Chapter 4

Amelia slowly opened her eyes and stretched her arms, feeling the softness of the sheets surrounding her. She sat up and looked around the luxurious room, taking in the elegance of the furniture and the beautiful paintings hanging on the walls. A gentle knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

"Good morning, ma'am," a voice called from outside. "Breakfast is ready for you."

She got out of bed and made her way to the door. As she opened it, the smell of freshly brewed tea and warm toast wafted in. She followed the aroma down the grand staircase, admiring the ornate banisters and gleaming marble floor.

In the dining room, a table was set with a variety of breakfast items, including a hearty sandwich and a steaming cup of tea. Amelia sat down quietly, taking a sip of the hot beverage and savoring its rich flavor.

As she ate, she asked one of the maids, "Where's Andrew?" not as if she cared.

"He had an urgent meeting to attend this morning, ma'am," the maid responded. 

She was silent as she sipped her tea, savoring her breakfast, when the sound of a man's footsteps rushing into the dining room caught her attention. She looked up to see one of her husband's security guards, a look of concern etched on his face.

"Ma'am," he said, catching his breath. "I'm afraid Mr. Reynolds has been involved in an incident" 

Amelia's hand shook as she set down her teacup. She felt a wave of fear wash over her, and she could barely get the words out. "I-I don't understand. What happened?" 

He hesitated, then spoke. "He was in a car accident, ma'am. I'm afraid it's serious."

Amelia's mind was racing. She had just been married to her husband, a ruthless billionaire, for barely 48 hours, and she had no idea what was happening. 

She rushed upstairs to grab a pair of more casual clothes and ran back downstairs.

The security guard was waiting for her at the door, a look of concern on his face. "Ma'am, we need to go," he said, holding the door open for her.

Amelia nodded, her mind focused solely on getting to the hospital. She climbed into the back of a Rolls Royce Phantom, one of her dream cars, but was too confused to notice it at the moment. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess. 

The journey to the hospital felt interminable, but they finally pulled outside the emergency entrance. 

She stepped out of the car and followed him through the bustling hospital. The sounds of beeping machines and muffled voices filled her ears as she made her way to Andrew's VIP room. 

She pushed open the door, her heart in her throat, as she saw him lying in the hospital bed, surrounded by machines and doctors.

The doctors turned to her as she approached, their expressions solemn. "Are you Mrs. Reynolds?"

Amelia nodded, her voice caught in her throat. She had only been married to Andrew for less than 48 hours, and now she was at his bedside in the hospital.

The doctor's following words took her breath away. "I'm afraid your husband is in a coma, and his chances of making it are extremely slim."

As she heard the news, part of her felt relieved that she might finally be free from Andrew and her arranged marriage. But another part of her felt sad at the thought of him dying.

She stood there for a moment, silent, as she tried to process the news. The doctors watched her, their expressions sympathetic, as she struggled with her feelings. She didn't know what to do or how to feel.

She was still trying to process the news that her husband was in a coma and her mind in a jumbled mess of conflicting emotions. When the door to the hospital room opened, a tall man walked in. 

He approached Amelia, his expression serious. "We heard the news." He said.

Amelia stared at him, her shock evident on her face. She didn't know who this man was or why he was there.

"Who are you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man looked at her with kind eyes and said, "I'm your husband's brother, Alexander. I'm sorry to have to meet you under these circumstances."

"Oh!" she drew out.

"The accident was planned. Andrew has many enemies," he said gravely. "We don't know who tried to kill him. It could be anyone." 

Amelia stared at him, shocked. She knew Andrew Reynolds was a powerful and ruthless man, but she never thought his life would be in danger. 

"Why would someone want to kill him?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Alexander sighed. "For business, for revenge, for power. He's offended many people over the years, and some want him dead at all costs

Amelia's head was spinning. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had married a man she hardly knew, and now she was in the middle of a dangerous situation. 

"What if someone tries to kill me too?" She asked, with fear roaming all over her face.

Alexander looked at her with concern. "I know this is a lot to take in. But I promise I'll do everything I can to protect you and Andrew." 

She was still trying to absorb everything Alexander had just told her, and Andrew was lying unconscious on the bed, hooked up to a network of beeping machines. When the door suddenly opened and another man walked in. 

He greeted Alexander and turned to Amelia, who was staring at him in surprise. 

"And you are?" Amelia asked with a tired gaze, staring at the man in confusion.

He turned to Amelia, stretching out his hand in introduction. "I'm Finn, your husband's lawyer," he said with a smile.

Amelia was shocked and turned to Alexander, her eyes wide. "Lawyer, for what?" she asked, her voice breaking.

Alexander exchanged a quick look with the lawyer before turning back to Amelia. "He's here to discuss some important legal matters regarding your husband's health and financial situation," he explained.

The lawyer stepped forward. "Don't worry, Mrs. Reynolds; I'm here to guide you through this process and ensure your husband's interests are protected."

"In the meantime," the lawyer continued, "someone will need to be in charge of his businesses. I'm here to say that someone will have to be you, Amelia ."

Amelia stared at the lawyer in confusion, her mind racing. "What do you mean? I don't know anything about his businesses."

The lawyer sighed. "I understand how overwhelming this must be, but you're the only one who can do this. He had a plan in place in case of an emergency, and you're the one he designated to take over."

"Me? I don't understand." She questioned further, turning over to Alexander. "Why did he choose me? I don't understand. We've only been married for less than 48 hours, and now I'm expected to run his businesses?"

She felt a surge of frustration and confusion. She had married Alexander on a whim but never expected to find herself in this situation.

She turned to her husband, lying unconscious in the hospital bed.

"What is your plan, Andrew? Why did you marry me? I need answers." Amelia's voice grew louder, filled with desperation.

She couldn't help but feel that there was more to their marriage than what she knew, and she was determined to find out what that was.