Chapter 5: Everhart To The Rescue

༺RAYNE༻

My eyes open groggily to find a man in a white coat standing next to me. I take in my surroundings. I inhale a deep breath when it dawns on me that I'm in a hospital.

How did I get here?

“Hello, Miss Sullivan,” the doctor speaks, observing me.

“How long have I been out?” I mumble.

“Just a few hours,” he responds. “It appears you have severe diabetes, type 1 diabetes to be exact. Your blood sugar levels were critically low but we got it under control. It seems you've been neglecting your treatment and it took a toll on your body.”

I've been expecting this to happen but I dreaded it. I've got no money for my insulin injections and other medications.

“How did I get here?”

“A man brought you in this morning. He goes by the name Liam Everhart. He covered all of your expenses and paid for your follow-up treatment and medications. He's quite concerned about your health.”

The mention of Liam's name takes me by surprise. He really paid for all of this? Why would he? He'd been so cold and angry this morning. I'm grateful he helped me out but I'm slightly angry at myself because now I'll feel indebted to him.

“Thank you, doctor,” I manage to say. “When can I leave?”

“Tomorrow morning. You'll need to come back for checkups and follow-up tests. It's important that you take care of yourself, Miss Sullivan.”

The following morning, I'm discharged from the hospital. I go to the motel where I'm staying to freshen up and maybe head to work. Just outside the motel, a familiar voice stops me dead in my tracks.

“Rayne? Oh my God! Is that you?” Hallie sashays to where I'm standing and chuckles. “It really is you! Wow, so it's true. My brother dumped you and kicked you to the slums where you belong.”

“Leave me alone, Hallie,” I mutter, turning my back to face her.

Hallie is Henry's younger twin sister. She never liked me, didn't think I was good enough for her brother. She wasn't even present at the wedding.

She moves to stand in front of me. “I don't know what Henry saw in you in the first place. But I'm glad he finally saw you for the gold-digging filth that you are.”

Hallie shifts her gaze to the motel. “Is this where you stay now?” She cackles. “You've really hit rock bottom. I never thought I'd see this day. I have to say, Rayne, this place really suits you. It's befitting of a penniless tramp.”

I've had enough.

I take a deep breath and look her straight in the eye. “At least I don't have to rely on my family's name to get by. Aren't you still living off your daddy's money, Hallie? What have you ever accomplished on your own?”

“How dare you!” she spits out. “Like you weren't living off my brother's money. And I'll have you know, I'm a successful businesswoman!”

“Really? What business is that? Acting like a stupid bitch and causing drama wherever you go like a classless skunk?”

“You're just jealous of me, Rayne. You always have been. You're a nobody and you'll always be a nobody.”

I smile, a sweet, sugary smile. “At least I'm not a pathetic, attention-seeking, entitled brat like you, Hallie. That's worth more than any amount of money or status.”

I leave her standing there, with an ugly, angry stare lingering behind me. I'd always kept quiet when Hallie talked down on me. But only out of respect for Henry. If she ever crosses paths with me again, I won't hold back.

I go inside the motel and I'm shocked when I see all of my stuff in the lobby. My bag and my clothes are scattered all over the floor. I see the owner, Mr Dennis glaring at me with his beady eyes.

“I told you this was a motel, not a charity home, Rayne. You're overdue with your payment and I'm not letting you stay here anymore. Pay up or get out!”

Oh no! This can't be happening!

“Please, Mr Dennis, I need more time. My job hasn't paid me yet and I'm—”

“Spare me the sob stories!” Mr Dennis yells, cutting me off. “You've got no money? Then get the fuck out of my motel!”

I keep pleading with him to let me stay here for a while until I can get enough money to look for some place else. But he refuses. I'm on the verge of crying and dropping to my knees when Mr Dennis goes silent. It seems he's suddenly taken pity on me.

He bridges the space between us and the anger on his face vanishes. “Actually, Rayne,“ he says in a low voice, “I might have another idea.”

“Huh?”

“If you don't have the money to pay me, you could always make it up to me...in other ways. And I'd let you stay here for as long as you want.”

I freeze and stare hard at him. His hand slowly reaches for my breast and before I know it, he's cupping me. In a flash, I slap him hard across the face.

“Don't touch me, you disgusting pig!” I scream.

He touches his cheek, his eyes shooting daggers at me. “You bitch!”

He raises his hand to hit me and I flinch, cowering backwards. But then someone yells from behind me. “Lay a finger on her and you're dead!”

I whip around to see Mr Everhart standing at the entrance. What's he doing here?

“And who the fuck are you supposed to be?” Dennis growls. “What is she to you?”

“That's none of your business.”

“Oh, it is my business, all right. This place belongs to me. And I will do whatever—”

Mr Everhart's bodyguard marches towards Dennis and grips his arm. He twists it behind his back, leaving the poor man crying. And then he swiftly knocks him to the ground, his arm now seemingly broken.

“This is madness! I'm going to call the cops!” Dennis cries. There's a crowd forming in the lobby now.

Mr Everhart replies in a calm and cool manner, “Go ahead and call them. I'm sure they'll be more than interested to hear about all of the illegal activities going on here—sex trafficking, drug sales, money laundering.”

Mr Dennis pales, his eyes darting left and right, now clearly terrified. He stammers, “Please, I...I... didn't mean to cause any trouble. I was only—”

“Save it. I've heard enough,” Mr Everhart snaps and then turns to me. “Let's go.”

I have no idea what's going on. To say I'm shocked would be an understatement. The bodyguard picks up my belongings from the lobby and gestures for me to go ahead. I follow Mr Everhart to his car.

“Get in,” he orders.

I obey and settle in the backseat of the luxurious car. He did come to my rescue, twice in two days. He sits beside me and then the car zooms off. We sit in silence. Occasionally, I throw glances his way. He may be the same person but he's nothing like the man I slept with.

He's colder, much more serious and grim. It's like he's incapable of feeling any emotion other than anger and indifference. I know for sure he remembers what happened between us but he's intent on pretending. But that's not my concern right now.

A million thoughts are running through my mind. Why is he here? How did he know where I was? And why did he go out of his way to help me? What does he want exactly?

I can't keep quiet anymore. I'm anxious and curious to know what's happening. “Mr Everhart,” I peep out. “Thank you for helping me. And thank you for yesterday. I promise to pay back as soon as I get the money.”

No response.

“Um, how did you know I was staying at that motel?”

Still no response. He doesn't even spare me a glimpse.

“Where are you taking me?”

And of course, no response.

I let out a frustrated grunt. Is this man for real? I'm starting to feel irked and angry. He's deliberately ignoring me. I'm about to speak again when he finally breaks the silence.

“You don't need to pay me back.” His voice is flat and emotionless.

“Okayyyy. And where are we—”

The bodyguard's voice interrupts me, “We've reached city hall, boss.”

I gasp and stare through the window. “City hall? Why have you brought me here?”

Mr Everhart finally looks at me and leans closer. Too close, I breathe in his cologne. “I've given this a lot of thought, Miss Sullivan. You're sick and homeless.”

Yeah, like I didn't already know that.

“You need money badly. And I've got more than enough to spare,” he adds, reaching for a document.

“What has that got to do with you bringing me here?”

“Miss Sullivan,” he heaves and pauses for a while before saying, “We're getting married.”