Chapter 4
1055 Words
Chapter 4: Hidden Truths
I swallowed hard, processing this bit of information that I clearly didn't need.
"Actually, I'm feeling okay right now. The previous medication is doing wonders for my pain and I don't want to be doped up too much. Could we hold off on the pain medication? I'd like to be clear-headed when my doctor comes by to tell me what my situation is looking like."
The nurse looked surprised at my words but agreed as she nodded her head. "Of course, that is perfectly fine as well. Just press your call button if the pain gets too bad and I'll be here in a jiffy, I promise."
As she left, I stared at the ring on my finger still dumbfounded. Was it really protecting me somehow? And what had Jensen meant about a team being on the way?
I didn't have long to wonder. Twenty minutes later, a good looking man in a doctor's coat entered my room, and he was followed by two men in suits who stood on either side of the door.
"Mr. Snow," the doctor said, closing the door behind him as he gave me his full attention as he said,
"I'm Dr. Richards. How are you feeling?"
I reached out with my newfound ability, trying to catch his thoughts and see if there was anything that I could get from him.
Nothing. Complete silence. Either he wasn't thinking anything at the moment which was very impossible or something else was blocking me.
"Who are you really?" I asked, tensing up, wondering if this man was sent by my wife to carry out her orders.
The man smiled slightly as he nodded his head.
"Very good. The ring is working as intended, I just wanted to check it out. I'm Jensen. We spoke on the phone." He gestured to the men by the door. "And these gentlemen are part of your security detail."
"Security detail," I repeated flatly. "Because I'm supposedly the heir to some massive fortune I've never heard of."
"The Yggdrasil Group," Jensen corrected me without looking angry that I was still not all in about what he was saying.
"And yes. Though I understand your skepticism in this case, Young Master. In your position, I would question everything as well."
He pulled up a chair beside my bed and sat down, his posture perfect as well as he continued speaking.
"Let me explain what we know, and to give you a bit of a backstory. Twenty-five years ago, the Yggdrasil family was under attack from rivals seeking to control their vast riches and holdings. Your parents, who were worried about your safety, hid you away with a foster family and employed certain... specialists... to alter your memories, giving you a new identity and background."
"That's impossible," I said, though I sounded less confident than I liked.
"Is it more impossible than suddenly being able to read minds?" Jensen asked gently looking at me with amusement scribbled on his face before he continued speaking.
"The ring you wear contains old magic. Family magic that has been present for generations in the family. It's awakened abilities that were dormant within you."
I looked down at the silver band again as I asked another question. "And my wife? My life with her?"
Jensen's expression hardened hearing this from me as he shook his head and continued speaking.
"Lily Snow is not who you think she is. Her family has been searching for the Yggdrasil heir for decades. They suspected your true identity and planned your meeting and marriage to confirm their suspicions about if you were indeed the one that they were looking for."
"That's crazy," I protested mildly. "We met at a charity gala. It was completely random."
"Was it?" Jensen raised an eyebrow at that as he continued speaking.
"Think carefully, Young Master. Have there been signs? Times when things didn't quite add up?"
I thought about how quickly Lily had fallen for me, despite her family's obvious disdain. How she encouraged me to invest in her business at first, making me a slave for her, only to gradually push me out of decision-making once it became successful. How her attention had shifted once I'd served my purpose.
"And Damien Carter?" I asked. "Where does he fit into all this?"
A slight smile touched Jensen's lips as he answered. "Mr. Carter is... complicated. But he is one of the few people you can trust."
"Trust? He's been my rival for years! He's constantly undermining me, stealing clients, flirting with my wife—"
"Has he actually stolen any clients? Or merely approached ones you had already lost? Has he truly undermined you, or merely created a public perception of rivalry?"
I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it again. Now that I thought about it, Damien's "sabotage" had never quite materialized into actual damage. And while he certainly acted interested in Lily, I couldn't recall a single instance of him being alone with her.
"Mr. Carter has been protecting you, in his own way," Jensen said softly. "Creating a character so repellent to you that you would never seek his friendship—and thus never put him in a position where his true loyalties might be discovered."
The door opened again, and one of the security men stepped inside. "Sir, Mrs. Snow is returning with several members of her family. Hospital security has also been alerted to our presence."
Jensen stood immediately. "We need to move now. Is everything prepared?"
"Yes, sir. Car is waiting at the service entrance."
Jensen turned to me. "Young Master, I know this is overwhelming, but we need to get you to safety. Your wife and her family intended to kill you once, and they'll try again."
I thought about the truck that had crashed my car deliberately. The driver confirming my "death" to Lily on the phone. Her thoughts that I managed to hear.
"I can't just walk out," I said, gesturing to my weak state. "And I have no proof of anything you've told me."
"The ring is proof," Jensen replied. "And as for walking..." He pulled a small vial from his pocket. "This will give you strength temporarily. Enough to reach the car. Once we're at the safe house, you will be taken care of properly."
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