The Wrong Husband

Is this how I'm going to die?

After the morning with Stone, Tam chose not to leave the manor immediately. She retreated into the studio and lost herself in a design she had abandoned. By the time she set her brush down and glanced at the wall clock, it was already 10AM.

Tam hurriedly went back to the room, took a quick shower and dressed simply.

On her way out, she paused briefly by her laptop, considering sending Alexia a message, but dismissed the thought again.

“It would be faster to call her after fixing this.”

She headed to the garage, got into her car, and drove out of the manor.

Twenty minutes later, she noticed a black car behind her. At first, it meant nothing, but it stayed, matching her pace, changing lanes and taking every turn with her. Her fingers tightened slightly on the wheel as her eyes moved between the road ahead and the rearview mirror.

A few minutes later, the car took a different turn and disappeared.

Tam exhaled slowly and shook her head, telling herself she might be overthinking.

Moments later, she drove into the Cajun District; rows of restaurants and mini-marts stretched along the road ahead.

Just then, a tinted van without a plate number came out of nowhere and slammed into the back of her car with a force that snapped her forward against the seatbelt. Her hand tightened instinctively on the wheel, but the second hit came harder before she could regain control.

A sharp scream rose from the roadside as the third hit landed, sending her spinning as metal crashed and glass shattered violently.

Tam's ears rang but through it she could hear the van speeding away, footsteps rushing towards her, and voices of people screaming for help.

‘Is this how I'm going to die?’

Her grip on the wheel loosened, her vision blurred, and the voices calling out to her grew dimmer until everything went dark.

***

At the hospital, Catie's phone buzzed softly on the bedside table.

She glanced at the screen.

“Completed.”

Catie's lips curved faintly as her gaze lingered on the sender’s number. She set the phone down without replying.

She reached for the box of Max Red chicken beside her and picked another drumstick. The heat hit her tongue instantly and she exhaled slowly in satisfaction.

~***~

The meeting room on the fourteenth floor of Carter Holdings had been tense for over two hours.

Stone sat at the head of the table, his expression composed as the final terms of the collaboration were reviewed. They were close now, fifteen minutes at most before signatures.

Reu’s phone buzzed quietly against his thigh beneath the table. He glanced down discreetly.

It was a message from one of the men assigned to Tam.

He read the message once, then read it again. His chest tightened slightly, but his eyes moved immediately to Stone, who was already leaning forward with a pen as the final document was placed before him.

This deal had already been delayed twice. It would not be delayed again because of this. He had seen worse situations. There had been a time when Tam had an allergy attack; Stone had not cared what had happened or even moved to help until the Carter matriarch intervened.

‘This is not the moment,’ he mused silently as he slipped the phone into his pocket and kept a neutral expression.

Fourteen minutes later, the deal was signed and the room began to empty. Stone was already pushing back his chair when his phone rang.

Catie.

He answered immediately.

“Stone,” her voice was strained and slightly breathless. “I am so sorry to call during your meeting but I do not know who else to reach. I ordered food a little while ago and my stomach has been in so much pain since. It is getting worse and I'm scared.”

Stone's face darkened as he stood. “You ordered food? Where is Tam?”

“I haven't seen her, Stone. Was she meant to be here?” Catie asked breathlessly.

Stone's jaw tightened, hearing the pain in Catie's voice. “Nevermind. Get the doctors’ attention if you have not already. I am on my way. Do not eat or drink anything else.”

He ended the call and turned to Reu. “Have these documents arranged and sent to my office. I have to leave.”

Reu turned to his direction, about to speak but Stone was already half way through the door.

‘I would find the right moment.’

He fetched his phone to ask the men about Tam's current status.

By the time Stone arrived at the hospital, Catie was already hooked to a drip and looking far more stable than she sounded on the phone.

The doctor explained it was a reaction to something she had eaten. And they had run tests to be certain.

Stone barely paid attention. Once the doctor left, he moved to Catie's side and hugged her lightly.

“I should not have left you alone,” he said, his voice low and edged with irritation. He pulled back and watched her face. “You should have called sooner.”

“Sorry I made you worry.” Tears were beginning to well up in Catie's eyes.

Stone's chest tightened. His thoughts shifted almost instantly to Tam. Her refusal and defiance. If she had done what she was told, Catie would not have been alone.

“This is all her fault,” he said under his breath as he brushed a strand of hair away from Catie's face and pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

An hour later, Catie lay still in Stone’s arms when Reu arrived at the hospital with some documents that needed Stone's signature.

After gently laying Catie down on the bed, he stepped out into the corridor to meet Reu.

Before handing the documents over, Reu said. “Sir, madam was in an accident this morning. She is currently at the hospital. When the report came in, you were about to sign, so I made the decision to wait. I apologize if that was wrong.”

Something shifted briefly across Stone's face.

‘Is that why she had not come?’

“Which hospital?”

“De Mario.”

“De Mario?” That was nowhere close to the manor or the hospital Catie was. Stone frowned. “And the location of the accident?”

“Cajun District.”

The location made no sense to Stone.

He had smashed Tam’s phone earlier that day but that thought did not surface in his mind at the mention of Cajun District, instead what he remembered as his face hardened was the image of a woman getting dressed, styling her hair, with plans she had refused to explain yesterday.

“What is her condition?”

“Unconscious but alive. The injuries are said not to be severe.”

Stone was quiet for a moment then he said. “Leave her there.”

Reu blinked. “Sir?”

“She ignored my direct order this morning.” Stone said flatly. “And was clearly on her way to meet whoever she has been seeing.” His jaw tightened. “She can stay there until I am in a better mood to deal with her. Let her face the consequences of her actions.”

Reu said nothing. He simply nodded and looked down at the folder in his hands and felt like the worst version of himself.

Inside the room, Catie lay with her eyes closed and her breathing steady, but she had heard everything.

Her fingers curled slightly into the sheet. What she heard was not what was meant to happen. In fact, she had wanted to lock Stone away from any reports that might reach him about Tam's death.That was why she had called him over.

‘Who knew this stupid assistant would get the information and even relay it.’ She groaned silently but kept her face still.

She would wait until the room was clear, then she would make a call to find out whether the hospital could be accessed.

Later that evening, when Stone stepped out, Catie took her chance.

“She survived?”

“Why was I not informed?” Catie asked, immediately the call connected.

“I am sorry ma’am.” The person apologized.

“Do not apologize to me. Handle it. Get the job completed.”

There was a pause before the reply came. “I have tried but I cannot make a move on it. Security is tighter at the hospital than I expected and there are too many variables. It is not something I can do cleanly. Besides, the location and hit-and-run nature of the accident is already questionable.”

Catie closed her eyes briefly before opening them. “Fine. Leave it for now.”

She ended the call and leaned back, her expression calm again.

If Tam was going to survive, then she needed something to secure a stronger place in Stone's heart.

Her gaze dropped to the IV line in her arm and her lips curved slightly. “Then I will use it.”