ARES
"From what you described, it fits mild PTSD."
I eyed Catherine on the bed, her right hand in a cast, her left hand had a plaster from the fresh wound, and a few cuts on her face.
"The accident must have been too much for her, but she’s gonna be fine. I’ll examine her better when she wakes. Mr. King?"
It seed more than that to .
The confusion in her eyes, the pain, and the way she cried her heart out while murmuring... Mom. Dad.
She was triggered by sothing else.
"Mr. King?"
The doctor’s voice snapped out of it, and I veered my gaze to him. He stiffened, leveling his eyes as if maintaining eye contact was too much for him.
"S-She’s under a mild sedative. That should help her get a better rest."
He left the room, and I shifted my gaze back to Catherine, my hands resting on the footboard.
I monitored the slow rise and fall of her chest. The beeping sounds from the monitor rattled because of how much they had picked up in the span of three hours. Catherine had been unconscious for two days, and when she finally woke... this happened.
I clutched the board, and it groaned under my grip. A heat curling through my insides, my nostrils flaring. I can’t calm the storm hitting all at once, and all I could do was stand there and eye her as if willing her to wake and taunt like she usually does.
With a sharp breath, I forced myself to move, stepping out of the room.
"I said, let through!"
Victoria Dalton was at the end of the hallway, going toe to toe with my n, who blocked her path.
"Do you have any idea how many hospitals I have searched? I need to see Cat, and I know she’s in there."
When they didn’t budge, she raged on.
"What are you? So highly trained blockhead or sothing? Or do you not understand English? MOVE!"
I neared them, and they parted like the sea. She tautened when she saw , but kept her composure.
"Ms. Dalton," I said.
Her chest rose and fell heavily. "I saw the news, and for the last two days, I have been in and out of hospitals searching for her."
Whatever toughness she had in her voice earlier was gone as she crumbled. "Please tell she’s okay."
"She is..."
She sighed out a breath of relief before nodding. "C-Can I see her?"
"She needs rest."
I walked past her into the next corridor and opened the door.
When Reed saw , he attempted to rise, but his actions were sluggish, so he collapsed back on the bed. His head was bandaged, and a side of his cheek was covered because of a deep cut.
"Mr. King," he said, unable to et my eyes.
"He just woke up," Athena said at the corner of the room. "What about Cat? How is she?"
"Ms. Dalton’s here... go to her," I instructed.
Athena sighed as she uncrossed her arms and ca to . "Don’t be too hard on him, okay? It’s been a tough few days, and clearly everyone’s had enough."
Giving Reed one last look, she stepped out of the room. Silence spawned, and Reed grew nervous by the second under my blank gaze.
"Mr. King, I—"
"Why was she driving?"
"S-She... wanted to drive." At my stillness, he continued. "We made a stop at a coffee shop, and then when she drove out, a van ca out of nowhere."
The driver died. I have never t anyone with such luck before.
"You’re no longer Catherine’s bodyguard."
Reed stared at in shock.
He was about to speak when a knock ca through.
"Nico here..." The door opened as he ca in, hands buried in his pockets, as he walked loosely.
"Hope I’m not bugging..." He eyed Reed. "I heard you got in an accident. You look pretty much alive, unfortunately."
"Nico..." Reed said through clenched teeth. "What are you doing here?"
"I was called, and I answered." He scratched the bridge of his nose and neared the bed, tipping his head. "I told you, boss. Reed is a solid wall of softie; he can’t even protect the lady properly."
"Stay out of this!" Reed snapped.
"What got your pants in a twist?"
"Nico..." I said, breaking their squabbling.
Nico turned to , grinning in pride. "I checked the van from top to bottom. Cops were swarming the scene like bees, but I did my best. Easy peasy."
"What did you find?"
"It was a failed brake. Van was speeding and went out of range; the cops already ruled it an accident. Wrong place and ti."
"But..." I urged, knowing there was more.
"The cracks left by the tires, too straight, too clean, not ssy like soone who panicked amid finding out his brake went bad."
I see.
"Did Catherine et anyone before the accident?" I throw the question at Reed.
He blinked. "No, I was with her the entire ti, except..."
"Except what?" I got impatient.
He cleared his throat. "The sex shop and the shoe boutique."
"Get the cara feeds. You have two hours."
"Will do, boss."
I walked out of the room when my phone rang, seeing the caller, my jaw clenched tightly.
How convenient.
"The dia’s buzzing, louder than the sudden news of your matrimony," She said the mont I picked.
"You sound pleased."
"Don’t be like that. She’s my daughter-in-law, and I ca because I’m worried."
Right at the corner of my eye, I saw her. She took the phone off her ear and walked to , shifting her sunglasses to the bridge of her nose whilst clenching a bouquet.
"How is she...?" she asked softly. "I hope nothing too serious, or should we prepare for a funeral?"
"It’s gonna take a whole lot more than a car crash to kill a King."
"She’s no King."
"And what does Father have to say about that?"
"Why don’t you ask him yourself? You know he’s not gonna buy this marriage of yours. Whatever plan you have won’t work."
She stretched the flowers for to take. "For the lovely... Mrs. King. I wish her a full recovery. Would hate for your bliss as newlyweds to end so soon."
Slowly, I closed the distance between us. "Pray to God that I don’t find out you have anything to do with this."
"How dare you throw such accusations in my face? I’ll not tolerate a threat."
I leaned so that I could speak directly to her ear, and her body locked in place. "It’s not a threat. It’s a promise."
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