I've Had Enough, CEO

Chapter 5 The Accident

Elena froze for a moment and then locked eyes with Nathaniel, her lips curling into a cold smile. "Yes. Why shouldn't I? I'm done being someone's backup plan. Is that really so wrong? Nathaniel, you love Gwendolyn. Your grandfather sees her as your future wife. And me? I'm just the stand-in, the temporary substitute when she's not around. I'm nothing more than a secret lover, someone you won't even acknowledge publicly."

She sighed, "I don't want to be the other woman anymore, and I definitely don't want to keep being looked down on at work. What's wrong with that? I'm exhausted, Nathaniel."

Nathaniel stared at her, incredulous. "You're tired? Just because I scolded you yesterday? It was Mia Turner who sabotaged you. Why didn't you explain yourself back then?"

Elena let out a bitter laugh. "Didn't I try? But I've never really mattered to you, have I? You weren't planning to listen to me anyway. You believed I was throwing a tantrum."

The crushing sadness swirling in her chest threatened to break through, but she fought to stay composed. Taking a deep breath, Elena said firmly, "Nathaniel, I'm done. I can't keep being part of this hidden, shameful relationship."

Nathaniel's mind flashed to the way Julian had stood up for Elena, the laughter they'd shared. The image seared itself into his brain, and suddenly, it felt like betrayal.

The thought of her lying in another man's arms broke through his last grip on control.

His hands tightened around her wrists, his voice sharp and filled with possessiveness. "What makes you think you can just walk away? This isn't something you get to decide."

Without warning, Nathaniel crushed his lips to hers, his kiss filled with rage and jealousy.

Elena's heart raced, and her body froze in shock as the suffocating pressure of his lips overwhelmed her. Panic and fury flared inside her.

'Is he really forcing himself on me?'

Her thoughts tumbled over each other as she tried to shove him away, every nerve in her body screaming. 'What does he think I am?'

Nathaniel's weight pressed her down, leaving her breathless, like she was drowning in an ocean of rage she couldn't escape. Elena's face burned a deep red, her lungs aching as she struggled for air.

In a desperate move, she opened her eyes wide and bit down hard on his lip. Blood filled her mouth almost instantly, the metallic taste spreading.

Furious, Nathaniel ripped at her dress, the sound of tearing fabric filling the tense space between them.

Humiliation and rage surged through Elena, fueling her strength. With all the power she could muster, she shoved him off.

The sound of her hand connecting with his cheek echoed in the silence, and for a moment, it snapped him back to reality.

In the heavy quiet that followed, Elena heard the car door slam shut.

Nathaniel stepped out, lighting a cigarette.

Smoke curled around his tense face as he leaned against the wall, his expression a mix of regret and something darker—self-loathing.

In the backseat, Elena took a moment to steady her breath, her hands shaking as she adjusted her torn clothes. The past few days had drained her. She didn't have the energy to keep facing Nathaniel's anger.

They were both adults—he needed time to cool off, just as much as she did.

She couldn't stay stuck in this twisted version of love.

Right now, her priority was her sister's medical bills and the million dollars her father was demanding.

Elena got out of the car, her voice firm but calm. "Nathaniel, we need to take a break. Let's both cool down."

Nathaniel glanced at her from the corner of his eye and then let out a soft, mocking laugh. "Do whatever you want."

Without another word, Elena got into her car and drove away.

Nathaniel crushed his cigarette underfoot, not even caring about the burn it left on his skin.

As Elena drove, her mind kept replaying their conversation, her chest tightening with each passing second.

'Ten years of loving him... and it all comes to this?'

Her logical mind told her to move on, but her heart clung to the memories, to the feeling she couldn't shake.

The road blurred before her eyes. She blinked, trying to clear her vision, but it was too late. By the time she realized what was happening, her car had veered off course.

The impact was brutal as her car slammed into the guardrail, the force sending her head crashing against the window.

Pain exploded in her skull, her vision going white as the world spun around her.

Blood stained her view, and the suffocating feeling from earlier came rushing back, overwhelming her senses.

In the chaos, only one thought pierced through—Nathaniel.

With trembling fingers, Elena fumbled for her phone, barely able to dial her emergency contact. The line rang and then cut off with a hollow, empty beep.

Her will to fight drained away as she slumped back into the seat, her eyes fluttering closed as her strength slipped away.

The next morning, in the hospital...

Sunlight poured through the window, casting a warm glow over Elena's pale form in the hospital bed.

The IV line in her hand tugged gently as her eyelids fluttered, her body slowly coming back to life.

At first, all she saw was a blur of white, the sterile scent of disinfectant pulling her further into awareness.

She tried to sit up, her body aching, and glanced to the side, where she spotted someone sitting by her bed. Her brows furrowed in confusion. "Julian?"

It all came back to her in a rush—the accident, her leg injury, the panicked call she'd made to Julian. She must have passed out while waiting for him.

Julian was sitting in a chair, his expression a little tense. Hearing her voice, he quickly replaced the worry with a teasing smile. "You're awake. How're you feeling, my damsel in distress?"

A wave of warmth filled Elena's chest, and she managed a grateful smile. "I'm fine, really. Thank you for being here."

Julian gave her a playful wink, tossing his hair dramatically. "Come on, Elena. You know I'll always be here for you."

But then, his tone shifted, his smile fading into something more serious.

"Your bloodwork came back. The doctor said you fainted from stress-induced hyperventilation. Nothing too serious."

Then, his expression turned a bit awkward. He scratched his head, trying to sound casual but clearly worried. "Oh, and... the doctor also suggested we head to OB-GYN for a check-up. They think a pregnancy test would be a good idea."

Elena blinked in surprise, completely thrown. "A pregnancy test?"