Chapter 005

“You need to take him to the hospital, Ivy. What the hell were you thinking? What if he’s hurt? You can’t just leave him like that!”

“I know, I know. But I can’t go to the hospital. They’ll think I did this on purpose. He’s…he’s got connections, Brielle. What if he’s dead? Or seriously hurt? They’re going to want an explanation."

I glanced over my shoulder and saw Andrei deep in conversation with another well-dressed man—his lawyer or right-hand man, perhaps. After a moment, the two of them left the room together.

 Taking a deep breath, I rushed to the wardrobe, searching for something to wear over my simple shirt and jeans. I found a coat and threw it on, quickly checking the room for my shoes.

 “Ivy, you need to check his heartbeat,” I said, my voice urgent as I spoke into the phone once again. “Is he still breathing?”

“I’m so scared, Brielle… I… I can’t even go near him right now. I’m scared I might’ve killed him.”

Frustration welled up inside me. “Pull yourself together, Ivy. I can’t do anything from here. Just go check on him. Damn it, Ivy, just check his heart beat! I need to know if he’s alive or not. You can’t just leave him there!”

“I don’t know! How the fuck should I know if he’s breathing or not? I can’t go near him, Brielle. I’m too scared.” 

“Stop being such a fucking pussy, Ivy. I’m on my way. Did you check his pockets? Look for a wallet, ID—anything that tells us who this guy is. If he’s in trouble, we’re going to need to know who he is.”

 Ivy sniffled into the phone, but I could hear her getting up from the bed. “Fine, I’ll… I'll check his wallet… There’s a business card in it, and It says… Liam Carter. Carter Industries.”

I held the phone away from my ear for a moment, my mind racing. “Carter Industries?” 

My mind spun as I processed this new information. Liam Carter? Carter Industries? Could he be related to Andrei Carter? The thought sent a chill down my spine.

After a moment, I spoke again, “Ivy, listen to me. Check the news—the internet—something. See if there’s anything about Carter Industries or Liam Carter. Anything at all.

“I can’t… I can't do this all alone, Brielle.”

“Stay put, Ivy. I’ll be there as soon as I can."

"What’s with the rush, Brielle?” Andrei asked from the doorway, "There’s someone I’d like you to meet—Eva Adams. She’s my doctor. Come,” he gestured to the hallway, inviting me to follow.

I hesitated, my hand still gripping the phone. “Now?” I asked, my mind still reeling from Ivy’s confession.

“Now,” Andrei confirmed. “Why the rush to leave so quickly, my dear? We've just begun our journey as husband and wife. Shouldn't we savor this time together?”