Chapter 19

The sterile hospital room smelled of antiseptic as Olivia clung to Natalie, who was adjusting the sheets on the extra bed.

Olivia's fingers danced across her phone screen. "You should go home. The nurses will take care of me. It's just a dislocated shoulder. No need to babysit me."

Natalie crossed her arms stubbornly. "I'm not leaving you alone in this condition."

With a sigh, Olivia typed another message. "I think Liam might visit tonight."

That made Natalie hesitate. "Is he really trying to fix things?"

Earlier that day when Liam had taken Olivia golfing, Natalie had thought their relationship was improving. But then Evelyn had caused another scene, and Liam had not only ignored it but defended her. The betrayal still stung.

Olivia nodded firmly and typed: "Trust me. I can handle this."

"Fine..." Natalie finally relented, but not before delivering a ten-minute lecture on safety precautions.

The moment the elevator doors closed behind Natalie, doubt crept in. If Liam truly cared, wouldn't he have been here already? Maybe I'll just wait in the lobby until he shows up, she thought.

After buying snacks from the hospital gift shop, Natalie decided to use the classic "forgot my keys" excuse to return.

As she stepped off the elevator, a shadowy figure slipped into Olivia's room. With only two private suites on this floor, there was no mistaking the location. Natalie's blood ran cold. "Hey!" she shouted, her voice echoing down the corridor.

She sprinted toward the room, knowing Liam wouldn't sneak around like this. The door burst open under her kick, but she was too late.

A masked man had Olivia halfway out the window, his hand crushing her throat. Olivia's legs flailed as she struggled to maintain her grip on the windowsill.

"Freeze! Police!" Natalie screamed.

The distraction worked. In that split second of hesitation, Olivia drove her knee into the attacker's groin.

The man howled in pain but the motion sent Olivia teetering backward - sixteen stories above certain death.

Natalie lunged forward just as a blur shot past her.

Ryan moved like lightning. He grabbed Olivia's hospital gown and yanked her back inside. They crashed to the floor in a tangled heap.

"Olivia! Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Natalie fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face.

Without a word, Ryan stood and delivered a brutal kick to the attacker's spine. The sickening crack of breaking bone filled the room as the man collapsed, paralyzed with pain.

Natalie helped Olivia back to bed just as medical staff rushed in. Dark bruises already bloomed on Olivia's neck, and her recently reset shoulder hung at an unnatural angle, tears of pain leaking from her eyes.

As the doctors worked, Natalie looked stricken. "This is my fault. If I hadn't left..."

Olivia shook her head weakly.

"That bastard's fault!" Natalie spat. She stormed over and stomped on the groaning man's hand. "Did Evelyn send you?"

At this point, Evelyn was the only one with motive.

The attacker only whimpered in response.

Meanwhile, Ryan had already called Liam.

When Liam heard about the attack, he jumped to his feet. But as he turned to leave, he caught Natalie's accusation and froze, his gaze shifting to Evelyn's carefully constructed look of concern.

"You're coming with me," Liam ordered Evelyn.

The moment they entered, Natalie let out a bitter laugh. "Here to confess?" Her glare could have melted steel. "Couldn't handle being the other woman, so you hired a hitman?"

"I... I don't know what you're talking about!" Evelyn's voice trembled as she hid behind Liam, her face draining of color.

"Oscar-worthy," Natalie sneered, holding up a phone. "One call proves you hired this scum."

She pressed a button. Seconds later, Evelyn's purse chimed.

"This is his phone," Natalie said, pointing to the unconscious attacker. "Last call received from this number. When I called it back..." She let the implication hang in the air. "Care to explain, Evelyn?"