Chapter 4

Grace Conner 

I woke up to unfamiliar voices in my ear and a subtle smell of disinfectant in my nose.

“Oh you're awake. Please don't try to move. You have sustained a bullet wound in your stomach so you might also be feeling some pain. Let me just check your vitals before I go call the doctor.”

 

The nurse checked my vitals and then with a few words of caution left the room to call the doctor.

Her absence gave me time to look around the room. The room was spacious unlike any hospital room I had seen. Except for the medical equipment that was around the bed there was a seating area to my left and a kitchenette on the right side. There was also a door in the corner which I supposed was a bathroom. 

I was barely registering anything though. Except for the fact that I remembered getting shot. I thought I died, how did I end up here?

Fuck! If they informed my family I'd be dead. 

The feeling of dread caught me. I couldn't go back there. 

My thoughts were interrupted when the door was pushed open and a woman walked in wearing black cargo pants and Grey t-shirt with the nurse following closely behind her.

“Good Evening. My name is Carla. I'm your doctor.”

The woman introduced herself with a gentle smile on her face.

I just gave a nod as I felt too weak to respond. 

She asked me some questions which I answered in either yes or no.

After she was done explaining my condition to me she asked, “Would you like us to inform your family?”

I shook my head and almost screamed a NO at her.

She looked taken aback for a moment, probably understanding my fear.

“Okay it's fine. No family. Got it. Anyone else? Any friends? Or anyone you want to inform?”

She asked. With her tone I could guess she was trying to be careful around me.

I shook my head in no again and with some effort replied to her, “I'll pay for everything. Just don't inform anyone about me. Please.” I pleaded as I was too scared of what would happen to me if my family somehow found me.

I didn't have much money but I had some saved up in a bank account that wasn't known to my family. 

Carla, hearing my words, looked back at the nurse. A silent conversation went through them before she turned her attention back to me.

“Darling, you don't have to worry about the bill. It's already paid. You just focus on your recovery and don't think of anything else.” She said with a smile on her face.

“And before I forget, what was your name again?” She asked.

“...Grace. Grace Conner.” I replied. 

She held out a hand towards me, “Well Grace it's a pleasure to meet you. Let's not worry about anything and just get better soon alright?”

I looked at her extended hand and then at her face which was smiling brightly at me.

This smile was not professional like before, it was sort of friendly. 

I shook her hand and she excused herself alone with the nurse after ensuring I was fine.

When she was gone I realised I didn't ask her about the person who paid my hospital bills.

Looking at the room, it was for sure a VIP ward. So it should've naturally cost some good money.

I at least needed to thank that person because I couldn't call my family and If I was to pay for this myself, I'm afraid my bank account would've gone empty.

With the decision to ask her about it the next time she visited me I felt myself losing consciousness as the medicine started taking effect. 

After a few hours when I woke up, my gaze instantly fell on the window that was overlooking the outside world, it was already dark.

I guess I was too exhausted to have slept this long.

I sighed and while I was gazing outside, I felt someone's eyes on me.

A very strange feeling erupted in me and with bated breath I slowly turned my head to see If there was anyone in the room. All while praying that it wasn't my family. 

But to my surprise it was neither my family nor anyone I knew. It didn't look like any hospital staff as well but I couldn't be too sure as the doctors here have a really different dress code.

It was a man, who I felt was familiar but I couldn't exactly pinpoint where. He had these dark chocolate eyes that were so deep that they looked almost black. He was sitting on the armchair with his one leg crossed over the other. Poised in a suit that fit his body snugly. And he was staring at me.

My thoughts were interrupted with a clearing of the throat. 

I felt my face go hot in embarrassment. 

“Mr. I think you are in the wrong room.” I said and saw the man casually standing up and buttoning the button of his suit.

I thought he was going to leave but to my astonishment he pulled a chair from the corner of the room and placed it beside my bed before seating himself on it.

“I don't think I'm in the wrong room, Miss Grace.”