Andrine climbed into the SUV beside Bjorn, her hand gripping his tightly. “Stay with me, Bjorn,” she whispered, her voice a plea as the vehicles tore through the night toward Holland Hospital. “Armin’s coming. You just have to hold on.”The SUVs tore through the night, their engines roaring as they sped down the winding roads toward Holland Hospital. Andrine sat beside Bjorn, her eyes locked on his face as she held his hand tightly, willing him to stay conscious. The interior lights of the vehicle cast a dim glow, highlighting the streaks of blood on his face and the way his breath came in shallow, uneven gasps. Every bump in the road seemed to jolt through her, the fear in her heart tightening with every second.“Stay with me, Bjorn,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “We’re almost there. Armin’s coming.”Rico, sitting up front, spoke urgently into his phone. “We’ve got Bjorn Rodriguez coming in—condition critical,” he barked. “Prepare emergency trauma care, now!”The driver’s hand
“You were really searching for me?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper, laced with disbelief.Armin nodded, his eyes serious. “Yes. After all, you are married to Bjorn. We’ve been looking for you ever since the arrangement was made.”Andrine stood frozen, the weight of Armin’s words crashing over her like a tidal wave. Married to Bjorn? Her mind reeled, struggling to process what he had just said.The words hit her like a punch to the gut. Her breath caught in her throat, and she took a step back, eyes wide. “What?” she gasped, her heart pounding in her chest. “Married?”Armin’s expression remained steady, as if the news should not have come as a shock. “Yes, your father signed the agreement with the Suegra family. It was all arranged, Andrine. Didn’t they tell you?”For a moment, Andrine couldn’t breathe. Her mind spun, trying to make sense of it all. The truth dawned on her with a sickening clarity. This was Maximilian’s doing. And Neil Holland’s. They had kept her hidden in the
Andrine’s silence and Seraphina’s feigned concern hanging in the air like an unspoken threat. Armin’s eyes remained fixed on Andrine, desperate for answers she was no longer willing to give. The stillness seemed almost suffocating, a moment stretched far too long.But then, a voice, soft and melodic, cut through the heavy silence. “Where is the VIP patient?”Armin turned instinctively, drawn by the sound. When he saw her, he felt his breath catch. Standing there was a woman of breathtaking beauty. Her long orange hair flowed like silk, framing her face and cascading down her shoulders. Her silver-gray eyes shone with a calm, almost ethereal light, and her skin, pale as pearl, seemed to glow under the hospital’s fluorescent lights. She stood tall, with an air of quiet confidence and grace, like an angel who had descended from the heavens.For a moment, everything else faded. Armin felt himself captivated, unable to tear his eyes away. “Who are you?” he asked, his voice tinged with a se
Seraphina’s eyes were sharp as she turned to Andrine, who had remained silent. “You must be overwhelmed, Andrine,” she said, her voice sweet but laced with an edge. “So much happening all at once.” She tilted her head slightly, as if daring Andrine to respond.Andrine met her gaze, the fire still burning in her eyes, but she forced herself to stay quiet. She wouldn’t let Seraphina get the upper hand, not here, not now. “I just want him to be alive,” she said finally, her voice steady.Armin, caught between the tension of the two women and the mystery of the doctor, felt the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him. Alysha Jarl is alive, Andrine had said. His wife. And now, there was this woman—Dr. Arisha Holland—who stirred something deep within him. As he looked toward the closed trauma room doors, he knew he was standing on the edge of a truth that could unravel everything he thought he knew.But for now, all he could do was wait.Suddenly, Seraphina dragged Andrine into a shadow
Inside the operation room, the tension was palpable. Doctor Arisha Holland’s hands were steady, but her eyes betrayed the fear that gripped her. The sight of Bjorn’s injuries was far worse than she had imagined. The burns on his face, the broken bones—his entire body was a battlefield. But the most concerning was the injury at the back of his head, the kind that only a neurosurgeon could even attempt to treat.Dr. Erica, her colleague, had her eyes fixed on the monitors, her face grim. “That’s why I called you, Doctor Holland,” she said, her tone urgent. “You’re our best neurosurgeon. This injury to his skull—it’s putting pressure on his brain. We need you to stabilize it before we lose him.”Arisha’s breath quickened, her mind racing as she assessed the damage. “But his entire body is compromised. Broken ribs, fractured legs... and the burns.” She glanced at the vitals, her fingers moving swiftly as she adjusted the equipment. “We’re dealing with multiple critical issues, and any one
Arisha’s world seemed to tilt, and for a moment, she felt like she couldn’t breathe. Ivan was Bjorn’s uncle. The connection between them suddenly became clear, and she realized why she felt the weight of this situation so heavily. This was Ivan’s family. Her hands trembled as she processed the truth, struggling to maintain her professional demeanor.“Doctor Holland?” Dr. Erica’s voice broke through, and Arisha blinked, snapping herself back to the present. She had to focus—Bjorn’s life was hanging in the balance. She pushed aside her confusion, her fear, and the questions that screamed in her mind.“We need to adjust the treatment now that we know about his condition,” she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. “Prepare the stabilizer. We’ll have to work quickly.”Ivan’s eyes never left her. He watched the emotions flicker across her face, the way her hands shook before she steadied them. Arisha, he thought, the name unfamiliar yet somehow right. But this was the same
Arisha, feeling the tension settle back into the hallway, forced herself to take a steadying breath. “We’re doing everything we can,” she said softly, her eyes meeting Armin’s briefly before she looked away. “But the next 24 hours are crucial.”As she turned to leave, she caught Andrine’s gaze. There was a look of understanding there, of shared frustration and pain, and for a moment, it was enough. But only for a moment.Armin’s eyes darkened as he turned to Seraphina, his voice sharp and cutting through the tension in the hallway. “Will you stop calling me your husband?” he demanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.Seraphina’s eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, she was speechless. “What?” she stammered, her confidence faltering as she tried to regain her composure. “But you said you would introduce me as your wife. We don’t need a marriage certificate for it.”Armin’s expression remained cold, his jaw clenched. “Well, now I’m thinking I might change my mind.” His voice w
Behind her, Armin quickened his pace, closing the distance between them. “Wait! Please, I need to talk to you!” His voice was laced with urgency, a frustration that matched his pounding heart.Alysha froze mid-step, the sound of the name striking her like a thunderclap. Her body trembled, the echoes of her false identity mingling with the truth she couldn’t grasp. She didn’t dare turn around, her breathing shallow as panic surged through her. Why is he calling me? What does he want?Alysha’s legs felt weak, her instincts urging her to flee, but she couldn’t move. Her thoughts spiraled into chaos. Why is this happening? Why now? She clutched the edge of her scarf, trying to ground herself.Unseen by either of them, Seraphina stood at a distance, her sharp eyes locked on the scene unfolding before her. Her expression was cold, calculating, her lips curling into a faint, menacing smirk. She had been watching Armin closely, sensing his growing curiosity about Alysha. And now, as he chased