White stinging light attacks my eyes the second I open them. I immediately snap them shut, cursing, “Fuck!”
Only to be assaulted by the dryness in my throat. It’s like I swallowed paper. Covering my eyes against the annoying brightness, I peel them open and blink rapidly.
The whitewashed room isn’t mine.
Disoriented, I rack my brain on where I am and how I ended up here. Slowly, my nostrils pick up on the scent of bleach, followed by the beeping noise piercing my ears.
A hospital!
Why the fuck am I here?
An IV drip runs out of my left arm, while my naked body is hidden beneath the godawful pale blue hospital gown.
I move, intent on sitting up but dizziness sends me tumbling down on the bed. That’s when I feel a hand curled around my left one. Confused, I turn to my right.
A second bed is pressed against mine. On it lies Arya, her body facing mine and her right arm stretched out toward me and holding my left hand in her small one. Unlike me, she isn’t in a hospital gown.
My world comes to a standstill when I notice the bruises and swelling on her face. One of her eyes is swollen shut, while a small bandage covers her forehead.
It wasn’t a nightmare. Her cries were real.
Somebody assaulted her and I failed to protect her.
Where was I?
Why can’t I remember anything?
“Ari.” Ignoring the stabbing pain in my chest, I turn sideways and shift closer to her. “Angel…”
She stirs but doesn’t open her eyes.
I gently brush the hair off the side of her face and cup her uninjured jaw. “Angel… look at me.”
Her eyebrows furrow a second before her eyelids flutter open. They widen-as much as her swollen eye allows-when they connect with mine.
“Nathan,” she whispers.
My name on her lips and the sound of her husky voice make my heart beat faster.
“Oh my god!” Sitting upright, she closes the gap between us and starts to cry, “You’re awake! Oh, thank God! I thought I lost you.”
Lost me?She’s the one who’s hurt.
Cradling my face with both hands, she peppers kisses all over my face. “You left me so scared, Nathan.”
“Who hurtyou, Ari?” I grit out. My only concern is her. “Who did this to you?”
Inching back, she regards my expression and whispers, “Do you not remember?”
“No.” The meds in my system are making it harder to remember the memories of yesterday. I push myself harder to think. Small flashbacks rise to the forefront. Not just last night, but the past week.
Our fight.
Arya finding out about it was me who leaked those texts and asking for a break. My refusal to tell I did it solely to distract my father, so he wouldn’t get a hint that I was investigating his business dealings.
I barely slept as I worked harder on finding evidence to prove he was doing something nefarious and… I did. Two days ago.
Money laundering through Singhania and Sons.
