Chapter 10

Erica lay still, her body heavy with exhaustion, her mind a haze of confusion and fear. The continuous beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound, a reminder that she was alive, even if she wasn’t entirely sure how.

She felt pain in every part of her body, a dull, throbbing ache that made her want to slip back into the arms of sleep. But she couldn’t—not now. The memories of the accident were still fresh, too vivid. The image of the vehicle hurtling toward her, the impact, the blood… it all played in her mind like a record.

A light sound at the door pulled her from the loop of her thoughts. Erica turned her head slowly, wincing at the stiffness she felt in her neck. The door creaked open, and Julian stepped into the room, his face etched with worry.

“Erica,” he breathed, relief flooding his expression as he approached her bedside. “Thank God you’re awake.”

She tried to smile, but it felt more like a frown. “Julian,” she rasped, her voice shaky. “What… what happened?”

Julian pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down, his eyes scanning her face for any sign of pain or discomfort. “You were in an accident,” he said softly, reaching out to gently take her hand. “They said it was pretty bad. You’re lucky to be alive.”

Erica closed her eyes, the memories rushing back to her in a hazy blur. “It wasn’t an accident,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Someone tried to kill me.”

Julian stiffened, his grip on her hand tightening. “What do you mean?”

She opened her eyes, meeting his concerned gaze. “The car… it came out of nowhere, Julian. They aimed for me. They wanted me dead, it wasn't just reckless driving.”

Julian’s expression darkened, his jaw clenching. “Are you sure? I mean, it could have just—”

“No,” Erica cut him off, her voice gaining strength. “I know what I saw. This wasn’t just some random accident. Someone is trying to get rid of me.”

Julian was silent for a moment, his mind clearly racing. Finally, he nodded, the resolve in his eyes hardening. “I guess I can no longer hide anymore, my bottom line has been crossed.”

Before she could respond, the door opened again, and a nurse walked in, holding a clipboard. She smiled kindly at Erica but shot a questioning look at Julian. “I need to check her vitals,” the nurse said gently, moving to the side of the bed. “You can stay, but she needs to rest.”

Julian nodded, standing to give the nurse room to work. “I’ll be right here,” he said to Erica, squeezing her hand before letting go.

As the nurse adjusted the machines and took notes, Erica’s thoughts began to swirl. Whoever was behind the attack had nearly succeeded. If she hadn’t swerved at the last moment… She shuddered, trying not to think about what could have happened.

But the thought of who might want her dead wouldn’t leave her alone. Miranda and Vivian were the most obvious suspects. They had the most to gain if Erica were out of the picture—especially with the inheritance dispute now in full swing. But the thought of either of them actually trying to kill her seemed too extreme, even for them.

“Your vitals are looking good,” the nurse said, interrupting Erica’s thoughts. “But you need to rest, dear. Your body’s been through a lot.”

Erica nodded absently, her mind still turning over the possibilities. She had to stay alert. She had to figure out who was behind this before they tried again.

Julian moved back to the chair as the nurse left, his eyes never leaving Erica’s face. “I’ve spoken to the police,” he said quietly. “They’re looking into the accident. There's no need for you to speak to them, I'll handle everything.”

Erica sighed, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on her. “Julian, what if it’s them?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly. “What if it’s Miranda or Vivian? What if they really are trying to kill me?”

Julian’s expression hardened. “They weren't after you. They know my weakness and that's you.”

“Who are ‘they’? Erica asked, this was the first time she heard him speak like this in both lives. She always knew Julian was hiding something —she had to rethink her strategies. But she also knew she couldn’t sit around and wait for the next attempt on her life. She needed to be proactive. She needed to protect herself.

“Julian,” she said, her voice firm despite the exhaustion weighing her down. “I need to get out of here as soon as I can. I can’t stay in one place for too long. It’s too dangerous.”

Julian frowned, clearly concerned. “Don't worry, I've already arranged for an in house nurse to take care of you, you are getting discharged tomorrow morning.”

She breathed, clearly relieved. Julian had changed, there was something different. Maybe this wasn't change, this might be his real self.

“I just hope he can trust me” Erica thought. 

Julian sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Alright,” he conceded reluctantly. “Get some rest, I'll get you some food in a bit.”

Erica relaxed slightly, knowing that Julian was on her side. “Thank you,” she whispered, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her.

As the adrenaline began to fade, the pain and fatigue returned with full force. Erica’s eyelids grew heavy, and despite her determination to stay awake, she felt herself slipping back into unconsciousness. Julian’s presence was a comfort, his hand warm and steady as it held hers.

“Rest, Erica,” Julian murmured, his voice soothing. “I’m here. We’ll get through this together.”

Erica’s last thought before sleep claimed her was that she wasn’t alone in this fight. With Julian by her side, she had a chance. And she would use every ounce of strength she had to survive.