Lina watched him go.
Only when the door clicked shut did she release the breath she had not realized she was holding.
Her hands were shaking. Her heart was pounding. Her entire body felt like it had been through a war. She pressed her palms flat against the bed, trying to steady herself.
Daniel Viggo was in Merra.
The thought surfaced like a blade, sharp and unwelcome. Her mind drifted to the room across the hall. Did that mean she had truly seen him that day? Had he really been standing there? Was he really in the room opposite hers?
She disregarded the thought as soon as she thought of it. That was impossible. Even if he was in Merra, that did not mean he was staying in the same hotel, let alone the room directly across from hers. That coincidence was not possible at all. It could not be.
But she was not naive. The way he had looked at her—the coldness, the intensity—the way his eyes burned into hers—meant he knew what he was doing. It was clear he knew exactly where she was. He knew she was in this room. He had come here deliberately.
Wait. How did she even get here?
She remembered she had actually felt dizzy and was almost hit by a car. She had fainted. Someone must have brought her here.
She shook her head, trying to piece it together.
Carter had actually brought her to the hospital yesterday to have her checked up. On knowing that she was fine, he had gone out of his way to buy her new clothes after she explained what happened. He had remained by her side the entire day, and it had taken considerable effort to convince him to leave—or he would have actually slept in the chair beside her bed had she not insisted otherwise.
This morning, she had left the hospital on her own. She had wanted to explore a little now that she had gotten good clothes. Somehow, she had gotten lost and could not find her way back. The streets of Merra were unfamiliar, twisting and turning in ways she did not expect. She had wandered for what felt like hours. She had attempted to cross a road, and then—
Darkness.
She did not remember anything after that.
Wait.
Did Daniel…?
She shook her head. That was impossible. He hated her. He hated her. That was the only truth she needed to hold onto. He would not have helped her even if he was there.
But then why was he here? Why had he come to her room?
Just then, Carter entered.
"I left you for a few hours and you ended up in an accident," he said, his voice carrying equal parts frustration and guilt.
At the sight of him, Lina's expression softened. Her earlier anxieties receded, replaced by something warmer. Carter was here.
"It was a mistake," she said with a pout, trying to lighten the mood.
Carter grabbed her shoulders, checking her body. But except the bruises that had been on her face, there was nothing else. He stared at her face and thought about what he would do if something had actually happened to her.
He was responsible for her. He was the one who brought her here. He had to care for her. Her safety was his burden.
"You…" his phone interrupted him.
It was a call from home. He picked it up and listened to the other person talk on the phone. Lina watched his expression shift from mild irritation to confusion, disbelief, then to something far more grave.
"What?" he said, his voice sharp. "What happened to Mum?" he asked again, his voice cracking. He did not understand. Or maybe he did not want to admit it. Maybe if he asked again, the answer would be different.
His body went still. The colour drained from his face.
Lina's heart clenched. She wondered what he had heard that made him so shaken. Her hands twisted in the sheets. Her heart pounded with a different kind of fear now. She had never seen him like this—so unguarded, so visibly shaken.
The call ended, and Carter still stood frozen. He stared at the wall, his face pale, his eyes empty.
"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice low and careful.
Carter looked back at her face. For a moment, he did not seem to see her. Then his eyes focused, and the words came out.
"My mum had an accident," he said. "She's been rushed to the hospital."
His voice, which had been normal, was now heavy. Thick with emotion. He blinked rapidly, trying to hold himself together.
Lina's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my god," she said firmly. "Your mother needs you right now."
She quickly added, "You should be with her at this moment. And I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me. I'll be staying at the hotel while you're away."
Carter hesitated. She could see the conflict in his eyes—the pull of duty toward his mother, the weight of responsibility toward her.
He was worried about Lina. They had not even been here for a full day, and she had gotten hurt. Twice. What if something happened to her while he was gone? What if he came back and found her in another hospital? Or worse?
But he was also worried about his mom. She was in the hospital. She needed him. He needed to be there.
He would have left with Lina, but the deal was still on. If one of them left, the other person had to see it through. That was the agreement. That was the only way to salvage the business opportunity.
It was as if Lina could read his mind.
"Just send me the information," she said. "I'll see the deal to the end. Remember, I once went head on with the devil."
She tried to joke. She smiled, hoping it reached her eyes.
Carter smiled weakly. By the devil, Lina meant Daniel Viggo.
He nodded, trusting that she would really see it through. That was, if she did not hurt herself before even reaching there.
"You sure you'll be fine?" he asked, his voice soft.
She nodded, her expression resolute.
Carter left, but not before ensuring the hospital would not discharge her until the following day. He spoke to the nurses. He spoke to the doctor. He made certain she would remain under observation.
Then he was gone.
---
Lina attempted to leave the hospital several times. Each effort was met with polite but firm refusal.
She had no choice but to remain. Her frustration grew. Even patients with gunshot wounds did not receive this level of surveillance. Someone who died would not be kept under surveillance like this. It was excessive, unnecessary.
She missed her parents. She considered calling them but not when she was at the hospital. She knew her mother well. Bella's reaction was a tip of the iceberg compared to her mother's. Her mother would panic. Her mother would cry. She was not in the mood to keep explaining a thousand times that she was fine. She was not prepared for that conversation.
So she remained in the sterile room, scrolling through her phone, watching videos, doing whatever she could to silence the thoughts that threatened to surface. She did everything she could to distract herself.
But they kept creeping back.
Daniel's cold eyes. His frozen hand. The way he had said "Very well" like she had disappointed him.
She pushed the memories away. There was no room for them here.
---
The following morning, Lina checked out of the hospital.
The sun was warm against her skin. The air carried the faint scent of unfamiliar flowers. She took a moment to simply breathe.
The other company had not yet called. Carter had instructed her to wait for their call, so she returned to the hotel. She still had at least five days here left in Merra anyway.
In the elevator, her reflection stared back at her—pale, bruised, but alive. She steadied her breathing.
The hallway was quiet. Her footsteps echoed against the floor.
She reached her door and paused. Her gaze drifted, almost involuntarily, to the door across the hall. She could not help but feel fear toward the opposite door.
What if it was him?
The thought sent a chill through her. Seeing him at the hospital had forced her to confront the possibility that he could be the one staying opposite her.
She swiped her keycard and slipped inside quickly, closing the door behind her. She leaned against it, her heart pounding.
Even if he was there, she would not want him to see her standing here.
She had five days left. Five days to finalize the deal. Five days to prove her worth.
She would not let Daniel Viggo ruin this opportunity for her.
She would not let him win.