BIT

She gripped the phone tightly, her knuckles turning white. “What happened to him?” she managed to ask, her voice trembling.

“I’m not at liberty to discuss details over the phone, but we must get in touch with his next of kin,” Emma replied, her tone calm but firm.

Rebecca’s mind raced. She didn’t have contact information for his relatives, but she knew she had to go to the hospital immediately.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” she said and hung up.

She turned to Julia, who had been watching her with concern.. “I have to leave, it’s an emergency.”

Julia’s eyes widened. “Is everything okay?”

Rebecca shook her head. “I don’t know, but I need to go.”

“Alright, take care. We’ll manage here,” Julia said, her voice full of empathy.

Rebecca rushed out of the studio, her heart pounding. She hailed the nearest taxi and directed the driver to Santa Theresa Hospital. The ride felt interminable, each minute stretching out as her anxiety mounted.

When she arrived at the hospital, she hurried inside, her eyes scanning for any signs of Nicholas. She approached the reception desk breathless. “Nicholas Bennett, emergency unit,” she said urgently.

The receptionist checked her computer and nodded. “Room 305. Take the elevator to the third floor.” Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Rebecca thanked her and hurried to the elevator, her mind whirling with fear and uncertainty. When the elevator doors opened on the third floor, she quickly found room 305. She paused outside, taking a deep breath, before pushing the door open.

Nicholas lay on the bed, pale and unconscious, with various monitors and tubes connected to him. Emma, the nurse who had called her, was adjusting one of the machines. She looked up as Rebecca entered.

“Are you a friend of Nicholas?” Emma asked.

“Yes, I’m Rebecca Harper,” she replied, her voice shaky. “What happened to him?”

Emma sighed. “He was in a car accident. He’s stable now, but we need to contact his family.”

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Rebecca nodded, her mind racing. “He doesnt have family around here. I’m probably the closest thing he has to family.”

Emma gave her a sympathetic look. “You can stay with him. He’ll likely wake up soon, but he’ll need support.”

Rebecca pulled a chair to Nicholas’s bedside and sat down, her eyes never leaving his face. She reached out and gently held his hand, willing him to wake up.

Minutes felt like hours, but finally, Nicholas stirred. His eyes fluttered open, and he looked around, disoriented. When his gaze settled on Rebecca, relief washed over his

face. 4

“Becky,” he whispered, his voice weak.

“I’m here, Nic. You’re going to be okay,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion. “What happened? How could you get a car crash? Shouldn’t you be at home?” She couldn’t wait to interrogate him.

“I was going to get something from the office but-

“From the office? Couldn’t you just call your assistant or something? Don’t you realize that your cancer could affect

your

focus?”

“I know, I’m sorry but I’m fine now,” said Nicholas while reaching Rebecca’s hand and gripping it gently.

Rebecca let out a long sigh. “Does it affect the cancer? I think I need to see the doctor,” she said, getting up from the chair but Nicholas’s hand stopped her, “Just stay here, please!”

Rebecca looked at Nicholas who was looking at her with pleading eyes and couldn’t help but sit back down. “Alright, now get some rest,” she said firmly.

Can’t

Nicholas shook his head, “I’ve told the doctor to move my treatment to home, I stay in the hospital for too long, this will trigger stress and affect my illness,” he said quietly. Rebecca glared, “What? Are you sure? But all these cables?”

Π

THE

“I don’t need it, I’m sure I’m fine, I just have a little bruising on my chest and a little. swelling on my heart-”

“Nic, have you lost your mind? Are you playing with your life? I’ll talk to the doctor, you’re not going home, not in this condition! Rebecca interrupted as she let go of Nicholas‘ hand and walked quickly out of the room.

“Can I meet the doctor who handles Nicholas Bennett?” Rebecca asked a doctor who was standing near Nicholas‘ room. “You’re talking to him, how can I help you?” the doctor asked, looking up from the boardwalk in his hands.

“Um, about his glioblastoma, does the accident affect-”

The doctor frowned. “What? Glioblastoma? Are you sure we’re talking about Mr. Bennett?” He interrupted, confused.

Rebecca nodded, “Yes, have you had an MRI scan?”

The doctor took a deep breath and said, “Ma’am, of course we did and we didn’t find-”

Before the doctor could finish his sentence, Nicholas suddenly shouted, “Becky, let’s go home!” He stood in the doorway of his room, clutching his bleeding arm where he had forcibly removed the IV drip.

“Nic! What the hell are you doing?” Rebecca glared in surprise. She walked quickly over to Nicholas. “What are you doing?” she asked, looking at him in disbelief.

“My adoptive father is on his way here. Someone must have contacted him, and he’s the last person I want to see right now. Let’s go, quickly!” Nicholas took Rebecca’s hand, ignoring the doctor’s attempts to stop them.

“Nic, this is so wrong! You can’t just go home like this,” said Rebecca as she walked, following Nicholas‘ fast steps. “Nic, wait!” Rebecca held Nicholas‘ hand as he crossed a room and saw Harvey there.

but

“Becky, I don’t have time for this. Let’s go!” said Nicholas, forcing Rebecca to move, she let go of his hand and entered the room before the nurse shut it. She stood at the door, looking at Harvey, who was standing at the edge of the bed, and watching Alicia, who was lying with an oxygen tube in her nose. She just stood there for a long time with her hands clenched tightly. She believed Alicia was manipulating Harvey, but didn’t know how to prove it.

“Babe? Let’s go!” Nicholas suddenly said, making Harvey, who heard the voice, turn

Π

towards the door to catch them.

“Becky?” Harvey glared, surprised by Rebecca’s appearance there.

“Sorry, we have the wrong room! Let’s go, Babe!” said Nicholas, then grabbed Rebecca’s hand and took her out.

“Nic, what’s wrong with you?” Rebecca hissed irritably, yanking her hand away. As she turned her head in another direction, her eyes suddenly locked on a man in a white doctor’s coat, someone she recognized immediately. “Doctor Theo?”