Chapter 5

Lucy’s POV

I couldn’t get the words on Ash’s phone screen out of my head. Which also plays with the man I just saw standing close to me.

“The plan worked. She’s out of the way.”

The meaning was clear, and the venom in her smirk when she caught me looking only confirmed it. She wanted me gone. But what plan? How deep did this go? And why the hell was Andy still entertaining her after everything she’d done?

I bit back the urge to scream. The pain in my ribs was a sharp reminder that I was in no position to confront her now. But I wasn’t going to let her win. Not here, not ever.

Ash lingered in the room for a moment longer, her fingers idly scrolling on her phone, pretending as if she hadn’t just dropped a bomb in my lap. Andy glanced between us, clearly uncomfortable.

“Ash, maybe you should go,” he said finally, his voice tense.

“Why?” she replied, feigning innocence. “I just wanted to make sure Lucy was okay. After all, I wouldn’t want the poor thing to think I don’t care.”

The sarcasm in her tone was unmistakable, and it was all I could do not to lunge at her. Instead, I mustered every ounce of self-control and forced a tight smile.

“I’m fine,” I said, my voice icy. “But thank you for your concern.”

Ash’s smirk deepened. “Of course. You rest up now. You’ll need your strength.”

With that cryptic remark, she sauntered out of the room, leaving Andy and me in tense silence.

I turned my head slowly, wincing at the sharp pain in my neck. Andy was sitting in the chair beside my bed, staring at his hands like a guilty child.

“You let her walk all over me,” I said, my voice low but firm.

Andy flinched, looking up at me with wide eyes. “Lucy, I—”

“Save it,” I snapped. “I don’t want your excuses. I want answers.”

He hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. “What do you mean?”

“I saw her phone, Andy,” I said, my voice trembling with restrained anger. “She’s plotting something, and you’re either too blind or too stupid to see it. So tell me—what’s going on?”

Andy ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched across his face. “Lucy, you’re imagining things. Ash has her flaws, sure, but she’s not—”

“Not what?” I cut him off. “Not capable of manipulating you? Not capable of trying to push me out of the picture?” I leaned forward as much as my body allowed, my voice dropping to a whisper. “She’s using you, Andy. And the worst part? You’re letting her.”

He didn’t respond, but the flicker of guilt in his eyes told me I’d struck a nerve.

I lay back against the pillows, my heart pounding. “You need to decide whose side you’re on,” I said quietly. “Because I’m not going to sit here and let her ruin my life.”

Andy stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. “I need some air,” he muttered, heading for the door.

“Of course you do,” I said bitterly, watching him leave without another word.

The room fell silent, save for the steady beeping of the heart monitor. I clenched my fists, anger and frustration boiling inside me. I couldn’t rely on Andy anymore—if I ever could. If I was going to uncover the truth about Ash and protect myself, I’d have to do it alone.

---

Hours passed, and the hospital grew quiet as night fell. I pretended to sleep when the nurses came in, biding my time. By midnight, I was ready.

Carefully, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, biting down on my lip to keep from crying out as pain shot through my ribs. I grabbed the IV pole for support and slowly made my way to the door.

I had no clear plan, but I knew I couldn’t just sit there. Ash was up to something, and if I stayed passive, she’d win.

The hallway was dimly lit, and I shuffled as quietly as I could toward the exit. My heart raced with every step, half-expecting someone to stop me, but the hospital seemed eerily empty.

I made it to the elevator and pressed the button, leaning heavily on the pole as I waited. The doors slid open, and I stepped inside, wincing as the motion jostled my ribs.

When I reached the ground floor, I slipped out through the side entrance, the cool night air hitting my face like a wake-up call. My mind was spinning, trying to figure out where to start.

And then I saw her.

Ash was standing in the parking lot, her phone pressed to her ear, pacing back and forth. Her voice was low, but I could make out enough to know she was up to no good.

“She’s not going to be a problem much longer,” she said, her tone smug. “Andy’s practically eating out of my hand. He’ll do whatever I say and whatever I want him to do, his mine".

Soon a man walked into the room, with a serious look and an hospital coat.

He looked like man I saw before passing out yesterday.

" How you doing, Lucy?" He asked

" Good and you, " he smiled.

" Same, "

" Who are you? "

" I'm Daniel."