Chapter 4
Adrian’s face went white. He scooped up Elena’s unconscious body and ran straight for the hospital without looking back.
Riley just stood there for a second, her fingers curling up slightly, before finally following them.
Under the harsh hospital lights, the operating room had been lit up for hours.
Adrian paced outside the doors, Elena’s blood still staining his suit. For the first time ever, his usually stone cold composure was cracking.
Riley sat quietly nearby, not saying a word.
The OR doors suddenly burst open and a doctor rushed out. “We’ve got a problem–she’s hemorrhaging and needs blood fast, but she’s RH negative and we’re completely out!”
Adrian’s jaw tightened, about to say something, when Riley stood up. “I’m RH negative. I can donate.”
Adrian whipped around to stare at her, genuine shock flashing in his eyes.
Riley met his gaze calmly. “Saving her life comes first.”
She followed the nurse to give blood–400cc slowly flowing out of her. Her face kept getting whiter and whiter, but she stayed totally calm.
Adrian watched that needle stuck in her skinny arm, and that weird feeling in his chest just wouldn’t quit.
How much did she actually… give a shit about him?
After donating, Riley walked out holding cotton to her arm and saw Adrian still glued to the OR doors like he was never gonna move.
She hesitated, then went over to him. “Hey, don’t stress. She’s gonna be fine.”
Adrian glanced up, his voice all scratchy. “Why haven’t you left yet?”
Riley shook her head. “Elena’s got us all wrong. When she wakes up, I gotta clear the air.”
Adrian just stared at her ghostly pale face and blurted out, “Are you really that into me?”
Riley went totally still.
She was about to say something when the OR doors swung open and the doctor walked out. “Surgery was a success. She’ll wake up once all that anesthesia wears off.”
Adrian’s tense shoulders finally relaxed.
Riley quietly stepped back and didn’t say another word.
A few hours later, Elena woke up.
The second she opened her eyes and saw Riley by her bed, tears instantly welled up. “Adrian, what–did you bring her here so I’d give you guys my blessing or something?”
Riley quickly moved closer, her voice gentle. “Elena, no, you’ve got this all wrong. Adrian really did have work stuff that day. The shopping thing was just… he happened to be out anyway. It wasn’t some romantic date, and he totally didn’t lie to you.”
Adrian jumped in too. “Look, her and me? It’s just business. Our families arranged it. That’s literally it.”
Elena’s lip trembled as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Then prove it. Show me you don’t give a damn about her.”
23:00
3 Years as Your Backup Wife, 1 Text to Crash Your World: ‘Guess Which Twin Left?‘
Chapter 4
Adrian’s brow furrowed. “What are you talking about? Prove it how?”
Elena glanced toward the window, then back at him. “Push her into that frozen lake out there.”
The color drained from Adrian’s face. “Elena…”
“You’re hesitating?” Elena’s voice shook. “You do like her!”
Adrian went quiet for a few seconds, then finally let out a sigh and waved at his bodyguard. “Throw her in the lake.”
Riley’s eyes went wide.
She knew Adrian would do anything for Elena, but she never thought he could be this cold.
But she couldn’t fight back.
She had to take it.
The bodyguard grabbed her and started dragging her out. Adrian just stood there, his expression unreadable.
The frozen lake was absolutely brutal.
The second Riley hit the water, she could barely breathe.
Ice–cold water rushed into her nose and mouth, numbing her whole body.
She gritted her teeth and tried to stay afloat, but her body kept sinking anyway.
The bodyguards by the lake just watched her coldly. Not one of them moved to help.
Riley’s consciousness started slipping away. In her haze, she saw flashes of her childhood.
Getting dumped in that small town by her parents, shivering through winters without warm clothes, huddled in the nanny’s storage shed just trying to stay alive.
Her whole life, nobody had ever really given a damn about her.
She didn’t know how much time passed before they finally pulled her out.
Her whole body was frozen solid, lips blue purple, completely unconscious.
Through the fog, she felt someone gently wiping her down with warm towels–surprisingly tender movements.
She instinctively grabbed that hand and mumbled, “Just… just hang on a little longer… almost time to get out of here…”
The next second, that hand clamped down on hers so hard it felt like her bones might break.
“Get out of where?!” Adrian’s voice was ice–cold.
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