Chasing My Billionaire Ex-Wife

Chapter 1: The Night Everything Changed The crash happened without any warning. For a moment,Eleanor Brown was driving down the highway with her mind already focused on her destination thinking about what she would say or do when she arrives. The moment the world turned upside down, she heard the sound of metal tearing apart like someone screaming. The car spun around. Eleanor felt it before she even knew what was happening. She was thrown against the seatbelt with her hands grabbing the steering wheel but it was no use. The guardrail was coming at her too fast to react. The impact was hard and final crushing the front of the car and slamming her head against the window. Then everything was still. For a moment Eleanor did not know what had happened. She was in pain her forehead wet and warm her vision blurry. She smelled something chemical. Gasoline. She tried to move but the seatbelt was stuck. She pulled it but it would not budge. Her heart twisted as she was starting to panic, breathing fast and shallow. She was twenty-six years old, the heir to Brown Enterprises with plans and responsibilities and a grandfather waiting for her at home. But none of it mattered if she could not find a way out of the car. "Help..." she whispered. She tried again louder. Her voice was shaking. The car. Groaned, the smell of gasoline getting stronger. Then the drivers door opened. Fresh air hit her face. She turned to see a man crouched beside her. He was tall wearing a jacket and his face was calm which seemed impossible given the situation. "Can you move?" he asked. Eleanor tried,. Her arms were still tangled in the seatbelt. She shook her head, her throat tight to speak. The man did not hesitate. He reached across her. Worked the seatbelt mechanism with his hands carefully until it released. He took her arms. Helped her out of the car. "Put your weight on me " he said. Eleanor. He lifted her up and carried her away from the car. She was aware of the air on her face the sound of gasoline dripping from the wreck. He was still carrying her when the car exploded. The shockwave hit them from behind throwing them both to the ground. Eleanor felt the impact. Then everything went black. *** Eleanor woke up to lights. She was in a hospital and the ceiling tiles above her were the kind she had only seen in waiting rooms. For a moment she was. Did not know why she was there. Then she remembered. She sat up fast and the room spun around her. A nurse appeared immediately. "Miss Brown please, " "The man " Eleanor said, her voice rough. "The man who pulled me out of the car. Where is he?" The nurses face. Eleanor knew something was wrong. "He's in surgery " the nurse said. Eleanor got out of bed before the nurse could stop her. She found the ward by following the sounds of crying. A woman sat outside the operating room doors her hands over her mouth her shoulders shaking. Eleanor recognized her. Lynda Steven, Chairman of Steven Jewelry Group. Eleanor stood in the corridor unsure what to do. If Lynda Steven was there then the man in surgery was Greg Steven, the CEO of Steven Jewelry Group. He was thirty-two years old one of the powerful men in the city and a stranger who had saved her life. The operating room doors opened. The doctor who came out looked tired. His face was serious. He spoke to Lynda and Eleanor watched as she stood up hoping for news. "We did everything we could " the doctor said. Lynda made a sound. It was not a word. "He is stable " the doctor continued. ". He was hurt badly. Even if he recovers he may not wake up. I do not want to give you hope." Lyndas voice cracked. "No he has to wake up. He is all I have." The doctor put a hand on her arm then turned to Eleanor. "Were you the woman in the car?" "Yes " Eleanor said. "Are you family? His wife?" "No " Eleanor said. "I am not." The doctor looked at the folder in his hands. "Someone needs to authorize his care. There are decisions that need to be made. Without family present to sign..." "I'll sign " Lynda said,. Her hands were shaking too much to hold the pen. Eleanor took the folder. Steadied it then took the pen and signed her name. Eleanor Brown. The doctor took the folder and the doors to the corridor swung open. Eleanor stood still for a moment looking at her name on the form. She did not know what she had just done or how it would change her life. *** Eleanor was still in the corridor when she heard the sound of heels coming down the hallway. A woman appeared, beautiful and visibly upset. She was the kind of woman who looked composed in a crisis, which made her tears more striking. "Mrs. Steven " the woman said. Lynda looked up. Something crossed her face. Relief and then something more complicated. "Olivia " Lynda said. Olivia Davis stopped beside them breathing fast. She looked at Lynda at the operating room doors and then at Eleanor briefly with an expression that registered her presence without comment. "How is he?" Olivia asked. Lynda lowered her head unable to speak. Olivia stepped toward the window, where Greg Steven lay motionless connected to machines. "I'll stay " she said quietly. "I am not leaving." Olivia's hand stayed pressed against the glass then she. Looked at Eleanor properly for the first time. Her eyes moved to the bandage, on Eleanors forehead, the hospital gown and the folder the nurse was carrying away. "Wait " Olivia said quietly. "What did you just sign?"