Chapter 70

NADIA'S POV

She quickly poured it over her arms and face, smearing it to look like blood. Then, she collapsed onto the ground, moaning as if in pain.

"Perfect," I muttered under my breath, impressed by her performance.

Carl’s truck roared to life, and he drove it straight toward Alisha’s car. The massive vehicle hit the red car with a deafening crash, sending it tumbling down the hill. The sound of metal crunching against rocks echoed through the air.

Carl didn’t wait to admire his handiwork. He hit the gas, speeding away from the scene.

I turned my attention back to Richard’s car. The fallen branch had dislodged from his windshield, but the damage was done. His car was stationary now, the engine still running but the front hood crumpled.

Through the cracked glass, I saw him moving, as he was unhurt. He opened the door and stepped out, his face was full of confusion and concern.

His eyes scanned the scene, landing on the empty road where the red car had been earlier before stumbling down the hills. Then, he spotted Alisha lying on the ground, her body motionless.

"Miss?" I heard him call out, his voice laced with urgency.

He began moving toward her, his steps quickening as he realized she wasn’t getting up.

From my hiding spot, I watched everything unfold, my heart still wasn't at peace in my chest.

I crouched lower behind the bushes, my eyes glued to the scene unfolding before me. Richard had rushed out of his car and was now kneeling beside Alisha.

She lay motionless on the ground, her face pale and streaked with the fake blood we’d applied earlier.

"Miss, can you hear me?" Richard’s voice was urgent as he leaned over her.

Alisha groaned weakly, her performance flawless.

"Stay with me," Richard said, his hands trembling as he shook her gently. "You’re going to be okay. Can you open your eyes?"

She let out another groan, barely moving.

Richard didn’t hesitate. He slid his arms under her, lifting her as if she weighed nothing. His face was a mixture of worry and determination as he carried her toward his car.

"Don’t worry," he murmured, more to himself than to her. "I’ll get you help. Just hold on."

I stayed hidden, watching as he carefully placed her in the front seat of his car. He adjusted the seat to make her as comfortable as possible, his movements precise and full of care.

"Hang in there," he whispered before closing the door and rushing to the driver’s side.

The engine roared to life, and Richard’s car sped off, heading toward the city.

I grabbed my phone, my fingers flying over the screen as I called Bella and Ella, one of my accomplices who worked as a nurse at the Elite Hospital.

"Bella," I said as soon as she picked up, "Richard is on his way. He’s bringing Alisha with him."

"Understood," Bella replied, her voice calm but firm. "We’ll be ready."

"Good," I said. "Make sure everything goes according to plan. I’ll be there soon."

I ended the call and stood up, brushing leaves and dirt off my clothes. The road was quiet now, the chaos of the accident replaced by an unnatural stillness.

I moved quickly, retrieving the small cameras I had hidden on the trees. Each one was intact, their lenses capturing everything that had happened.

Satisfied, I slipped them into my bag and sprinted toward my car, which I had parked a short distance away to avoid suspicion.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, I started the engine and pulled onto the road. My eyes scanned the road until I spotted Richard’s car in the distance.

"Got you," I muttered under my breath as I followed him.

The drive to the hospital felt like an eternity, though I kept a safe distance to avoid being noticed.

Richard’s car weaved through the morning traffic with a sense of urgency, his concern for Alisha evident in the way he sped through intersections.

I stayed back, keeping my movements calculated. My heart pounded as I imagined what was going through his mind. Did he suspect anything? Was he starting to piece things together?

Finally, the Elite Hospital came into view. It was a towering building, its glass façade shining in the sunlight. I parked a block away, keeping my eyes on Richard as he pulled up to the emergency entrance.

The moment he stepped out of the car, two nurses in crisp uniforms rushed toward him, pushing a rolling hospital bed. It was Bella and Ella, the other nurse I had recruited for this operation.

"Help her, please!" Richard shouted, his voice desperate.

Ella nodded, her face a picture of professionalism. "We’ve got her, sir. Step back, and we’ll take care of her."

Richard carefully laid Alisha onto the bed, his hands moving for a moment as if reluctant to let go.

"She was in an accident," he explained quickly. "She needs immediate attention."

"We’ll handle it," Claire assured him, adjusting the straps to secure Alisha.

They wheeled her inside, their movements swift and practiced. Richard hesitated for a moment before following them into the hospital.

I stayed in my car, my heart racing. Everything was going according to plan. Now, all I had to do was wait.

What Richard didn’t know was that every step he took from here was carefully planned. And soon, he’d find himself trapped in a web he couldn’t escape.

ALISHA'S POV

“I didn’t mean to,” Richard said quietly, his eyes full of guilt. “I swear, I didn’t mean to hit her.”

The sound of his voice echoed in my mind as I lay still on the hospital bed. My body was sore from the supposed injury, but it wasn’t real. I wasn’t actually hurt. It was all part of the plan.

Ella and Bella, the nurses, had been so careful. They had trained me well, taught me how to act the part, how to make it all believable. But the plan was delicate. One mistake could ruin everything. I had to stay in character, and so did they.