Chapter 2 - The Hospital Visit
The emergency room was brightly lit and smelled heavily of antiseptic.
Hannah sat on the edge of the uncomfortable examination table.
A nurse was carefully wrapping her fingers in thick white bandages.
Two of her fingers were fractured.
The cuts from the stilettos required twelve stitches.
Ethan sat in a plastic chair in the corner of the room.
He hadn't taken his eyes off her since they arrived.
His black suit jacket was draped over the back of his chair.
His tie was loosened, and he looked incredibly tired.
"Are you in any pain right now?" the nurse asked kindly.
Hannah shook her head slowly.
"The painkillers are working," she whispered.
The nurse offered a sympathetic smile.
"You need to keep this hand elevated and dry."
"I will go get your discharge papers."
The nurse quietly slipped out of the room.
The door clicked shut, leaving Ethan and Hannah alone.
Ethan stood up and walked over to her.
He gently brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"I am so sorry I didn't get there sooner," he said, his voice cracking.
Hannah looked up into his deep brown eyes.
"You saved my life, Ethan."
"If you hadn't walked through those doors..."
She couldn't even finish the sentence.
A fresh wave of tears blurred her vision.
Ethan pulled her into a warm, gentle embrace.
He was careful not to bump her injured hand.
"She is locked in a holding cell right now," Ethan promised.
"Bail has been denied because she is a flight risk."
"She is facing charges for aggravated assault."
"Plus, she will be charged with fraud and embezzlement."
Hannah pulled back slightly.
"Embezzlement?" she asked in shock.
Ethan nodded gravely.
"While you were trapped in that house, I was doing my own investigating."
"I hired a private forensic accountant."
"Beatrice didn't just sabotage the family business relationships."
"She has been funneling millions of dollars into offshore accounts."
"She was planning to drain the company dry and flee the country."
Hannah felt a cold chill run down her spine.
"She almost got away with it," Hannah murmured.
"But she didn't," Ethan said firmly.
"Because you were brave enough to stay and fight."
"You bought me the time I needed to find the money trail."
The door opened, and the doctor stepped inside.
He handed Ethan a stack of paperwork.
"She is free to go home, Mr. Sterling."
"Make sure she gets plenty of rest."
Ethan signed the papers and helped Hannah to her feet.
They walked out into the cool, dark parking lot.
The air felt incredibly fresh and clean.
It was the first time Hannah had breathed freely in months.
They climbed into Ethan's black SUV.
"Where are we going?" Hannah asked softly.
"We can't go back to the estate tonight."
Ethan started the engine.
"I booked us a penthouse suite at the Plaza Hotel."
"It has twenty-four-hour private security."
"No one can get to you there."
Hannah leaned her head against the leather window frame.
She watched the city lights blur past them.
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For the first time in a long time, she actually felt safe.
But deep down, a nagging feeling warned her that Beatrice wasn't finished yet.
