Chapter 26
The nurse on duty immediately
approached as I stirred awake. She checked my vitals, her expression professional but kind.
“How are you feeling?” she asked gently.
“I’m fine,” I replied, though my voice trembled slightly. “Was the man brought here too?”
Her brow furrowed momentarily before understanding dawned. “You mean the man who saved you?”
I nodded urgently. “Yes, him.”
“Yes, he is here, but he is in the operating room,” she explained. “His condition is critical. I am sorry.”
Her words hit me like a blow. I clasped my hand over my mouth, the weight of what had happened settling heavily on my chest. Gale had risked his life for me.
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The nurse gave me a sympathetic look. “If your condition is stable, you can be
discharged after completing the administration. Is there anything else you need?”
I shook my head numbly. “No, thank you.”
As she left, I reached for my phone on the nightstand, noticing a barrage of missed calls and messages.
The night had turned into dawn and one message caught my eye, it was from Louise.
[Louise: Rachel, what happened?
Everyone’s worried. There’s news everywhere, and it’s so confusing. Tell me where you are, I’ll come get you.]
I dialed her number, explaining everything that had happened before I blacked out.
His voice was filled with concern as he reassured me, “Stay put. I’m coming to the hospital right now.”
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By the time Louise arrived, the sun was already rising. He helped me finalize the paperwork and hovered as I prepared to leave.
“Are you sure you‘ re really okay?” he asked, his worry evident.
I nodded. “I‘ m fine physically, but what about the news? You said it was
everywhere?”
Louise pulled out his phone and handed it to me. The headline blared across the screen, “Douglas Family’s Daughter Allegedly Drunk Driving Hits Gale Douglas.”
There were more articles, all focused on Gale and Gritte. But what struck me was the absence of my name.
“It’s all so confusing,” I admitted. “Why isn’t my name mentioned at all? And why is Gritte involved?”
Louise sighed, sitting down beside me.
“It’s a lot, so let me explain everything
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from the beginning and from the report I got from my man.”
He recounted the events of the previous night. “The news initially mentioned you because the street CCTV footage showed
Gale saving you. But when the investigation revealed that the driver was Gritte and that she was drunk, Mr. Douglas stepped in. He made sure your name was wiped from the reports. He didn’t want you involved in their family’s chaos.
“At the police station, witnesses and evidence confirmed that Gritte was aiming for you. She admitted everything while drunk, but it’s being kept under wraps. Mr. Douglas doesn‘ t want the public to know his daughter tried to kill you.
My eyes widened in horror. “She… she wanted to kill me?”
Louise nodded solemnly. “It seems so. But now she’s in prison, and Gale… well, he’s still in the operating room. Oh, and one more thing, your divorce is finalized.”
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“Are you sure about it?” I whispered.
“Yes, Mr. Douglas expedited the process,” Louise explained. “You‘ re free now, Rachel. And guess what? Your visa has been approved. You can leave for Italy as soon as today.”
Relief and disbelief washed over me.
“Thank you, Louise. For everything.
Before leaving the hospital, I debated visiting Gale, but with him still
unconscious, I chose another path. I sent flowers with a simple note, “Thank you for saving me, Gale. Goodbye.”
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