Chapter 4
1284 Words
Rafael's POV
"Renee!"
I slammed my car door shut, my heart pounding as I watched her sway.
Her face had gone pale, her lips trembling as she stared past me—no, not past me. At someone else.
I turned my head slightly.
It was Julian, my stepbrother.
The second our eyes met, he smirked, hands buried in his pockets like he had all the time in the world.
I had been so busy rushing to Renee that I failed to notice that the Duke of Nothing and his stupid mother, Natalia Silvercrest, had just arrived. But, lastly, I remembered that I didn't give a f**k about them, given that they had brought me nothing but misery since my mother, Cassidy Silvercrest, the second wife to Mr. Johnson, died of unknown causes.
But Renee...she was falling apart. Her breathing turned quick and uneven. Her legs gave out. And then—she fell.
"s**t!" I rushed forward, grabbing her just before she hit the floor.
“Renee,” I called, shaking her slightly. No response.
Her body was warm against mine, her head rolling to rest against my chest. She was completely unconscious.
"Looks like she's still weak," Julian mused lazily from behind me.
I clenched my jaw, lifting her easily into my arms.
This wasn't just exhaustion; it wasn't normal. Was she sick? Or was she injured?
Or was this because of what happened yesternight? A sudden, violent wave of anger surged through me. Whoever sent those masked men after her… they would pay.
I adjusted my grip, pulling her closer. She seemed so small and fragile in my arms, and yet, just hours ago, she had stood her ground, fighting for her life.
A surge of something, something raw and undeniable, shot through me. Protectiveness or possession and something else more sinister. I had to ignore it because now wasn't the time.
“Move,” I barked at the staff hovering near the entrance as I carried her inside.
A maid tried to step forward. “Sir, should I—”
“She just fainted,” I snapped. “Get some water.”
I didn’t stop moving until I reached a guest room. I lowered her onto the bed carefully, brushing her hair from her face. Her breathing was steadier now, but she still looked… vulnerable. Too vulnerable.
I sat beside her, exhaling slowly. My hands, still warm from holding her, curled into fists.
The room was quiet, but my mind wasn't.
What the hell was happening to her? Her father, James, had given me a simple assignment of looking after her, and so far, I was doing it very well. How could I have let her faint on my watch?
After my mother died, I had been such a mess. I dropped out of campus, resorted to crack and pills, and crashed around four of my father's expensive cars to a point he had to take me to rehab, where I escaped and had to leave in the streets. This took a toll on me because I tried to commit suicide several times, all in vain.
James found me in an alley, half-dead and worthless. According to what he later told me, he had been watching me for quite some time; the reason, he never told me. He took me to his care and cleaned me up. I must admit it wasn't easy because he had to lock me up in order to fight the addictions. As a way of helping me concentrate on other things and grow, he taught me the art of fighting and how to survive. For this, I owed him my life.
I had tried to follow up on some leads after he was sentenced to life in prison upon being found guilty in the murder of his wife, Isabella, Renee's mom, but all I found were dots that led to a set-up. He was framed. The James I knew wouldn't have killed his wife.
“Renee! Renee!” Ethan’s voice echoed down the hall, sharp and panicked, before the door flew open with a bang. He stormed in, his eyes darting straight to her unconscious form on the bed. “What the hell happened to her?!” he shouted, rushing to her side, his hands hovering like he was afraid to touch her.
I stood up, holding out a hand to calm him. “She’s okay, Ethan. She’s going to be fine. Just breathe.”
Valeria rushed in next. "Sorry, sir, sorry, I tried to stop him, but—"
"No, it's okay, Val, let him see his sister," I stopped her before she continued.
Ethan whirled on me, his face a mix of anger and fear. “I left her downstairs for five minutes! Five minutes! I went to take a call, and when I came back, someone said she was unconscious. What happened?!” His voice cracked, and I could see the guilt eating at him.
"I saw her staggering outside," I said, keeping my tone steady. "But I got to her in time. "The doctor should be showing up here in no time; she will be okay."
But Ethan wasn’t done. His eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer to me. “There was a man downstairs... I saw him. He looked familiar. Who was he?”
My chest tightened. Familiar? That wasn’t good. “Describe him,” I said, my voice low.
Ethan hesitated, glancing back at Renee. “I don’t know... but I’ve seen him before. And now this happens? What’s going on, Rafael?”
The door opened, and Dr. Avery White walked in, her presence calm but efficient. She gave me a brief nod, her voice soft. “Rafael, my condolences about your father. I heard the news.” I clenched my jaw, nodding. “Thanks, Doc. Can you check her?”
She moved to Renee’s side, pulling out her penlight and gently lifting Renee’s eyelids. “Pupils are reactive,” she murmured, more to herself than to us. She pressed the stethoscope to Renee’s chest, listening carefully. “Heart rate’s steady. Breathing’s normal.” Ethan hovered nearby, his voice tight. “What’s wrong with her? Why did she faint?”
"You said you saw her stagger?" the doctor asked me. "Anything that might have triggered it? Maybe fatigue? Or shock from something or seeing someone?
"I'm not sure; all I can say is she had a long day yesterday," I answered, trying to dismiss her question on shock as a result of seeing someone given that I found Renee staring at Julian. I wasn't going to let my overthinking get the best of me.
"Her body's reacting to emotional trauma or stress, but her vitals are normal; she'll wake up soon. Try to give her all the care and support you can." She turned to leave after Valeria but paused at the door. “Rafael, take care of yourself too. You’ve been through a lot.” She then left.
I glanced back at Renee. She stirred slightly, her fingers twitching. Just then, the door swung open. Julian.
"I see Doctor Do-Good is looking after my leftovers," he said mockingly.
I took a step closer, my blood heating, clenching my fist, "Stay the hell away from her, Julian, I mean it!"
Julian's smirk widened. "And if I don't?"
The air between us crackled with tension.
Then, another voice, smooth and cold.
Natalia.
"Well, well. What do we have here?"
I turned.
She stood in the doorway, her expression unreadable, her eyes gleaming with something I didn’t trust.
And behind me, I heard a soft sound.
A small gasp.
I turned back just in time to see Renee’s eyes fluttering open.
- Writer
