True Love

Chapter 5: Assassination.

When she fell asleep for many days in a row, Sarah had that terrible nightmare.

The doctor once said she fell from the top of the mountain, so she suspects this is not just a nightmare but a part of her memory.

Most likely, it was not an accident, as the police concluded, but that the man murdered her. But in the dream, she did not see the man nor recognize his voice. She didn't know who he was among the people who had visited her. Or that he had never appeared since her accident.

Through many nightmares, Sarah still did not dream of that man's face. But one key point that made her think twice was that he took her to the top of the mountain to receive gifts; she agreed to go with him, which meant she had to trust him, and he was close to her.

If that's her memory, then who is he? During her stay in treatment, she knew only two people: Vincent, her husband, and Dylan, her cousin. These two people have a very close relationship with her; if there is no one else, should she be suspicious of these two?

Sarah's heart pounded with fear. If that nightmare was true, then she dared not doubt anyone. Because a husband who kills his wife is crazy. And she never believed that Dylan killed her because the person who most wanted her to recover was him.

Sarah thought it over again; she decided to quietly observe each one, not letting anyone know she was conscious.

One morning, as Sarah awoke from her recurring nightmare, amid the steady mechanical sounds, she suddenly heard soft footsteps approaching. The sound of this person's footsteps was not the same as that of the nurses and doctors who usually took care of her; it was very light, creaking as if trying not to make any noise.

Sarah guessed this was a new nurse, and she relaxed, waiting for the nurse to check her injuries as usual. Suddenly she heard something like the soft clicking of a button, then the cool air that had always entered her lungs stopped immediately.

A thought crossed her mind. Was this a murder? That thought had just appeared when she lost consciousness, sinking into the pitch-black darkness.

"The ventilator is off? Who turned off her ventilator?" Dylan's angry voice brought Sarah back to her senses. Never had she heard his voice as mad as now. "Check the hospital's camera, find out who entered her room this morning."

"Yes, we will do it right away. The patient was treated promptly and is no longer life-threatening." The doctor's worried voice replied.

"If no one had discovered the ventilator was off, she would have died. Would the hospital be able to pay for her life then?"

Dylan was still furious, he said in a commanding voice to another person.

"Mark, go check the hospital cameras for me, find out the identities of everyone who walked into Sarah's room. I need to know who did this."

"Yes, sir!"

Sarah recognized this as the voice of the person who had urged Dylan to return to the last board meeting. He and the doctor quickly left Sarah's room.

A warm hand grasped hers. "Sarah, don't be afraid; I'll find out who turned off your ventilator. Surely this is intentional because nurses and doctors would never dare to do things that endanger a patient's life. I suspect someone wants you dead. Now that I'm here, I'll protect you; sorry for the mistake today."

His words matched the thought that crossed Sarah's mind before she passed out. It was a murder, and the nightmare was her memory.

Dylan kissed Sarah lightly on the forehead, whispering: "When I heard that you fell off the cliff, I didn't believe it was an accident, but I haven't figured out who wants to kill you. I didn't expect someone to be so impatient that they wanted to kill you in the hospital, so it helps me find that person soon."

Dylan's anger and anxiety make Sarah believe he is not the one who wants to kill her. So who is the killer? She can only wait.

The rush of leather shoes slamming against the tile floor made Sarah's eardrums ache a little, followed by Mark's voice.

"Sir, before the nurse discovered that Miss Sarah's ventilator was off, a man in a white shirt walked into the room, then he walked out of the hospital onto a public bus across the street. The road, so we don't know who he is."

"They work very carefully," Dylan said irritably. "If they find out that Sarah is not dead, they will come back. Send bodyguards to protect her; I can't trust the hospital's security."

"Yes, sir!" Mark replied.

"We shouldn't be revealing; let's protect Sarah secretly, don't let the hospital or outsiders know. We need to find out who wants to kill her." Dylan said, taking Sarah's hand, his voice soft. "I was too subjective, so the killer had the opportunity to kill her. Until we catch him, we can't let our guard down."

"Yes, you can rest assured, I will arrange bodyguards to protect Miss Sarah right away," Mark said and immediately left, his footsteps as hurried as when he entered the room.

Dylan didn't dare leave the hospital; he sat beside Sarah and talked to her until Mark returned. Mark walked over to Sarah's bed, his voice low.

"Sir, I have put two bodyguards in the hospital's security and one female bodyguard as a nurse; this is confidential."

"Good, ask the doctor to send our nurse here to protect Sarah. Without our people, I wouldn't have peace of mind." Sarah felt that Dylan's voice was very agitated.

Mark didn't answer; he walked out quickly. Moments later, he returned with a woman. This woman's voice is quite strong, not gentle, like the nurses who usually care for Sarah.

"Sir, don't worry. I'll be here to protect Miss Sarah day and night."

"Be careful not to get suspicious of the doctor or nurse. The killer will continue to plan to kill Sarah; we need to catch him." Dylan told the female bodyguard. "That man is free to go in and out of the hospital, which proves he has support, so we can't let him find out that Sarah is protected."

"Yes, I understand. Please rest assured!" The female bodyguard solemnly replied.

After carefully instructing the female bodyguard, Dylan gently rubbed Sarah's hand.

"Sarah, I have to go; tomorrow I will visit you. I promise to find the person who wants to kill you."

Sarah wanted to thank him, but her own body imprisoned her. She couldn't see him, couldn't speak to him, couldn't move her limbs.

Everything he arranged for her to help her feel more secure. Like him, she wanted to know who was trying to kill her and his purpose.

A gentle kiss fell on Sarah's forehead. Dylan's warm kiss calmed her down. She listened to the steady sound of his footsteps fading away and disappearing after the soft closing of the door.

There was no longer Dylan's familiar breath in the room, only the monotonous sound of machines like every other day. In the silence, Sarah heard the soft but steady breathing of the woman sitting on the chair beside her bed, who would protect her for the time being.