He just returned from years abroad. He's a silent and quiet type, doesn't like drama.”
“To think that you survived your marriage only for it to send you crashing into a pole, you need to leave that marriage before something worse happens.”
Elara looked at the doorway Julian just used, but she needed to know about Damien. “Alex,” she whispered. “Damien, has he come to check on me? Does he know I am here?”
