Chapter 1 Narrow Escape
“Thornfort Time: 00:30. A passenger plane bound for Steelville has crashed during landing. The death toll has risen to 136, with only three survivors reported so far.”
The live news blaring from the hospital’s large screen yanked Eliana Harrell back to reality.
She was one of the survivors, bruised and battered, lying in the ICU with bandages wrapped around her legs.
Her grip tightened around her phone as the automated message played once again. “The wireless customer you are calling is not available. Please try again later.”
Since the crash, Xavier Hogan, her husband in name only, hadn’t answered a single call.
The tragedy had shaken the country. There was no way he didn’t know.
Wreckage and bodies had lain across the site, Even now, the terror of nearly dying clung to her, suffocating.
Yet the man she had been married to for three years was ghosting her when she needed him most..
A chill of disappointment settled in her chest.
A while later, her phone rang, breaking through her daze. Her heart leaped, only to sink when she saw the name flashing on the screen: Irene.
Eliana picked up, her voice hoarse. “Hello.”
“Ellie!” Irene Hogan’s voice came sharp with worry. “You nearly gave me
Chapter 1 Nam
Namow Escape
a heart attack! Are you okay? Is Xavier with you?”
Irene was Xavier’s grandmother, the only one in his powerful dynasty who had ever truly cared about her.
“He…”
That pause was enough for Irene to understand. “That idiot! You worked overseas for him, ended up in the ICU, and he hasn’t even shown his face? Just wait. I’m gonna teach him a lesson.”
After a pause, she asked, “Which hospital are you in? I’ll send the butler to pick you up.”
Eliana gave her the address, and then the call ended.
She looked down, reached for the IV, pulled it out, and pushed herself out of bed despite the pain.
“You shouldn’t be up yet. Your leg needs rest!”
A nurse walked in for a routine check, trying but failing to stop her.
“Just get me a pair of crutches. I’m checking out,” Eliana said.
Her gaze was steady and firm.
The Hogan’s mansion would be a better place for recovery.
And she had work to do. As the CEO’s secretary at the Hogan Group, she had flown to Plymbourne to check the medical expo setup and personnel. The reports–needed filing immediately.
More than that, she needed to find Xavier and see what was keeping him so busy.
The nurse could only hand her the crutches. Eliana took them without hesitation and limped out of the room, heading down the corridor.
Chapter 1 Narrow Escape
Through the glass wall in the hall, a familiar license plate caught her eye. A convoy of luxury cars followed.
It was from the Hogan Group.
Several men stepped out, surrounding Xavier protectively. He wore a sharp black suit and carried a woman in his arms, his coat draped over her bare legs. It was obvious how much he cherished her.
Xavier hurried straight for the hospital entrance, not even noticing Eliana.
Eliana stood frozen, watching as he took her into the specialist clinic.
Since their marriage, Eliana had never seen him like this so gentle and
caring.
“Who is this woman?” she wondered.
Maybe it didn’t matter. The hurt alone was enough to take her breath
away.
Then two nurses passed by, whispering to each other. “Wait, is that really the Hogan Group heir? The one all over the financial reports? Damn, he’s so manly! I never thought I’d see him here. He’s here for his girlfriend’s maternity check–up.”
“Maternity check–up? You sure?” the other asked.
“Yep. The report says the baby is twelve weeks, but it’s not stable. She was bleeding earlier today, so Mr. Hogan rushed her in.
Twelve weeks. The timing clicked, and Eliana’s mind started racing.
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