Sixty Four

CHAPTER 64

Cassandra woke up slowly, her eyelids feeling heavy. An unusual warmth enveloped her body, leaving her momentarily confused. When her vision finally cleared, she noticed something that made her chest tighten. Antonio was asleep beside her, his face looking so peaceful, and, to her shock, his arm was wrapped firmly around her waist.

“Oh, my God,” Cassandra muttered softly, almost inaudibly. She cursed inwardly, scolding herself for letting this happen. How could she have fallen asleep here, next to the man who wreaked havoc on her mind? Especially after all the doubts and conflicts between them.

Doing her best not to wake Antonio, Cassandra began to move slowly. But as she tried to free herself from his embrace, Antonio’s hand shifted, gently gripping her wrist. Cassandra froze, her heart racing. She looked at Antonio’s face, which was now stirring awake. His dark eyes slowly opened, gazing directly into hers.

“Good morning,” Antonio’s voice was hoarse, probably from sleep. A faint smile appeared on his lips, making Cassandra even more uneasy.

Cassandra forced a smile, pretending to be calm. “Good morning,” she replied, even though her mind screamed at her to leave immediately.

Antonio tugged her slightly closer. “I have to leave early this morning,” he said while running a hand through his slightly tousled hair. “But before I go, I want something from you.”

Cassandra raised an eyebrow, trying to guess Antonio’s intention. “What?” she asked cautiously.

Antonio’s smile widened. “Kiss me before I leave.”

The request nearly made Cassandra choke. However, she didn’t want to show her shock. Gathering all her courage, Cassandra leaned in slightly, giving Antonio a brief kiss on the cheek. She hoped it would be enough to fulfill his request.

But Antonio shook his head gently. “Come on, Cassandra. I want a real kiss.”

Cassandra sighed inwardly. To keep the situation under control, she leaned in again, this time giving Antonio a soft kiss on the lips. He seemed satisfied, and his warm smile returned.

“Thank you,” he said before getting out of bed. He quickly grabbed the suit hanging on the chair and put it on. “Take care of yourself, Cassandra. I’ll call you later.”

Cassandra only nodded, watching Antonio leave confidently. Once the door closed, she let out a long breath, trying to calm herself. The situation earlier had been so complicated and emotional. However, there was no time to dwell on it. Cassandra needed to take her next step.

She reached for her phone, intending to call Martinez. But before she could dial the number, a strange feeling overcame her. Cassandra’s head started spinning, and a sudden wave of nausea struck her, sending her into a panic. She dropped her phone to the floor and tried to stand.

“What’s happening to me?” she muttered, her body starting to feel weak.

Cassandra rushed to the bathroom, trying to reach the toilet. Once there, she immediately vomited, her body trembling violently. Cold sweat drenched her forehead. The nausea came in relentless waves, making it nearly impossible for her to breathe.

After a few moments, she managed to steady herself enough to reach for her phone again. With trembling hands, Cassandra dialed Antonio’s number. The dial tone sounded in her ear, giving her a slight sense of relief. But before Antonio could answer, her vision blurred. The phone slipped from her grasp, and her body collapsed onto the floor.

The world around her turned dark, leaving an eerie silence.

Antonio sat in the backseat of the car, his expression as serious as ever. Ben, his driver that morning, navigated the city streets with steady hands as the city began to stir. When Antonio’s phone vibrated, he immediately picked it up. Cassandra’s name appeared on the screen, making him smile faintly before answering the call.

“Cassandra?” His voice was warm. But there was no reply on the other end. Antonio waited a few seconds before speaking again. “Cassandra, are you there?”

Silence. Antonio began to sense that something was wrong. He pressed the phone closer to his ear, trying to catch any sound, but only silence greeted him.

“Ben,” he said abruptly, his voice firm. “Turn the car around. We’re going back to the house.”

Ben glanced at Antonio through the rearview mirror, his expression uncertain. “Sir, you have an important event to attend this morning. We don’t have time to turn back.”

Antonio’s gaze turned cold, and his voice sharpened. “I said turn the car around, Ben. Cassandra might be in danger.”

Ben opened his mouth to argue, but one stern look from Antonio made him relent. Reluctantly, he steered the car into another lane, heading back toward Antonio’s house.

The drive back felt longer than usual. Antonio continuously checked his phone, attempting to call Cassandra multiple times, but there was no answer. His worry deepened with every passing minute.

When they finally arrived at the house, Antonio stepped out of the car before it had even come to a complete stop. He sprinted inside, heading straight for Cassandra’s room. The bathroom door was slightly ajar, and what he saw made his blood run cold.

Cassandra was lying unconscious on the floor, her face pale, with her phone lying nearby. Without hesitation, Antonio rushed to her side, kneeling beside her limp body.

“Cassandra!” he called out urgently, gently shaking her shoulder, but there was no response. Her breathing, however, was faint but present.

“Is she still breathing?” Ben’s voice came from behind Antonio, laced with concern.

Antonio placed two fingers on Cassandra’s neck to check her pulse. “Yes, but it’s very weak. We need to get her to the hospital now.”

Carefully, Antonio lifted Cassandra into his arms, her body feeling alarmingly light. He carried her out of the house and to the waiting car. Ben quickly opened the back door, and Antonio placed Cassandra inside gently.

“To the hospital, now!” Antonio commanded, his voice resolute.

Ben nodded without a word, immediately pressing the gas pedal. Meanwhile, Antonio sat beside Cassandra, holding her hand tightly, trying to suppress the growing fear engulfing him.

When they arrived at the nearest ER, Antonio exited the car first, calling for help. Several nurses rushed over with a stretcher, and Antonio handed Cassandra over to them. “Please, she’s unconscious and her breathing is weak,” he said, his voice urgent.

“We’ll take care of her,” one of the nurses assured him as they wheeled Cassandra inside. “Sir, you’ll need to wait outside.”

Antonio nodded reluctantly, following their instructions. Meanwhile, Ben parked the car in a safe spot before joining Antonio in the waiting area. He stood loyally by his side, silent but ready to provide support.

Minutes passed in suffocating silence. Antonio paced back and forth, occasionally gripping his phone tightly. Finally, a doctor emerged from the treatment room. Antonio quickly approached him.

“How is she?” he asked urgently, his voice filled with concern.

The doctor sighed softly. “We’ve stabilized her, but we’re waiting on the lab results to determine the exact cause of her condition. Please be patient, sir.”

Antonio nodded slowly, though the worry on his face was unmistakable. Ben patted his shoulder gently, offering silent reassurance amidst the tense uncertainty.