IF NOT LOVE, WHATELSE?

CHAPTER~4

I watched silently at the stranger’s retreating figure as he stepped out of the hospital room, leaving me with more questions than answers. Who was he? Why was he trying to help me? And what did he mean by “uncover the truth”?

I was tired… tired of everything. All I wanted was to leave the past behind and live free. But with this stranger’s appearance, everything felt more complicated, as though my past, present, and future had been knotted into one chain I couldn’t break.

My gaze drifted to the window. The streets outside wasn’t booming, but it looked and felt like peace. The peace I know somewhere deep down that can’t have. Staring outside the world, felt like a world far from mine, far from the storm raging inside me.

I hissed under my breath as his words echoed again.

“They’re going to stop at nothing, just to make your life a living hell.”

Why? What did I do? Would it have been different if I’d listened to Father? Should I go back to my family? Would they keep me safe this time?

A sharp pain shot through my head and I winced. The nurse had begged me to rest, but how could I rest when my mind refused to shut down?

Should I just run?

I forced myself to my feet, my eyes landing on the small sack of things I’d carried from prison. “I don’t think I’ll be needing this,” I muttered, making for the door. But just as my hand reached the handle, it opened.

The stranger stood there, his eyes fixed on me, suspicion flickering across his face.

“Ready to leave?”

I froze. Could I trust him? What if he was one of the people who wanted me gone, and all this was just a trap?

“I… I’m leaving,” I said finally, my voice unsteady.

He studied me for a long second, and for a fleeting moment, I thought I saw something in his eyes… something I couldn’t name.

“I’m going back to my family,” I added quickly. “That’s the safest place for me.”

He nodded, his expression unreadable. “That’s fine. I’ll sort the hospital bills. Stay safe, Camellia.”

And just like that, he turned and walked out again. His footsteps faded down the hall, leaving me with a strange ache, like I should have stopped him.

Shaking the thought away, I grabbed my bag, the one holding the documents and prison letters I couldn’t abandon and slipped out of the room. My heart pounded as I hurried down the hallway, eyes darting, ears sharp for every sound.

Then I heard it. Footsteps. Fast. Closing in.

Cold feet.

My hands trembled as I pushed through the hospital doors. The air outside slapped against me, sunlight burning my skin. The footsteps were gone. Silence.

“Who was that?” I whispered. “The stranger… or the people he warned me about?”

I stood frozen at the gate, staring into the bright city ahead. Freedom stretched before me, but it mocked me too. I had nowhere to go. And I knew, deep down, I wasn’t going back to my family.

Still lost in thought, I felt it a gaze. Heavy. Piercing. Someone watching me.

My chest tightened. Am I being followed?

I didn’t dare look back. I just started walking, faster and faster. Then I heard it… my name.

“Camellia.”

I froze. My blood ran cold, regret flooding through me. I should have stayed at the hospital.

I broke into a run. The street was empty, no footsteps behind me this time, but fear still chased me.

Then a car appeared at the end of the road. My heart leapt and crashed at once. Was this danger or salvation? I waved frantically, desperate.

“Please! Please help me!” I screamed, gasping for breath as the car screeched to a halt.

I stumbled to the passenger side, yanking the door open without even checking who was behind the wheel. My eyes stayed fixed on the street, waiting, watching.

“Cami?”

That voice. My chest tightened as I turned slowly.

I froze. My lips parted, but no words came. Tears stung my eyes as I whispered, “A…my?”

“Yes.” Her voice broke with a sob, nodding fast as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Bestieeee!” I screamed, throwing myself into her arms.

We clung to each other, tears streaming, our sobs tangled together. “I missed you so much,” I whispered, clutching her tighter, as if she might disappear.

When we finally pulled apart, Amy’s eyes searched mine, full of worry. “You look… different.”

I inhaled shakily and gave a half-smile. “It’s a long story. Let’s get out of here first.”

She nodded and drove off.

The ride was silent. I leaned back, closing my eyes, trying to bury every thought, every fear.

But behind us, hidden in the hospital shadows, a figure stepped out. Dressed in black from head to toe, he watched the car until it vanished from sight.

A slow, cold smile crept across his face.

“I hope you escape next time,” he muttered before slipping into a waiting limo that roared away into the city.